What To Do When Someone Dies: UK Step-By-Step Guide

In the first few hours

A death has to be formally verified before anything else can happen. Who you contact depends on where the person died.

At home and expected: call the GP surgery. Outside surgery hours, call 111.
At home and unexpected: call 999.
In hospital, a hospice or a care home: the staff will arrange verification and tell you what to collect.

You will then be given, or told how to get, the paperwork needed to register the death. If the death has been referred to a coroner, registration can take longer, and the coroner's office will explain what happens next.

Registering the death

Deaths are registered at a register office, usually in the area where the person died, by appointment. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland this is normally within five days; in Scotland it is normally within eight. When you register, buy several certified copies of the death certificate — banks, pension providers and insurers will each want to see one.

At the same time, ask about Tell Us Once (or the equivalent where you live). It lets you report the death to several government departments in one go, which saves a great deal of repeat phone calls.

The will and who is in charge

The will names the executor — the person legally responsible for dealing with the estate. Look for it at home, with a solicitor, at the bank, or with a will storage service. If there is no will, the rules of intestacy decide who can act and who inherits, which is worth checking early because it affects almost every decision that follows.

The funeral

There is no legal requirement to use a funeral director, but most people do. Before agreeing anything, check whether there was a funeral plan, a written wish, or an over-50s policy, and be clear about who is paying. A funeral is one of the few costs that can usually be paid from the person's own bank account before probate.

Who needs to be told

Banks, building societies and any credit card providers
Pension providers, including the workplace and state pension
Insurers — life, home, car, travel
Their employer, about final pay and any death-in-service benefit
The council, about council tax, benefits and any care arrangements
Utilities, broadband, mobile and TV providers
The landlord or mortgage lender
HMRC, about the final tax position

In the following weeks

The next stage is working out whether probate is needed, valuing the estate, dealing with any debts and tax, and deciding what happens to the property. None of it has to be done in one week.

If you only do one thing today, use the Death Checklist and tick off what is already done. It saves on this device, so you can stop and come back.

Common questions

How long do I have to register a death in the UK?

Normally within five days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and within eight days in Scotland. If a coroner is involved, the registrar will tell you when you can register.

How many copies of the death certificate do I need?

Most people need several. Each bank, pension provider and insurer usually wants to see a certified copy, and buying extras at the time of registration is cheaper and faster than ordering them later.

Do I have to use a funeral director?

No. You can arrange a funeral yourself, and the local authority or cemetery and crematorium staff can explain what is required. Most families still use a director because it removes a lot of coordination.

What if there is no will?

The rules of intestacy apply. They set out who can deal with the estate and who inherits, which is often not the same as what the family expects, so it is worth checking the position before distributing anything.

What to do when someone dies in the UK