Dealing with someone else's death

If you've come to this page because someone you know and love has died, please know that I'm very sorry. I don't know who you are but I had you in mind when I wrote this. I know something of how you feel.

What I can do for you, however, is give you some practical advice. There are no paid links, no advertising and nothing being sold in this section. Everything that's shared here is simply my best efforts at helping you navigate this very difficult time. I wish you fortitude at this hardest of times.

(Note this is the law as applied in United Kingdom - please assume it applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, unless I explicitly call out a difference between those jurisdictions. Scotland, in particular, can have different rules but I'll try and specify these. Note that this page is correct to the best of my knowledge as at May 2025, but it may have changed since I last updated it. Finally, nothing here constitutes legal advice and you should always double check before taking a course of action.)

Immediate Steps After Death

Is there anyone who needs to know about the death more than you needed to know? Maybe you were there at the end, but other - maybe closer - members of the family weren't. Or perhaps, as a respected friend or family member, you have been given the responsibility of letting others know. Ether way, it's important to ensure that close family or friends are given this information.

Next: it's hard but you have some time-sensitive legal and financial matters to deal with, which must take precedence over all other factors. These follow on from the death certification:

Medical Certification:

• If the death occurs in a hospital, nursing home, or hospice, medical staff will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death immediately, unless in rare circumstances this cannot be determined. It's possible an interim death certificate will later be issued in such cases.

• If the death occurs at home, promptly contact the deceased’s GP. If unavailable, contact NHS 111. They will arrange for a doctor to visit, confirm death, and issue the certificate.

• If the cause of death cannot be immediately determined, or there are factors that require further further investigation, then the coroner will be involved and you will be guided by the Coroner's Office on next steps.

Registering the Death

England, Wales, and Northern Ireland:

It's a legal requirement to register the death within five days (or eight days in Scotland). This timeframe allows necessary legal processes to start and ensures funeral arrangements can be made promptly.

• People who can register the death include Relative like a spouse, civil partner, or someone in an enduring relationship with the deceased; Someone present at the death; Person arranging the funeral:

  The person making arrangements with the funeral director can also register the death; Personal representative appointed by the family

• Locate your local Register Office (England and Wales) or District Registrar (Northern Ireland) or Registrar (Scotland) and make an appointment.

• Documents to support the registration include:

  • Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (this is the only ESSENTIAL document)

  • The deceased's birth certificate (if available)

  • Proof of their identity like a passport or driving licence (if available)

  • Proof of your identity like a passport or driving licence (if available)

  • Proof of their address (if available)

  • Marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)

  • NHS Medical card (if available)

• Useful websites:

  • England and Wales: GOV.UK

  • Northern Ireland: nidirect.gov.uk

Scotland:

• Register the death within eight days by contacting the local Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages office.

• Locate your nearest registrar here: National Records of Scotland

After registering, you will receive essential documents:

• Death Certificate (needed for financial and administrative purposes)

• Certificate for Burial or Cremation ('Green Form' in England/Wales; Form 14 in Scotland; GR021 in Northern Ireland)

• Form BD8 (England and Wales) to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to stop any benefit payments. In Scotland, it's Form 3344SI and in Northern Ireland it's Form 36/BD8.

You should also receive some useful guidance documents:

• A unique access code especially for you to be able to access the 'Tell Us Once' service (see below)

  • This is really helpful for being able to inform multiple government organisations

• Details for The Death Notification Service, which is an organisation supported by multiple financial organisations (see below)

  • Similar to the government 'Tell Us Once' service, this can help simplify telling banks and insurance companies

• The local authority's document giving general guidance on next steps

• Grief counselling information (if your loved one died in hospital you may also receive this there)

Informing Government Services

Utilise the 'Tell Us Once' service to simplify notification of multiple government departments simultaneously. This reduces administrative strain and prevents unnecessary or inappropriate payments from government bodies.

• England and Wales: Tell Us Once

• Scotland: Provided during death registration by the Registrar

• Northern Ireland: nidirect.gov.uk

Locating and Handling the Will

• It is crucial to locate the Will promptly, as it dictates how the deceased's estate should be managed.

