When someone passes away there are countless things that need to be done to finalise their estate which can feel overwhelming and confusing. To finalise your loved one's membership with People's Choice, there are some steps you can take.

What you need to do

Step 1. Notify us

Contact us as soon as you are able; you can either:

 

Step 2. Provide the information and documents we require to begin assisting you

When someone passes away, documents are required before we can release account and membership information.
We can only share information about the deceased’s account(s) and membership with specific people, so we will need to check the documents you provide to us to determine who we can provide information to and what further steps need to be taken.

If the deceased left a valid Will

If the deceased left a Will, we need the original or certified copies of the following documents:

  • Death Certificate
  • The Will

The executor(s) named in the Will will also need to provide their People’s Choice membership number or, if they don’t have a membership with People’s Choice, we require their contact details and proof of identity e.g. driver’s licence.

If the deceased did not leave a valid Will

If the deceased did not leave a Will, then a family member will need to act as the administrator of the estate. In some circumstances, the administrator will need to be appointed by the Supreme Court in the state or territory where the estate is held, under ‘Letters of Administration’. In other circumstances, you may be able to act as an administrator without Letters of Administration for the purposes of closing the deceased’s accounts and People’s Choice membership.

The administrator will need to provide us with original or certified copies of the following documents:

  • Death Certificate
  • A signed and witnessed Statutory Declaration made by the administrator stating:
  1. Their relationship to our deceased member
  2. That to the best of their knowledge the deceased did not have a valid Will
  3. That they are administering the deceased member’s estate.
  4. The administrator will also need to provide their People’s Choice membership number or if they don’t have a membership with People’s Choice, we require their contact details and proof of identity e.g. driver’s licence.

 

Step 3. What is required to close the accounts

Once we have received the initial documents, our Bereavement Care team will write to the executor or administrator to advise of the ‘closure requirements’ to finalise the deceased’s membership.

 

Step 4. When you’re ready, return the documents we have requested

Complete and return to us all the documentation we requested as outlined in the ‘closure requirements’ letter to the executor/administrator.
If you have questions about the process or require additional information about the requirements, our Bereavement Care team are here to help you. If a solicitor or accountant is assisting you, you can also seek their guidance.

 

Step 5. All accounts and facilities are finalised

Once we have received all the required documents about the deceased and a particular person’s authority to deal with the estate, we will close the accounts and membership. The remaining funds will be released as per the instructions provided by the authorised executor/administrator.

Frequently asked questions

Notify other people and organisations

There may be other people and organisations you need to notify. To help you identify who you may need to contact, download the form here.

Looking after yourself

This is a difficult time, so it is important to take care of yourself and look after your mental and physical health. To access confidential counselling services, you can contact Lifeline Australia, Beyond Blue, Mensline Australia or Griefline.

Need some help? We've got you covered. 

Get in touch with us and we can help you get the answers you need.

Important to know

  • Non-family cannot administer an intestate estate.
  • People’s Choice Credit Union is a trading name of Heritage and People's Choice Ltd ABN 11 087 651 125, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 244310.