Managing Accounts After a Death
One of the more difficult tasks after a death is closing accounts and notifying the many organisations your loved one may have had contact with, such as banks, Inland Revenue, the Ministry of Social Development, Work & Income, the Internal Affairs Passports Office, insurers, telecommunication providers, councils, energy companies, and KiwiSaver funds.
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On average, it takes an executor over 50 hours and anywhere from two months to a year to fully wind up an estate. This can feel overwhelming for grieving families.
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MyTrove is a free service that helps ease this burden by streamlining the process. It reduces paperwork, removes the need to visit multiple organisations, and securely brings together the personal and official information needed to close accounts.
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Their website also provides helpful links to related services, such as how to close social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) or check for unclaimed money with Inland Revenue.
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You can use MyTrove yourself, or if you prefer, your lawyer can manage it on your behalf.
Helpful Services When Closing an Estate
Apply for an Estate IRD Number
Required to manage tax matters on behalf of the estate.
Mail & Business Notifications
NZ Post – Redirect Mail
Ensure mail is sent to a secure address.
Financial & Government Matters
Unclaimed Money – Inland Revenue
Check for unclaimed funds in the deceased’s name.
Facebook
Memorialise or close a profile.
Funeral Grant – Work and Income
You may be eligible for support toward funeral costs (income and asset tested).
Twitter (X)
Request account deactivation.
NZ Companies Office
If the deceased was a company director/shareholder, records may need updating.
Google (Gmail, YouTube, etc.)
Manage or close an account.
Report and remove a deceased user.