What formal documentation do I need to provide if someone with a CommSec account in an individual name has passed away?

A CommSec individual account is an account belonging to one person only, e.g. John Smith.

Once we receive notification that one of our customers with an individual account has passed away, we will ‘lock’ the account to ensure it is protected¹. We will then require the below documentation.

For an account with:

Nil ‘holdings’ (assets within the account)	Holdings under $50,000	Holdings worth over $50,000
Please provide a certified copy²of the Death certificate³. Once received we will close this account.	Please provide: An Executor authority/administrator form per Estate executor⁴, and Option 1 a certified copy² of a Probate⁵/Letter of administration⁶, or Option 2 a certified copy² of the Death certificate³, and a certified copy² of the Last will and testament (will)⁷, and a Small estates indemnity form⁸ (per account).	Please provide: An Executor authority/administrator form per Estate executor⁴, and a certified copy² of a Probate⁵/Letter of administration⁶.

Please email the documentation to commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au or post to CommSec Estates Management, Locked bag 22, Australia Square, NSW 1215. Once received, the shares are ready to be sold or transferred.

We’re here to help

If you have any questions, please contact us on 13 15 19 or +61 2 9115 1417 if calling from outside Australia, 8am to 7pm (Sydney time). Alternatively, you can email commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au

For more information on CommSec Estate Management, please click here.

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.
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.
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.
An Estate executor is the person/s named in a will to take charge of the deceased’s assets and property.
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.
A Letter of administration is a document granted by the Supreme Court, giving authority to an administrator to collect and distribute the assets of the estate in the absence of a valid will.
The Last will and testament (will) is a legal document in which a person specifies how they wish their estate to be distributed after their passing.
Please note that all forms can be provided to us via email, with the exception of the Small estates indemnity form which must include a ‘wet ink’ or physical signature.