What to Do When Someone Dies in Sunderland

When someone dies, a doctor must confirm the death and issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). If the person died at home in Sunderland, call their GP surgery. If they died in hospital, the hospital will arrange this.

If the death was sudden, unexplained, or occurred during surgery, it may be referred to the coroner. The coroner will investigate and may order a post-mortem before the death can be registered.

You do not need to choose a funeral director at this stage. If the person died at home and you would like them to be moved, most funeral directors will provide an initial collection service, even if you have not yet decided on arrangements.

You must register the death within 5 days at the register office in the area where the person died. In Sunderland, this is the Sunderland Register Office at Sunderland Civic Centre, Burdon Road, Sunderland SR2 7DN.

Book an appointment by calling 0191 520 5552. You will need to bring:

• The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
• The person's birth certificate (if available)
• Their marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable)
• Their NHS medical card or NHS number
• Their full name, date and place of birth, last address, and occupation

Order at least 5 certified copies of the death certificate at the time of registration. They cost £12.50 each and are needed by banks, insurers, pension providers, and solicitors. If the person had many accounts and policies, order 8 to 10. Ordering extra copies later costs more.

You can start arranging the funeral before registering the death, but the burial or cremation cannot go ahead until registration is complete (unless a coroner has issued the relevant paperwork).

Get at least three quotes from funeral directors in Sunderland. You are legally entitled to see an itemised price list. Typical costs in North East England:

If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment from the DWP, which covers basic costs plus up to £1,000 for extras. Apply within 6 months of the funeral by calling 0800 731 0469.

See our detailed costs breakdown or compare all funeral types (burial, cremation, direct, green, woodland).

If the person left a will, the named executor is responsible for handling the estate. If there was no will, the next of kin can apply to administer the estate under the rules of intestacy.

You may need to apply for Probate through the Probate Registry. This gives you the legal authority to deal with the person's bank accounts, property, and other assets. The court fee is £300 for estates over £5,000. You can apply online or by post.

Read our full probate guide for a step-by-step walkthrough, costs, and DIY vs solicitor advice. Or learn about what happens when someone dies without a will.

Beyond what Tell Us Once covers, you will need to contact a number of other organisations directly:

• Banks and building societies (use the free Death Notification Service to notify multiple banks at once)
• Insurance companies (life, home, car, travel)
• Pension providers (check for death-in-service benefits through the employer)
• Utility companies (gas, electricity, water, broadband)
• Mortgage lender or landlord
• Phone and TV providers
• Subscriptions and memberships
• Royal Mail (set up post redirection from £37 to catch correspondence)

Each organisation will usually need a certified copy of the death certificate.

Use our template letters to save time, see the full notification list, or browse the phone directory for contact numbers. For social media and email accounts, see our digital accounts guide.

Grief affects everyone differently. There is no right or wrong way to feel, and there is no timeline for recovery. It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed by the amount of admin involved. Do not try to do everything at once.

If you need someone to talk to, these services are available:

Your GP in Sunderland can also refer you to local counselling services. See our full list of support services and helplines.