Deceased Estates

If you’ve recently lost a family member or friend, we understand that this can be an emotional time. That’s why we want to make it as easy as possible for you to go through the process of finalising their accounts.

If you would like someone to talk through the process with you, or if you have any questions, feel free to call us on 13 14 22.

A summary of the steps is provided below. For full details, please download our Deceased Estates brochure. You can also request a copy of this brochure and the relevant forms by calling our Contact Centre on 13 14 22 or collect them from one of our branches.

Step 1 – Notify us
You should let us know as soon as you can about the death of a loved one.  We will need you to complete our Deceased Customer Notification form and provide it to us with evidence of the death.

Step 2 – Provide the necessary documents and information to us
Once you have notified us that a loved one has passed away, the next step is to collect a range of information and documents that we need to finalise the account. Generally the executor/administrator will do this for you. We have outlined the documents we need to receive in the Document Checklist below.

Step 3 – Heritage reviews the estate
Once we receive all the documentation, our Deceased Estates team will thoroughly review the accounts your loved one held at Heritage when they passed away.

Step 4 – Complete any additional requirements
If we determine that there are additional requirements or documentation needed to finalise the estate, we will let you know in writing.

Step 5 – Release the funds
Once all the requirements for the estate have been met, we can release funds held in the Heritage accounts, according to the instructions of the executors/administrators.

Essential documents that must be completed/supplied

• Deceased Customer Notification form 
• Death Certificate (original OR certified copy)
• Will (original OR certified copy) – If there is one
• Deceased Estate Payment Instructions and Authority form  – The executor/administrator must complete this form

If you are NOT applying for Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, the executors/administrators will also need to complete this form:

• Deceased Estate Claim for Assets – Declaration and Indemnity form 

 Documents that may also need to be completed/supplied

• Addition of Party Form - The Executor/Administrator needs to complete this form and provide identification as per the Membership ID Requirements to be added onto the deceased's account. If Heritage has not previously identified the Executor/Administrator on the deceased's account and they can’t make it to a Heritage branch in person to provide identification, certified identification must be returned with the Addition of Party Form as per the Identification Certification Information Sheet. 
• Deceased Estate Application form – The executor/administrator needs to complete this form if they wish to open an account for the Deceased Estate
• Letters of Administration – This may be required if there is no valid will. Once we review the estate, we will advise the executor/administrator if this is required
• Grant of Probate – Whether this is required depends on the individual circumstances of the estate.  Once we review the estate, including the value of the assets, we will let the executor/administrator know if we will require a Grant of Probate
• Deceased Estate Closure Request Balance of $1,000 or less - This form is to be completed by the executors of a deceased estate when the deceased's combined account balances with Heritage Bank is $1,000 or less. 

These requirements are a guide only, and may change depending on the specific nature of an estate.

If you have any questions or require anything further, please feel free to call us on 13 14 22.

Any documents can be forwarded to:

Heritage Bank
Deceased Estates
PO Box 190
Toowoomba Qld 4350