How do I manage a deceased estate with CommSec?

If you have recently lost someone close to you, we understand this may be a very difficult time. Below, you will find a step by step guide on how to best manage their CommSec account.

Step 1: Let us know

To ensure the account of your recently deceased family member or friend is protected*, please advise us of their passing as soon as possible.

You can do this by phoning us on 13 15 19 or +61 2 8397 1206 if calling from outside Australia, 8am to 6pm (Sydney time). Alternatively, you can email us at commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au.

Please provide us with the following details of the deceased account owner:

Full name
CommSec account number (if known)
Residential and postal address
Date of birth
Date of passing

If you have any relevant estate documentation, please also provide us with certified copies of the original documents. For example:

Certified copy of the Death Certificate
Certified copy of the Last Will and Testament, including any Codicils
Certified copy of the Probate or Letters of Administration
Any other relevant estate documents

The property and assets of someone who has passed away is known as a ‘deceased estate’, so these details will be passed to our Estate Management team. They will:

Restrict all trading
Remove all authorities who have access to the account
Switch off any recurring fees and refund any charged after the date of death (if applicable)

We can provide information to the estate executor, administrator, or appointed solicitor, such as details of current holdings (assets) and historical transaction summaries. Learn more about how to obtain holdings information.

Step 2: Complete the CommSec Estate Management Notification Form

To formally notify CommSec of a customer's death and to verify all executors, administrators or trustees, we ask that you complete the Estate Management Notification Form and email it to commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au at your earliest convenience.

Step 3: Complete the CommSec Estate Management Disbursement Form

When all appointed estate representatives have been verified, the shares are ready to be sold or transferred.

To sell or transfer any shares held within the estate, the estate representative will need to complete CommSec's Estate Management Disbursement Form and email it to commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au along with any required supporting documentation. Upon receipt, we will act on the instruction provided and close the account.

*Important Information

Under ASX business rules, all CHESS holdings on individual and single trust accounts must be ‘locked’ on initial notification of a deceased estate. This means shares cannot be transferred or sold until all requirements have been satisfied.

Need help understanding some of the key words we used in this article?
Familiarise yourself with these words below:

Technical term	Definition
Executor	An estate executor is the person/s named in the Last Will and Testament (will) to take charge of the deceased’s assets and property. The will is a legal document in which a person specifies how they wish their estate to be distributed after their passing.
Administrator	An administrator in this context is the person/s appointed by the court in the event of no will being present.
Certified copy of a document	A certified document must include the statement “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document” and include the full name, signature, date or certification and qualification/occupation of the certifier.
Probate	A Probate is a document issued by the Supreme Court that confirms the validity of a will, and authorises the executor/s to act. Please note that if the Probate was issued in South Australia we will also require the Registrar certificates. If this was issued as an electronic grant after 26/11/2018, a non-certified copy is acceptable.
Death Certificate	A Death Certificate is an official document issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages containing the information registered when someone passes away, including the date, place and cause of death.

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