What to do when someone dies

Register within five days of the death if you’re in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or within eight days if you're in Scotland.

Before you can register the death, a doctor will need to complete a medical certificate explaining the cause of death. This is free.

In some cases, the death may need to be referred to a coroner (or procurator fiscal in Scotland), who may order a post-mortem examination. If this happens, you can share any religious beliefs or personal objections you have.

Once you have the medical certificate, you can register the death.

Registering the death is free.

You’ll need to pay for copies of the death certificate. It’s worth getting several copies at this point, as it’s cheaper than ordering more later, and you’ll need them to deal with different organisations.

You’ll need to provide details about the person who died, including their full name, date and place of birth, last address and occupation.

Bring any documents you have, such as their birth certificate, passport, driving licence and National Insurance number.

In Scotland, it is possible to register a death remotely by telephone or video appointment with a registrar. The registrar will advise what information and supporting documents are required and how these should be provided.

You’ll also need to show proof of your own identity.

The registrar will give you a unique reference number. You’ll need to use this to notify government departments, council and any public sector pension scheme.

You’ll get a certificate, sometimes called the "green form", which allows a burial or cremation to go ahead. You can give this to the funeral director or the crematorium.

Do this as soon as you receive the death certificate.

In England, Wales and Scotland, you can use the Tell Us Once service to notify several government departmentsOpens in a new window at the same time, like:

• HMRC:  for the person's taxes
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP):  to stop their State Pension and benefits
• DVLA: to cancel their driving licence and vehicle registration
• Passport Office: to cancel their passport
• local council: for Council Tax, the electoral register and housing benefits
• any public sector or armed forces pension scheme.

It’s free to use and will tell you who has been notified and who else you may need to contact.

If you’re in Northern Ireland, you can use the Bereavement Service instead or call them for free on 0800 085 2463.

Do this as soon as possible after receiving the death certificate, or within a month of the death. 

If you were renting together and the tenancy was in the name of the person who died, contact the landlord to transfer it to your name.

You'll also need to update any bills or payments into your name.

Contact each of the following directly:

• housing associations or council housing offices
• mortgage providers
• employers
• utility providers
• insurance companies
• bank or building society
• credit card companies
• pension providers.
• any other organisations that owed or were owed money by the person who died.

You can also use free services like SettldOpens in a new window, LifeLedgerOpens in a new window, or the Death Notification ServiceOpens in a new window to notify multiple companies at once.

If the person owned a property, contact the home insurer as soon as possible. Some insurance policies have special conditions which apply when a property becomes unoccupied following a death.

You’ll need official copies of the death certificate and the executor or administrator’s contact details.

Our guide Managing your money after losing your partner can help with bills, mortgage, insurance and more.

Do this as soon as possible after receiving the death certificate. Send them by post to the:

• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)Opens in a new window
• Passport OfficeOpens in a new window
  

Once the death has been registered, you (or, in Scotland, the person appointed to make arrangements on death) can arrange the funeral.

Most people do this through a funeral director, but it's also possible to arrange it yourself if you prefer. There's no right or wrong way to do this. It’s about what feels right for you and your family.

For more information about costs and what to expect, see our guide How much does a funeral cost?

You might be eligible for financial help. Check if you can claim:

• Bereavement Support Payment and other benefits
• Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave if your child has died or you’ve had a stillbirthOpens in a new window
• Guardian's Allowance if you're bringing up a child whose parents have diedOpens in a new window

When someone close to you dies, your own finances may be affected. Your tax, benefits, and pension could all change depending on your relationship with the person who died.

See GOV.UK for guidance on:

• Manage your tax, pensions and benefits if your partner has diedOpens in a new window
• Check how benefits are affected if a child diesOpens in a new window
  

Dealing with the death of someone close to you can be an incredibly difficult time, and it’s important to know that support is available.

Your GP or a local religious or community group can be a good first step if you’re struggling with bereavement. You can also find support through:

• BereavementUKOpens in a new window
• Counselling DirectoryOpens in a new window
• Cruse Bereavement CareOpens in a new window (for England, Northern Ireland and Wales)
• Cruse Bereavement Care ScotlandOpens in a new window

If you need more information on what to do when someone dies, these websites can help:

• What to do after deathOpens in a new window on Citizens Advice
• What to do after someone diesOpens in a new window on GOV.UK
• What to do when someone diesOpens in a new window on MoneySavingExpert
• Should you buy a funeral planOpens in a new window on Which?

