What to Do When Someone Dies
A complete step-by-step guide covering everything from the first 24 hours through to the first year. This is a general guide for the UK, updated for 2026. For a checklist personalised to your exact situation, use our free tool.
Get Your Personalised Guide5 days
To register (Eng/Wales)
£12.50
Per death certificate
£300
Probate court fee
28 days
Tell Us Once deadline
In Scotland or Northern Ireland?
The process differs depending on where the death occurred. This guide covers England and Wales. For nation-specific guidance, see:
The first 24 hours
Get the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
A doctor must verify the death and issue the MCCD. If the death happened at home, call the GP surgery. If in hospital, the hospital will arrange this. If the death was sudden or unexplained, it may be referred to a coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland), which can delay the process.
Secure the person's home
If they lived alone, lock the property, check heating is on (to prevent frozen pipes in winter), and remove perishable food. Let neighbours know if appropriate. Check the letterbox for post and remove anything visible through windows that might attract burglars.
Find the will
Check at home, with their solicitor, their bank, or search the National Will Register (nationalwillregister.co.uk, costs around £30). The will may contain funeral wishes and names the executor. If you cannot find a will, do not panic. Many estates are dealt with under intestacy rules.
Tell close family and friends
You do not have to do this alone. Ask someone to help you share the news. If appropriate, agree who will contact the person's workplace, neighbours, and wider circle. Consider whether you want to place a newspaper notice later.
Contact a funeral director (if needed)
If the death occurred at home and you would like the person to be moved, a funeral director can collect them at any time. You do not need to have chosen a funeral director for this step; most will provide the initial collection service. There is no rush to decide on funeral arrangements.
Register the death (within 5 days)
Book an appointment at the register office
Register at the register office in the area where the person died. In England and Wales this must be done within 5 days. In Scotland, within 8 days. You will need the MCCD, the person's full name, date of birth, last address, occupation, NHS number (if known), and marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable). The registrar will issue a green "certificate for burial or cremation" which the funeral director needs.
Order death certificate copies
Order at least 5 certified copies (£12.50 each in England and Wales (£15 in Scotland)). Banks, insurers, pension providers, and solicitors all need an original. It costs more to order extras later. Some people need 8 to 10 copies if the person had multiple bank accounts, investments, and insurance policies.
Use Tell Us Once
The registrar will give you a Tell Us Once reference number. This single service notifies the DWP (benefits), HMRC, DVLA, Passport Office, local council, and public sector pensions. Use it within 28 days. It is not available in Northern Ireland. You can use it online at gov.uk/tell-us-once or by phone on 0800 085 7308.
Need to write to banks, utility companies, or HMRC? Our ready-to-use template letters save you time and make sure you include everything they need.
Related: Learn how Tell Us Once notifies most government departments for you. You can also find your local register office or browse county-level guides for region-specific information.
Arrange the funeral (first 2 weeks)
Choose a funeral director
Shop around and ask for itemised quotes from at least 3 funeral directors. Costs vary significantly between providers. You are entitled to see a price list. You do not have to use the funeral director suggested by the hospital. All funeral directors must comply with the Funeral Director Compliance Scheme.
Consider your options
Traditional burial averages around £5,400, cremation with a service around £4,200, and direct cremation from around £1,600. A direct cremation is the most affordable option, with no ceremony at the crematorium. You can hold a separate memorial later. Green burials and woodland burials are also growing in popularity.
Check for financial help with funeral costs
If you receive means-tested benefits, you may be able to get a Funeral Expenses Payment from the DWP (up to £1,000 for extras, plus burial/cremation fees). Call 0800 731 0469 to apply. If the person was under 18, the Children's Funeral Fund covers costs in England. Some trade unions, employers, and charities also offer help with funeral costs.
Consider the person's wishes
Check the will, any pre-paid funeral plans, letters, or conversations about their preferences. They may have specified burial or cremation, a religious or secular service, specific music, or a particular location. If there are no recorded wishes, choose what feels right for the family.
If faith or cultural traditions are important for the funeral arrangements, see our cultural and religious funeral guide covering Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Christian practices in the UK.
Take a moment. You are doing an incredible job at a very difficult time. If any of this feels overwhelming, call Cruse Bereavement Support on 0808 808 1677 (free, Monday to Friday).
Related: Compare all funeral types (burial, cremation, direct, green, woodland), see the full cost breakdown, or read about free funeral options if money is tight.
Financial tasks (first month)
Notify banks and building societies
Contact each bank individually, or use the free Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk) to notify multiple banks at once. Sole accounts will be frozen. Banks will usually release money for funeral costs before probate is granted. Joint accounts normally continue to operate for the surviving account holder.
Check for life insurance
Look through paperwork, emails, and bank statements for any life insurance policies. Contact the insurer with the death certificate. If written in trust, it pays out directly to the beneficiary without waiting for probate. Also check for death-in-service benefits through the person's employer.
Notify pension providers
Contact state, workplace, and private pension providers. There may be a survivor's pension, a lump sum death benefit, or remaining guaranteed payments. For the State Pension, contact the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469. Use the Pension Tracing Service at gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details to find lost pensions.
Apply for Bereavement Support Payment
If your spouse or civil partner died and you are under State Pension age: higher rate (with children) gives £3,500 lump sum plus £350/month for 18 months. Standard rate: £2,500 plus £100/month. Claim within 3 months for full backdating. You can claim by calling 0800 731 0469 or online at gov.uk.
