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Saxon kept money in MyState (home loan and offset) and Vanguard (long-term investments). You need to tell them he has died. Do not move large sums without a solicitor.

This page uses no account numbers or passwords — those are in Vaultwarden.

Important rule from the will

Saxon's money must not be given to family members as inheritance. It goes to his children at age 20 (if they understand the finance docs) or to charity. See Read the will.

A solicitor or estate administrator should guide every transfer.

What Saxon had (overview)

Institution What it is Docs
MyState Home mortgage + offset account (~$31k buffer goal) MyState offset
Vanguard Long-term index-style investments Vanguard

Property: Sunbury, Victoria (suburb only in docs).

Offset in plain English

Money in the offset reduces mortgage interest. It is not a separate savings account with its own interest rate. See Glossary — Offset.

Before you call

  1. Death certificate — banks usually need this (or an interim certificate). Funeral director helps.
  2. Your authority — next of kin, executor, or administrator papers from a solicitor.
  3. Vaultwarden access — login details for MyState and Vanguard are not in this guide. Use passwords intro and a YubiKey.
  4. List questions — final statements, direct debits, insurance on the loan, investment holdings.

Step-by-step: MyState

  1. Find MyState contact: mystate.com.au → Contact us, or phone number on Saxon's last statement (in Vaultwarden or mail at home).
  2. Say: "I need to notify you of the death of account holder Saxon Brooker."
  3. Give date of death and your relationship / executor status.
  4. Ask how to register the death on the home loan and offset account.
  5. Ask:
  6. Current loan balance and offset balance (they confirm — you do not need to quote numbers from docs)
  7. Direct debits still running
  8. Whether mortgage protection insurance exists on the loan
  9. How to freeze or restrict online access until the estate is sorted
  10. Ask where to upload the death certificate.
  11. Do not close the offset or redraw large amounts without legal advice — the ~$31k buffer was Saxon's emergency fund strategy.

Step-by-step: Vanguard

  1. Find Vanguard Australia: vanguard.com.au → Contact us.
  2. Notify them of Saxon Brooker's death.
  3. Ask for estate / deceased estate process.
  4. Ask for a statement of holdings sent to the legal representative.
  5. Ask how regular contributions (if any automatic transfers exist) are stopped.
  6. Investments stay invested until the estate plan is executed — do not panic-sell without advice.

Other money places to check

Place Why check
PayPal / Apple Pay / Google Pay Small balances, linked cards
Superannuation McDonald's HR may point to the fund — see Contact McDonald's
Tax (ATO) Final tax return — accountant or solicitor
Centrelink If any benefits applied — report death to avoid overpayments

Saxon archived older apps (Blossom, Frollo) — see Finance index.

Pay and income stops

McDonald's pay will stop. Any automatic transfers from his transaction account to Vanguard or bills should be reviewed once you have bank access.

Use Monthly checklist as a reference for what Saxon used to check — not as legal instruction.

If this goes wrong

Bank will not talk to you

  • Normal until you are registered as executor or next of kin with certificate. Ask what documents they need.

You cannot log into MyState or Vanguard

  • Do not guess passwords. Use Vaultwarden. If locked out, use the bank's deceased estate phone line instead of online login.

Someone moved money already

  • Tell the solicitor immediately. May be reversible if unauthorized.

Mortgage payment is due

  • Tell MyState Saxon died; ask about grace period and estate payment options. Keep utilities and loan current if the home is occupied.

Family asks to "split" Vanguard now

  • Will forbids giving money to family. Wait for legal process.