What to Do When Someone Dies in WA: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Gift of Grace Funerals · Published 25 August 2026 · 8 min read

Knowing what to do when someone dies can feel impossible when you are grieving. This guide walks you through the practical steps after a death in Western Australia, in the order most families face them: the first few hours, calling a funeral director, the paperwork, who to tell, and planning the farewell. You don’t have to do it all at once, and you don’t have to do it alone.

1. In the first few hours

What happens first depends on where and how your loved one died.

• An expected death at home: call their doctor or palliative care team, who can confirm the death. There is usually no rush. Many families take some quiet time to sit with their loved one before calling a funeral director.
• In hospital or an aged care home: staff will confirm the death and guide you. They will ask which funeral director you would like to care for your loved one.
• A sudden or unexpected death: call 000. Police will attend, and the death may be reported to the State Coroner, who looks into the cause and circumstances of the death.

We explain this stage in more detail in our guide to what happens in the first 24 hours after someone dies at home.

2. Call a funeral director

Once the death has been confirmed, a funeral director can bring your loved one into their care. Most funeral directors, including us, answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You don’t need to have made any decisions about the funeral before you call. The first conversation is simply about arranging a dignified transfer and explaining what happens next.

If your loved one had a prepaid funeral plan, let the funeral director know straight away, as it may already set out their wishes. Not sure whether you need a funeral director at all? Our article Do I need a funeral director? explains what they handle.

3. The medical certificate of cause of death

In WA, the doctor who treated your loved one, or who examined them after death, completes a medical certificate of cause of death. The WA Government says this must be issued within 48 hours of the death. Your funeral director will collect it, as it is needed to register the death and to arrange a burial or cremation.

If the death has been reported to the State Coroner, the doctor does not issue this certificate. The Coroner’s process comes first, and your funeral director will work with the Coroner’s office on timing.

4. Registering the death and getting a death certificate in WA

Every death in Western Australia must be registered with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. In most cases your funeral director does this for you, notifying the Registry within 14 days of the funeral service.

The death certificate is issued once the death is registered. Your funeral director can order it for you at the same time, and the Registry sends it to them to pass on to your family. You will need certified copies to deal with banks, superannuation, insurance and the estate, so it is worth asking how many copies to order. At the time of writing the Registry charges $60 for a certified death certificate.

If the death is under coronial inquiry, the death can still be registered, but the cause of death is left blank until the Coroner’s investigation is finished. A certificate can be issued at that stage, and a complete certificate can be ordered once the Coroner’s process ends.

5. Who to tell

Start with close family and friends, then work through the organisations that need to know. You don’t have to do this in a single day. Common ones include:

• Their employer, or their former employer if they received a work pension
• Centrelink and other Services Australia programs, such as Medicare and the Age Pension
• Banks, superannuation funds and insurers
• Utilities, phone and internet providers
• The Department of Transport, to cancel a WA driver’s licence and transfer vehicle ownership
• Their doctor, dentist and any regular services or subscriptions

The free Australian Death Notification Service lets you notify a number of participating organisations, such as banks and telcos, through a single online form. It is worth checking which organisations take part before contacting each one separately.

6. The will and the estate

Look for your loved one’s will. It may be at home, with their solicitor, or held by a trustee company. The will names an executor, the person responsible for managing the estate. Depending on the size of the estate, the executor may need to apply for a grant of probate from the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

If there is no valid will, the estate is dealt with under WA’s intestacy rules, and a family member may need to apply to the court to manage it. A solicitor or the Public Trustee can explain your options. The will can also include funeral wishes, so check it early.

7. Plan the funeral or memorial

When you’re ready, your funeral director will sit down with you, at home, by phone or by video, to plan the farewell. You will talk about:

• Burial or cremation, and which cemetery or crematorium. Our guide to cremation vs burial in Perth compares the two.
• The kind of service: a church funeral, a chapel service, a graveside farewell, a celebration of life, or an unattended cremation with a memorial later
• Personal touches: a celebrant, music, photos, flowers and live streaming for family who can’t attend
• Cost: ask for clear, written pricing. Our funeral packages are fixed and GST-inclusive, from $3,800, and our guide to how much a funeral costs in Perth explains what affects the price.

There is no set timeframe. Our article on how long after death the funeral usually is explains what to expect.

8. Look after yourself

Grief can make even small tasks feel heavy. Accept help when it is offered, share jobs between family members, and give yourself time. If you are struggling, talk to your doctor or a grief support service. Support is available, and asking for it is a sign of strength.

Taking It One Step at a Time

Working out what to do when someone dies can feel like a blur of phone calls and paperwork, but most of it follows a clear order. Get the death confirmed, call a funeral director, and let them take care of the certificate and registration while you focus on family.

Everything else, from notifying organisations to settling the estate, can wait a little. Take each step as it comes, lean on the people around you, and ask for help whenever you need it.

Frequently asked questions

Who registers a death in WA?

Usually the funeral director. They notify the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 14 days of the funeral service and can order the death certificate for your family at the same time.

How do I get a death certificate in WA?

Most families ask their funeral director to order it when the death is registered. Eligible family members can also apply directly to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, online, in person or by post, once the death has been registered.

Do I have to call a funeral director straight away?

Not always. After an expected death at home, once a doctor or nurse has confirmed the death, many families take some quiet time before calling. For a sudden or unexpected death, call 000 first.

What happens if the death is reported to the Coroner?

The State Coroner investigates the cause and circumstances of the death. The death can still be registered, but the cause of death is added once the Coroner’s process is complete. Your funeral director will work with the Coroner’s office on timing for the funeral.

Please note: This article is general information only and is not legal advice. For questions about a will, probate or an estate, please speak with a solicitor or the Public Trustee of WA.