If you've experienced a late miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death, our guides can help you understand the financial support available to you:

• Your rights and benefits after a stillbirth
• Understanding your rights and financial support after a miscarriage
• Your rights and benefits if your baby died shortly after birth 

If your right to live in the UK was based on your relationship with the person who died, you may need to apply for a new visa.

Check whether this applies to you on GOV.UK:

• If you were in the UK as the partner of a British citizen or someone with indefinite leave to remainOpens in a new window
• If your partner who died served in HM ForcesOpens in a new window
  

For any other visa type, contact UKVIOpens in a new window to find out what the rules mean for your situation.

To work out if there’s Inheritance Tax to pay, you’ll need to estimate the value of everything the person owned and owed — their property, money, possessions and debts. This is known as their estate.

Our guides on Inheritance Tax in the UK and Inheritance Tax rules on gifts can help you understand what’s involved.

The grant or confirmation (often called probate) is the legal document that gives you the authority to deal with someone’s estate.

You may not always need it. It depends on what the person owned and how it was held.

Visit GOV.UK to:

• check if you need to apply for probateOpens in a new window
• apply for probateOpens in a new window

Probate and estate administration can be lengthy and complex, but many people do it themselves, and you could save thousands of pounds by doing so. If you do want help, the type of firm you choose will make a big difference to the cost.

There are two parts to the process:

• Grant of probate or confirmation:  A legal document giving the executor authority to deal with the estate.
• Estate administration: Identifying and distributing the assets to beneficiaries.

Some firms offer a grant-only service, leaving you to handle the estate administration yourself. This can save you a significant amount. Always ask whether this option is available.

Consider using a solicitor, accountant, bank, or probate specialist if:

• the estate is over the £325,000 Inheritance Tax threshold and has complex tax issues
• there is no will and the estate is complicated
• the validity of the will is in doubt
• someone left out of the will may make a claim or other disputes
• the estate includes assets held in trust
• the estate is insolvent (bankrupt)
• there are foreign assets or the deceased lived outside the UK for tax purposes.

Different firms use different charging models. Some charge fixed fees for particular stages of the process, while others charge based on the time spent dealing with the estate. Always ask for a clear written estimate and check exactly what is included, as some quotes cover only getting the grant, while others include the full administration of the estate.

Costs vary considerably by provider. As a rule, banks are the most expensive, followed by solicitors and accountants, with probate specialists typically the cheapest.

• Grant of probate only: expect to pay between £500 and £2,000 for a non-taxable estate or £1,500 to £5,000 for an estate where Inheritance Tax is payable.
• Grant of probate and estate administration: fees are often charged on an hourly rate basis, which for a standard estate is usually estimated as a percentage of the estate's value (usually between 1% and 5%), plus VAT and disbursements. Fixed-fee services are available and, although might be higher than the hourly rate estimate, tend to work out cheaper.

For example, on a £100,000 estate:

• At 1%: £1,000 fee + £200 VAT = £1,200
• At 5%: £5,000 fee + £1,000 VAT = £6,000

These figures do not include court fees or disbursements, so the final bill will likely be higher.

Disbursements are extra costs that the firm doesn't control. These might include probate court fees, property valuation fees, conveyancing fees, and fees for placing notices in newspapers. VAT may be charged on some of these costs too.

You can use the solicitor who drew up the will, but you're not obliged to — shopping around could save thousands.

Always compare quotes, and consider using competing quotes to negotiate a better price.

Once you have the authority to act, you can start dealing with the person’s estate.

This means settling any debts, closing accounts, and sharing out money or belongings, either according to their will, or following the law if there wasn’t one.

See GOV.UK for guidance on:

• how to deal with the estateOpens in a new window, and
• update property recordsOpens in a new window
  

Sorting out someone's finances after they die can feel daunting, but you don't have to figure it out alone. Whether they left a will or not, our guides are here to help: 

• How to sort out an estate when someone dies leaving a will: a step-by-step guide
• How to sort out an estate without a will: a step-by-step guide
• How to find old or lost pensions
• Handling Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax when someone dies: a step-by-step guide.

For more detailed support on what to do after a death, see our death and bereavement guides.