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Complete Bereavement Checklist

A comprehensive checklist of everything you may need to do when someone dies in the UK. Not everything will apply to your situation.

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Right now

You do not need to do anything immediately. Take the time you need.
If the death happened at home, call the GP surgery or 111. They will tell you what to do next.
If Muslim or Jewish, contact the mosque or synagogue (burial may need to happen within 24 hours)
If the death happened abroad, call the Foreign Office on 020 7008 5000

When you are ready (first few days)

Tell the people closest to you. There is no rush and no right order.
Collect the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) from the doctor or hospital
If the death was sudden or unexplained, the coroner will be involved and will guide you
Register the death at the local register office (legally required within 5 days, or 8 in Scotland)
Order at least 5 certified copies of the death certificate when you register (£12.50 each in England and Wales, £15 in Scotland)
Use the Tell Us Once service at the register office (not available in Northern Ireland)

Learn more: How Tell Us Once works · Find your local register office · How many death certificates do you need?

First 2 weeks

Contact a funeral director when you feel ready. Get itemised quotes from at least 3.
If there was a pre-paid funeral plan, contact that provider instead
Apply for Funeral Expenses Payment if on benefits (0800 731 0469)
Apply to the Children's Funeral Fund if the person was under 18
Find the will (check at home, with their solicitor, at their bank, or on the National Will Register)
Secure the person's home if they lived alone
Check home insurance on the empty property (some policies void after 30 days unoccupied)

Learn more: Compare all funeral types · Full cost breakdown · Free funeral options

First month

Notify banks and building societies (or use the Death Notification Service)
Check for and claim on any life insurance policies
Notify pension providers (state, workplace, private)
Contact their employer for death-in-service benefits and final pay
Apply for Bereavement Support Payment if your spouse or civil partner died
Update council tax (exemption on empty property, or 25% single person discount)
Notify utility companies (gas, electric, water, broadband)
Cancel subscriptions and direct debits
Deal with the vehicle (DVLA, insurance, V5C logbook)
Set up Royal Mail post redirection
Check guardianship arrangements if there are children

Learn more: Dealing with bank accounts · Finding unknown accounts · Bereavement benefits · Who to notify

Within 3 months

Apply for probate (Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration)
In Scotland, apply for Confirmation at the Sheriff Court
Understand intestacy rules if there is no will
Get legal advice if you are an unmarried partner with no will
Check if inheritance tax applies (estate above £325,000)
Place statutory notices in The Gazette to protect against unknown debts
Notify the mortgage lender
Apply for council tax exemption on the empty property
File the final Self Assessment tax return if the person was self-employed

Learn more: Full probate guide · Executor duties · Intestacy rules · Inheritance tax

Within 6 months

Pay any inheritance tax due (within 6 months of the end of the month of death)
Deal with property (transfer, sell, or end tenancy). Grant of Probate is needed first.
Update the Land Registry
Collect all assets into the estate with the Grant of Probate
Claim Funeral Expenses Payment if on benefits (must claim within 6 months of the funeral)

Learn more: Property after a death · Council tax exemptions

When you are ready

Distribute the estate to beneficiaries (after probate, debts, and taxes are settled)
Close remaining bank accounts and financial accounts
Memorialise or close social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Google)
Cancel remaining digital subscriptions and online accounts
Register with the Bereavement Register (thebereavementregister.org.uk) to stop junk mail
Finalise estate tax affairs
Prepare for difficult dates (birthdays, anniversaries, holidays)
Reach out for support if you need it. Cruse: 0808 808 1677. Samaritans: 116 123. Both free.

Learn more: Digital legacy guide · Cancelling subscriptions

Need help writing to organisations? Our template letters cover banks, utility companies, HMRC, employers, insurers, and more. Just fill in the details and send.

This is a general checklist. Your situation is unique. For a personalised list that only includes what applies to you, with real deadlines and helpful links, use our free tool.

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Step-by-Step Guide

Everything you need to do, in order, from the first 24 hours onwards

Template Letters

Ready-to-use letters for banks, utilities, HMRC, employers, and more