• Common locations include personal papers, solicitors, or bank safe-deposit boxes.

• The named executor(s) have legal responsibility for estate management.

• In the absence of a Will, intestacy rules dictate estate distribution. Understanding this quickly helps avoid legal complications. Guidance here: Intestacy Rules UK

• Hopefully, the deceased also stored other information around their funeral arrangements, finances and/or personal wishes alongside the Will, or specified where to find it, so please make an effort to look for this at the same time as it will simplify the estate management.

Organising the Funeral

• Contact a funeral director (or organise the funeral independently by contacting your local council)

• Verify if the deceased pre-planned or pre-paid funeral arrangements, or expressed specific funeral preferences.

• Be mindful of funeral costs. Average funeral costs in the UK range from £4,000 to £6,000 depending on location and service choice.

• Financial assistance may be available for eligible individuals through the Funeral Expenses Payment: Funeral Expenses Payment

• Scotland provides a separate Funeral Support Payment: mygov.scot

Financial Administration

Informing Banks and Financial Institutions:

• Notify banks immediately to freeze accounts and prevent potential fraud or misuse. Banks typically require the death certificate to proceed.

  • Do not be tempted to make payments or withdraw cash from these accounts if you were not already authorised to do so when they were alive, as this could be seen as fraud.

    • If you have a joint account with your love done, then you may continue to use this as usual, as all monies inside the account pass immediately on death to the surviving party.

• Contact other financial institutions, such as investment companies, credit unions, and building societies.

Insurance and Pension Providers:

• Initiate contact with insurers, pension providers, and employers promptly to start claim procedures.

• Provide a certified copy of the death certificate as part of the claims process to access any due funds swiftly.

Please also see the The Death Notification Service, which is an organisation supported by a large number of UK financial organisations.
It works in a similar way to the government 'Tell Us Once' service, but this one can help simplify telling UK banks and insurance companies. It will only tell organisations that have signed up. You don't need a code.

Probate and Estate Administration

England and Wales:

• Probate grants legal authority to executors to manage the estate. Executors must be the ones to apply for a Grant of Probate if named in the Will.

• Note that not all estates require Probate, however. Generally, if the estate is small, or thresholds for assets held with individual banks are not exceeded (varies by institution), or if assets are held jointly with a spouse (and are joint tenants in the case of property) then Probate can often be avoided.

• Without a Will, apply for Letters of Administration.

• Detailed guidance: GOV.UK Probate

Scotland:

• Known as Confirmation; executors apply through the Sheriff Court. It legally validates executors' authority to handle estate assets.

• More information: ScotCourts.gov.uk

Northern Ireland:

• Similar probate processes; apply at the local Probate Office.

• Details here: nidirect.gov.uk

Debt and Outstanding Bills

• Promptly inform creditors to freeze debts and interest accrual.

• Debts and bills, including mortgages, utility payments, credit cards, and loans, are paid from the estate. The estate covers these costs first before any inheritance distribution.

• Family members are not liable for debts unless jointly held or guaranteed by them. Consult a solicitor if there are complex or substantial debts.

Property and Housing

• Notify landlords or mortgage providers immediately to address legal and financial responsibilities clearly.

• Ensure the deceased’s home is secure and regularly checked. Redirect mail and manage utility services responsibly to prevent unpaid bills or damage.

Support and Advice

• If the estate is complex, obtaining legal or financial advice early can simplify administration and prevent future legal complications.

• Citizens Advice offers free, impartial guidance on practical and financial issues: Citizens Advice

• Bereavement charities like Cruse Bereavement Care and the Bereavement Advice Centre offer practical support and guidance during this challenging period: Cruse Bereavement Care and The Bereavement Advice Centre.

  • The Bereavement Advice Centre also offers a junk mail suppression service, which can be very helpful in reducing distressing direct/marketing mail - and it can also help prevent identity fraud.

    By registering with their free service, the names and addresses of the deceased are removed from mailing lists, stopping most marketing mail within about six weeks. This service will not stop official post such as bank and credit card statements, tax returns, utility bills and premium bonds.