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ChatGPT provided the following answer to this question: “In Victoria, is it legally required to disclosed a (planned / peaceful) death in a property to potential buyers?”

You must not knowingly conceal a “material fact” about a property. Whether a death is a “material fact” depends on the circumstances.

What the law says:

Since 1 March 2020, it’s an offence for a vendor / agent to knowingly conceal any material fact about land for sale, with the intention of inducing a buyer. Max penalty: 120 penalty units or up to 12 months’ jail. AustLII    ClassicConsumer Affairs Victoria.

Guidance on what’s “material” (from Consumer Affairs Victoria)

A material fact is something an average buyer would consider important, or something you know is important to a particular buyer. Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV)

CAV’s examples include

• “serious crime (e.g., murder),

• meth lab,

• combustible cladding,

• asbestos,” etc.

These must be disclosed as soon as a prospective buyer indicates they’re considering the property, and you must answer related questions fully and frankly. See Consumer Affairs Victoria

So, do you have to disclose a planned, non-violent death?

It’s not explicitly listed in CAV’s examples (unlike murder). For many buyers it may not be “material.”

It can become material if:

• a buyer indicates (e.g., for cultural/religious reasons) that any death on the premises matters to them; or

• your marketing or answers could create a misleading impression that nothing significant has occurred.

In those cases, you should disclose once they’re a genuine prospect. Consumer Affairs Victoria" 

Source: ChatGPT

Date: 29 Aug 2025

It is confirmed that you can lodge your Medical Treatment Decision Maker (MTDM) along with your Advance Care Directive (ACD) to Monash Health, in Victoria.

It is anticipated that other health services will accept lodgment of your your MTDM when you lodge your ACD.

The form to complete to lodge your forms with Monash Health is here.

Source: Monash Health

Date: 21 Oct 2025

No, Ambulance Victoria staff cannot access your online Advance Care Directive or Medical Treatment Decision Maker forms.

Ambulance Victoria recommend the Advance Care Directive, Medical Treatment Decision Maker and any other relevance power of attorney forms are stored, with your medication, in a safe, ACCESSIBLE, place.

Source: Ambulance Victoria Patient Liaison Support Officer

Date: 10 Oct 2025

Advance Care Planning Australia  (1300 208 582) advise that no, your appointed Medical Treatment Decision Maker does not need to be in Victoria, or even Australia. 

They need to be easily available via telephone and it would be most helpful in expediting matters if they can speak English.

Source: Advance Care Planning Australia

Date: 05 Sep 2025

Libby Moloney, Holistic Funeral Director from Natural Grace Holistic Funeral Care advised it is up to the discretion of each funeral home. 

If you foresee that a body may need to be stored for longer than the average - say perhaps, longer than two weeks - arrangements would have to be discussed and decided before committing to a particular funeral home. 

Source: Natural Grace Holistic Funeral Care

Date: 05 Sep 2025

If your Medical Treatment Decision Maker (MTDM) - or all of your MTDMs are unavailable / can't be contacted / cannot fulfil the role at the time they are asked, it will revert to the list of people on the third page of the Victorian "Instructions for completing the advance care directive for adults form".

That is:

• your guardian appointed by VCAT to make decisions about medical treatment

• the first of the following people who is in a close and continuing relationship with you:

  • your spouse or domestic partner

  • your primary carer

  • your adult child

  • your parent

  • your adult sibling

• where you have two or more relatives who are first on this list, it is the eldest.

If you do not have decision-making capacity and a medical treatment decision maker cannot be located, consent for significant treatment must be obtained from the Public Advocate.

Source: Victorian Department of Health, Advance care planning

Date: 21 Oct 2025

All prices on this website are in Australian Dollars - (AUD).