Document Checklist: Everything You Need to Gather

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)

Issued by the doctor or hospital. This is the document you take to the Register Office to register the death. Without it, you cannot register and the funeral cannot proceed.

Photo ID of the deceased

Passport or driving licence. Useful for the registrar and for closing accounts. Not always required but keep it to hand.

Photo ID of the person registering the death

Your own passport, driving licence, or other government-issued ID. The registrar will want to see it.

NHS number of the deceased

Found on any NHS letter, prescription, or medical card. Needed to cancel NHS registration and return prescriptions.

Details of the deceased's GP

Name, address, and phone number of the GP surgery. The registrar or coroner's office may need this.

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)

The key document. Without this, registration cannot take place.

Birth certificate of the deceased

If available. Not always required but helps the registrar record details accurately.

Marriage or civil partnership certificate

If the person was married or in a civil partnership. Confirms marital status for the death record.

Decree absolute (if divorced)

If the person was divorced, the registrar may need this to record the correct marital status.

National Insurance number

Found on any HMRC letter, payslip, or NI card. The registrar uses this for the Tell Us Once service.

Passport or driving licence

The registrar will use these to confirm identity details.

Details of their occupation

Last known job title and employer. The registrar records this on the death certificate.

Details of any public sector pension

If the person received a pension from a government body, NHS, teaching, or other public sector employer, tell the registrar so it can be noted.

Death certificate (certified copies)

Order at least 5 certified copies when you register (£12.50 each in England and Wales (£15 in Scotland)). You will need one for each bank, insurer, pension provider, and other institution. Ordering extras later costs more and takes longer.

Green certificate (Certificate for Burial or Cremation)

Issued by the registrar at the same time as the death certificate. The funeral director must have this before the funeral can take place.

Pre-paid funeral plan documents

If the person had a pre-paid plan, find the paperwork immediately. The plan number and provider details determine what costs are already covered.

Any written funeral wishes

A letter, note, or document where the person expressed their preferences. Check the will, any personal files, and conversations with close family.

Military discharge papers

If the person served in the armed forces, these may be relevant for a military-style funeral or burial in a war graves plot.

Faith community contact details

If the person belonged to a church, mosque, synagogue, temple, or other place of worship, the funeral director may need to liaise with them.

Death certificate (certified copies)

Every bank requires an original certified copy. Do not send photocopies of the death certificate unless the bank specifically confirms this is acceptable.

Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration

Required to close accounts above the bank's threshold (usually £5,000-£50,000, varies by bank). You cannot obtain this until probate is granted, which takes 12-16 weeks.

Bank statements

Showing the balance at the date of death. Most banks will provide these once notified. You will need these to value the estate.

Savings books and passbooks

For building society and National Savings accounts. NS&I (Premium Bonds) will need to be notified separately.

Share certificates

Paper certificates for any shareholdings. The share registrar will need to see the death certificate and grant of probate.

Premium Bonds documentation

Account number or ERNIE reference. Contact NS&I directly on 08085 007 007. Bonds can be held for 12 months after death and still be eligible for prizes.

ISA statements

ISAs do not pass automatically to a spouse on death but may have an "Additional Permitted Subscription" allowance. Contact the ISA provider.

Details of any outstanding loans or credit cards

You will need these to calculate the estate value and to notify creditors. Check credit reference agencies if you are unsure of what existed.

Title deeds or Land Registry documents

Confirms ownership and whether the property is held as joint tenants (passes automatically to co-owner) or tenants in common (goes into the estate). Check at HM Land Registry: search the register at gov.uk for £3.

Mortgage documents

Contact the mortgage lender immediately after the death. They need to be notified. If there was life insurance linked to the mortgage, this may clear the balance.

Tenancy agreement

If the person rented, the landlord must be notified. Check the tenancy agreement for notice periods and the process for ending the tenancy.

Home insurance policy

Notify the insurer immediately. An empty property may not be covered under a standard home insurance policy after 30-60 days.

Buildings and contents insurance

Separate policies may cover buildings and contents. Both need to be updated or cancelled.

Utility bills

Gas, electricity, water, broadband, and telephone. Each provider needs to be notified to close or transfer accounts.

Council tax bill

Notify the council. An empty property may be exempt from council tax during probate and for 6 months after.

Leasehold documents

If the property is leasehold, the freeholder or management company needs to be notified of the change of ownership.

State Pension letters

The most recent letter from DWP or HMRC showing State Pension entitlement. State Pension payments must stop immediately after death; overpayments will need to be returned.

Workplace pension details

Contact each employer's pension scheme. There may be a dependant's pension payable to a surviving spouse or civil partner, or a lump-sum death benefit.

Private or personal pension documents

Any SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension), annuity, or personal pension. Check for death benefits, which may pass outside the estate (and potentially free of inheritance tax).

Life insurance policies

Policies may pay out a lump sum to named beneficiaries. Contact each insurer with a copy of the death certificate. Policies written in trust pass outside the estate and do not require probate.

Annuity documents

If the person had an annuity, check whether it included a guarantee period or dependant's pension. Payments may continue or cease depending on the terms.

Expression of Wishes form

Many pension schemes hold an "Expression of Wishes" or "Nomination of Beneficiary" form that directs where the pension death benefit should go. The trustees consider this form but are not legally bound by it.

The will

The original will. If you cannot find it, check with any solicitor the person used, their bank (some hold wills), and the National Will Register (certainty.co.uk or smee-and-ford.co.uk).

Any codicils

A codicil is a document that amends or adds to a will. It must be found and read alongside the will.

Lasting Power of Attorney documents

These cease to be valid on death, but you may need them to prove authority for actions taken before death.

Solicitor contact details

If the person used a solicitor for conveyancing, will drafting, or other legal matters, the solicitor may hold important documents or information.

Previous tax returns

The most recent Self Assessment tax return and any HMRC correspondence. You will need to file a final tax return for the year of death.

Business documents

If the person was self-employed or owned a business: accounts, Companies House documents, partnership agreements, business insurance, and VAT records.

Trust documents

If the person was a trustee or beneficiary of a trust, the trust documents will be needed by the solicitor administering the trust.

Passport

Cancel the passport by sending it to HM Passport Office (no fee to cancel). If you use Tell Us Once, the Passport Office is notified automatically.

Driving licence

Return to DVLA or notify via Tell Us Once. Vehicle tax may also need to be cancelled if the person owned a car.

Blue Badge

Must be returned to the issuing local authority. Blue Badges cannot be used by anyone else after the holder's death.

Bus pass or travel card

Local bus passes and Freedom Passes should be returned to the issuing council.

Library card

Return to the local library. Check for any books or items on loan.

Council tax bill

Needed to notify the council and claim any applicable exemptions.

Electoral roll

Notify the local Electoral Registration Office to remove the person from the register.

Jury summons

If one arrives after the death, write to the court explaining the person has died. Include a copy of the death certificate.

Life insurance policy documents

Contact the insurer to make a claim. Some policies are written in trust and pay directly to named beneficiaries without going through the estate.

Car insurance

Cancel the policy and obtain a refund of unused premium. If someone else will drive the car, transfer cover. The car may need to be registered in a new name.

Pet insurance

Cancel or transfer to whoever is taking on the pets.

Travel insurance

Cancel any existing policies. If the person died abroad, travel insurance may cover repatriation costs.

Private medical insurance

Cancel the policy and claim any refund on unused premium.

Income protection or critical illness insurance

These policies typically end at death, but check whether there is a death benefit or outstanding claim.

Over-50s or funeral plan insurance

Many people have over-50s life insurance policies designed to pay funeral costs. Check for these among the person's paperwork and bank statements.