Help & FAQs

In this instance, the documentation we require depends on the amount of holdings (assets) in the account. For accounts with less than $50,000 in holdings we require:

Option 1

• a certified copy¹ of a Probate²/Letter of administration³, or

Option 2

• a certified copy¹ of the Death certificate⁴, and
• a certified copy¹ of the Last will and testament (will)⁵, and
• a Small estates indemnity form⁶.

For accounts with more than $50,000 in holdings we require:

• a certified copy¹ of a Probate²/Letter of administration³.

Please email the documentation to commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au or post to CommSec Estates Management, Locked bag 22, Australia Square, NSW 1215.

Once we receive the relevant documentation, the shares will need to be transferred. To do this, please complete an Off market transfer form for issuer to CHESS transactions. Please note that fees may apply.

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

Important information

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.

We can provide information to the Estate executor¹, Administrator² or appointed solicitor, such as details of current holdings (assets) and historical transaction summaries, provided we receive the following documentation:

• an Executor authority/administrator form per executor¹, and
• a certified copy³ of the Death certificate⁴, and
• a certified copy³ of the Last will and testament (will)⁵.

Please send your request to commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au with the relevant account name and number (if known), your contact details and information about your relationship to the deceased.

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

Important information

1. An Estate executor is the person/s named in a will to take charge of the deceased’s assets and property.
2. An administrator in this context is the person/s appointed by the court in the event of no will being present.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

These accounts are treated differently. In the event that a director of a company with a CommSec account in its name passes, you will firstly need to contact ASIC to update their company information. Please then let us know, via email or by phoning us using the contact details below. We will request a certified copy¹ of the Death certificate².

To add a director, please complete an Additional authority form and send this to us with a certified copy¹ of the new director’s identification (passport or driver’s license).

Please email the documentation to commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au or post to CommSec Estates Management, Locked bag 22, Australia Square, NSW 1215.

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

Important information

1. 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.
2. 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.

In this case, all loan obligations become the responsibility of the Estate executor¹. A margin loan is a facility whereby money has been borrowed to invest, using shares or managed funds as security. A margin loan charges interest, until the balance is repaid.

If you require information on a specific CommSec Margin Loan, please provide us with:

• an Estate Management Notification form per executor, and
• a certified copy² of the Death certificate³, and
• a certified copy² of the Last will and testament (will)⁴.

Please send these details to commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au with the relevant account name and number (if known), your contact details and information about your relationship to the deceased. Because margin loans can be complex, the next steps can differ depending on factors like the assets held and borrower type. Once notified, we will advise you of next steps.

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

Important information

1. An Estate executor is the person/s named in a will to take charge of the deceased’s assets and property.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Firstly, please notify us of the customer’s passing by phoning us on 13 15 19 or +61 2 9115 1417 if calling from outside Australia, 8am to 7pm (Sydney time). This will mean that for CommSec Options Accounts, we will be able to reduce the potential for market risk by closing any open positions as quickly as possible.

We will then require certain formal documentation, but which will depend on multiple factors. We will advise on which formal documentation we require when we receive your notification.

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

In this event, the documentation we require depends on the amount of ‘holdings’ (assets) in their account.

For holdings of less than $50,000, we require notification of the customer’s passing from an Administrator¹ or the Next of kin². We will review the account and let you know what you need to do next.

Where the deceased has over $50,000 in holdings, we require a Letter of administration³ in place of a will⁴.

Please send these details to commsecestatesmanagement@cba.com.au with the relevant account name and number (if known), your contact details and information about your relationship to the deceased.

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

Important information

1. An administrator is the person/s appointed by the court in the event of no will. A will is a legal document in which a person specifies how they wish their estate to be distributed after their passing.
2. Next of kin is the deceased person's closest living relative or relatives.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Upon notification of a joint account holder passing away, we will lock the account to ensure it is protected¹, until all relevant documentation has been provided. This will mean that unfortunately, any proceeds from the account, such as dividends or accrued interest, cannot be accessed through CommSec.

It is still possible to access these funds, but it will need to be requested by the Estate executor² through the relevant share registry. You may need to provide the share registry with new details, such as an updated tax file number, dividend plan and banking instructions. Please contact the relevant share registry to confirm.

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

Important information

1. 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.
2. An Estate executor is the person/s named in the Last will and testament to take charge of the deceased’s assets and property. 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.

We are very sorry for your loss. Please visit your nearest CommBank branch, where you will be asked to complete a Deceased customer notification form.

For more information on estate management with Commonwealth Bank, please click here.

We are very sorry for your loss. Please click here for a list of all Commonwealth Bank teams, and their contact details. You will also need to notify the relevant teams – please do so when you can.

• Administrator - the person/s appointed by the court in the event of no will.
• Beneficiary - someone who receives or shares in the proceeds from a deceased person’s estate.
• Death certificate - 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.
• Deceased estate - the property and assets of someone who has passed away.
• Executor - the person/s named in a will to take charge of the deceased’s assets and property.
• Last will and testament (will) - a legal document in which a person specifies how they wish their estate to be distributed after their passing.
• Letter of administration - 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.
• Next of kin - a person's closest living relative or relatives.
• Probate - a document issued by the Supreme Court that confirms the validity of a will, and authorises the executor/s to act.