Documents Needed for Survivor Benefits in the NT

Every agency, bank, and court in the Northern Territory wants a slightly different set of documents — and they all want them at the same time. The practical challenge isn't finding the documents; it's having enough copies to submit simultaneously without creating bottlenecks. Here's the complete document inventory, organised by what you'll need and when.

The Master Document List

Gather these in the first week. You'll use them repeatedly across every benefit claim, bank interaction, and court filing.

From the hospital or GP:

• Interim medical certificate of cause of death (available immediately — don't wait for the BDM certificate)
• Doctor's certificate confirming death (for bank releases)

From NT BDM:

• Death certificate — order 3–5 certified copies ($56 each). Processing takes 10+ business days.

From your own records:

• The deceased's will (original if available)
• Marriage certificate or evidence of de facto relationship
• Birth certificates for dependent children
• The deceased's driver's licence or passport
• Bank statements showing account details
• Property title documents or rates notices
• Superannuation statements
• Insurance policies
• The deceased's tax file number
• Your own identification (driver's licence, passport)
• Your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN)

Documents by Claim Type

Centrelink Bereavement Payment

• Deceased's CRN (or name and date of birth)
• Date of death
• Death certificate or interim medical certificate
• Your own CRN and identification

MAC Scheme (Motor Vehicle Accident Death)

• Completed Fatality Claim Form
• Death certificate
• Police report or accident report number
• Marriage certificate or evidence of dependency
• Birth certificates for dependent children
• Funeral invoice (for funeral expense claim)

NT WorkSafe (Workplace Fatality)

• Death claim form — dependant
• Death certificate
• Evidence of the workplace incident or occupational illness
• Employment records
• Marriage certificate or proof of dependency
• Birth certificates for dependent children

Supreme Court Probate Application

• Form 88A (Application for Grant of Representation)
• Form 88B (Notice of Intended Application — pre-filed 14 days ahead)
• Form 88G (Affidavit of Death — with death certificate annexed front and back)
• Form 88H (Affidavit of Executor — listing gross asset values)
• Affidavit of Identity (required for self-represented applicants)
• Original will
• Electronic payment form for $1,542

Land Titles Office (Property Transfer)

• Form 5 (joint tenancy — printed double-sided on A4)
• Original death certificate (returned after processing)
• $176 fee

Territory Revenue (Stamp Duty Exemption)

• Application for Exemption form
• Grant of probate or letters of administration
• Copy of the will
• Property or vehicle details

Land Council Funeral Grants

• Itemised funeral quote from the funeral director
• Evidence of connection to the CLC or NLC region
• Deceased's details

The Timing Strategy

You won't have all documents on day one. The practical approach:

Days 1–3: Use the interim medical certificate and funeral quote to request a bank release for funeral costs. Notify Centrelink with the deceased's CRN.

Days 7–14: Death certificate arrives. Begin simultaneous applications to MAC/WorkSafe (if applicable), banks for account releases, and Land Council grants.

Days 14–30: Prepare probate forms. Publish Form 88B notice (14-day waiting period). Value assets for Form 88H.

Months 1–3: File probate application. Lodge property and vehicle stamp duty exemption applications.

The Northern Territory Survivor Benefits Navigator includes a timed document checklist that tells you exactly what to gather each week, which agencies get which documents, and how many copies you need of each.

See more Northern Territory guides →