Deceased estates
Coping with the loss of someone close to you is an emotional, and often overwhelming time. At Hollard, we understand that updating information on behalf of someone who has passed away can be confronting and time consuming, which is why our goal is to provide our customers with the support they need to make changes to insurance policies as simple as possible.
We have provided a list of frequently asked questions about deceased estates below, along with directions about how to provide us with information about the passing of someone close to you, so you can manage their policy or claim.
How do I make changes to an insurance policy or claim when a policyholder has passed away?
To request a change to the policy of someone who has passed away, please complete our contact us form and selecting the options:
Customer > Deceased estate, and then select the brand and type of insurance when prompted.
Contact us form
There are some documents you will need to send us to help process your request, these include:
- A certified copy of the Death Certificate
- A certified copy of the Will (if there is one) or a certified copy of the Grant of Probate; or
- A Letter of Administration (if there is no will).
Note: Documents can be certified by an authorised individual, such as a medical practitioner, legal professional, accountant, or Justice of the Peace (JP).
We will also need the following information about the executor or administrator to verify their identity:
- Full name or organisation name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Phone number
- Email address
If you don’t have all the above information available, or there is no executor or administrator, please contact the brand where the policy was purchased from for assistance.
Everyday Insurance
Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9am-5pm
(AEST/AEDT)
Looking for one of our other partners – visit our Insurance partners page to find out more.
Frequently asked questions
What is a deceased estate?
Any assets and liabilities you have are called your ‘estate’. When you pass away, your estate becomes a ‘deceased estate’, and most people have a Will or another legal document that explains what they would like to happen to their estate.
Assets can include things like property, cash, shares, and valuable personal items. Liabilities can include mortgages, loans, and tax owing.
Why do I need to notify the policyholder's insurer when they pass away?
It is important to notify us when a policyholder has passed away so that we can help you manage their policy and any outstanding claims by doing things such as:
- making amendments to their policy
- cancelling their policy
- updating banking information
- making a claim or managing an existing claim.
It is important to note that only an executor or administrator can be authorised to make these requests. Please refer to the section above for the information we may require when you first notify us.
What if there are multiple policyholders?
If there is more than one policyholder, the surviving policyholder can contact us to discuss making any required changes to the policy or to manage a claim.
If the surviving policyholder would like to appoint a third-party authority, which allows someone to act on their behalf, we can assist in setting this up for them.
What if I have Power of Attorney or third party authority for the person who passed away?
Both Power of Attorney and third party authority cease to be valid when someone passes away. In most cases, an executor is authorised to make changes to a policy or claim on behalf of someone’s estate, unless there is a surviving policyholder.
Can I update the bank account or credit card details for a policy?
Yes, we can assist you with updating the bank account or credit card details. Please call the relevant brand for the policy using the contact numbers provided above to arrange this.
Updating payment details will ensure that the policy remains active and continues to provide coverage until further arrangements are made.
Where else can I access support?
The following support services can help if you need someone to talk to whilst you are grieving:
Beyond Blue
beyondblue.org.au
1300 224 636
Providing counselling for people experiencing mental illness or poor mental health.
Headspace
headspace.org.au
1800 650 890
Early intervention for 12 to 25-year-oldsexperiencing poor mental health.
Lifeline
www.lifeline.org.au
13 11 14
24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention service.
Access services
Support services