Redirect post
Set up Royal Mail post redirection from the person's address to yours (costs £37 for 3 months, £52 for 6 months, £73 for 12 months). This helps you catch correspondence from organisations you may not know about, including insurance policies, investments, and subscriptions.
We have template letters you can use to notify banks, utility companies, HMRC, employers, insurers, and the DVLA.
Related: See our detailed guide to dealing with bank accounts after a death, tips for finding accounts you may not know about, and our full list of organisations to notify. You may also qualify for bereavement benefits.
Legal and probate (within 3 months)
Apply for probate
Probate (Grant of Probate if there is a will, Letters of Administration if not) gives you the legal right to deal with the estate. You need to value the estate, complete an inheritance tax form, and submit the application. The court fee is £300 for estates over £5,000. Processing takes around 12-16 weeks. You can apply online at gov.uk/applying-for-probate.
Check inheritance tax
Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on the estate above £325,000 (nil-rate band). There is an additional £175,000 if the home passes to children/grandchildren. Spouses can transfer unused allowance, giving up to £1 million combined. IHT must be paid within 6 months of death. You can pay in instalments for property.
Place statutory notices
Place a notice in The London Gazette (and a local newspaper) to protect yourself from liability for unknown debts. This costs around £80-£150 and gives creditors 2 months to come forward. Wait at least 2 months before distributing assets. This step is strongly recommended even though it is not strictly mandatory.
Related: Read our full probate guide for step-by-step instructions, or learn about executor duties and inheritance tax thresholds. If there is no will, see our intestacy rules guide.
Property and ongoing matters
Check home insurance urgently
Many policies become void after 30 days if the property is empty. Contact the insurer urgently to let them know. You may need specialist unoccupied property insurance, which costs around £200-£500 per year. Continue visiting the property regularly.
Apply for council tax exemption
An empty property is exempt from council tax from the date of death until probate is granted, and for 6 months after that. Contact the local council to apply. You will need a copy of the death certificate.
Cancel subscriptions and direct debits
Check bank statements for regular payments: TV licence, phone, broadband, streaming services, gym, insurance, charity donations, breakdown cover. You may be entitled to refunds for advance payments. Keep a list of what you cancel and when.
Deal with digital accounts
Facebook and Instagram can be memorialised or deleted. Google has an Inactive Account Manager. Cancel paid subscriptions. Each platform has its own process. Our digital legacy guide has step-by-step instructions for every major platform.
Consider the long-term plan for property
If the person owned their home, it will need to be valued for probate. You may need to decide whether to sell, transfer to a beneficiary, or rent it out. Speak to an estate agent for a current valuation. The property may be exempt from capital gains tax if sold within a reasonable time.
Related: See our guides on dealing with property after a death, council tax exemptions, and cancelling subscriptions. For a full breakdown of expected expenses, see our costs guide.
Common questions
How long do I have to register a death in the UK?
In England and Wales, you must register the death within 5 days. In Scotland, within 8 days. In Northern Ireland, within 5 days. If the death has been referred to a coroner, registration may be delayed until their investigation is complete.
How many death certificates do I need?
Order at least 5 certified copies when you register the death. Each bank, insurer, and pension provider will need an original. If the person had many accounts and policies, you may need 8 to 10. Extra copies cost more if ordered later.
What is Tell Us Once and who does it notify?
Tell Us Once is a free government service that notifies multiple departments about a death in one step. It covers the DWP, HMRC, DVLA, Passport Office, local council services, and public sector pension schemes. It does not cover banks, insurers, or utility companies. It is available in England, Wales, and Scotland but not Northern Ireland.
Do I need to pay for the funeral upfront?
Most funeral directors will wait for payment until after the funeral. If you are on means-tested benefits, you can apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment from the DWP to help cover costs. Some funeral directors also offer payment plans. Banks will often release funds from the deceased person's account specifically for funeral costs, even before probate.
How much does a funeral cost in the UK?
A cremation with a service averages around £4,200 and a burial around £5,400. Direct cremation (with no service) starts from around £1,600 and is the most affordable option. Prices vary significantly by region and provider, so always get at least three quotes.
Do I need probate?
You usually need probate if the person owned property in their sole name, had savings above the bank's threshold (typically £5,000-£50,000), or had investments. You usually do not need probate if all assets were jointly owned, as they pass automatically to the surviving owner.
Can I arrange the funeral before registering the death?
Yes, you can begin making arrangements with a funeral director before registering the death. However, the burial or cremation cannot take place until registration is complete and you have the green certificate (or the coroner has issued the relevant paperwork).
What benefits can I claim after my spouse dies?
If your spouse or civil partner died and you are under State Pension age, you can claim Bereavement Support Payment: £3,500 lump sum plus £350/month for 18 months if you have children, or £2,500 plus £100/month without children. Claim within 3 months for full backdating. You may also be entitled to Widowed Parent's Allowance or other means-tested benefits.
Find your local guide
We have step-by-step guides for cities across the UK with local registrar details, council contacts, and area-specific information.
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Important
This information is for general guidance only. It is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Laws and regulations change. Always verify current details with the relevant authority. Last reviewed: March 2026. If you spot an error, please contact us. See our editorial policy.
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