A death notice is not required by law. It is primarily a social formality but can also serve important legal functions. It can have the effect of notifying creditors, debtors, executors and potential beneficiaries of the death.

Some claims against an estate must be made within a certain time from the date of notice of death and, in some cases, a person cannot claim not to have knowledge of the death if there was such a notice (s.33 Trustee Act; s.30 A&P Act).