What to Do When Someone Dies

In the first few hours

When someone dies, there are some things that need to happen quite quickly — but most of the administrative tasks can wait. Take the time you need.

If they die at home

• Call their GP or, out of hours, 111
• If the death was unexpected, call 999
• The doctor will issue a medical certificate of cause of death (or the death will be referred to the coroner)

If they die in hospital or a care home

• The staff will guide you through the immediate steps
• The medical certificate will be issued by the hospital

If the death is referred to the coroner

This happens when the cause of death is unknown, sudden, or unnatural. The coroner may order a post-mortem examination. This can delay the registration of the death, but the coroner's office will keep you informed.

Within the first five days

Register the death

You must register the death within five days at the local register office where the person died (or where they usually lived). You'll need:

• The medical certificate of cause of death
• The deceased's birth certificate, marriage certificate, and NHS number (if available)
• Their address, date of birth, and occupation

The registrar will give you:

• A death certificate (you'll probably want several certified copies — banks, insurers, and other organisations will need to see one)
• A green form (for the burial or cremation)

Arrange the funeral

You can arrange the funeral yourself or use a funeral director. Key decisions include:

• Burial or cremation
• The type of service
• Whether to use a funeral plan if one exists

Check whether the deceased left funeral wishes in their will or a letter of wishes.

In the first few weeks

Find the will

Locate the deceased's will as soon as you can. Common places to look:

• At home (in a safe, filing cabinet, or with important documents)
• With their solicitor
• At their bank
• With the Probate Service's storage facility

See our guide on how to find a will for more detail.

Notify relevant organisations

You'll need to tell a range of organisations about the death:

• DWP / Tell Us Once service — the registrar can help you access this, which notifies multiple government departments at once
• Banks and building societies — to freeze or close accounts
• Insurance companies — life insurance, home, car, and other policies
• Pension providers — workplace and private pensions
• HMRC — if they were self-employed or had tax affairs
• Local council — for council tax
• Utility companies — gas, electricity, water, phone, broadband
• Their employer — if still working
• Mortgage or landlord — housing arrangements

Secure the property

If the deceased lived alone:

• Make sure the property is secure and insured
• Redirect their post to a relevant address
• Keep paying essential bills (these come out of the estate)

Dealing with the estate

Apply for probate (if needed)

If the deceased owned property or had significant assets, you'll likely need to apply for probate. This gives you the legal authority to deal with their estate.

Pay debts and taxes

The estate is responsible for paying:

• Outstanding debts (mortgage, credit cards, loans)
• Funeral costs
• Any inheritance tax due
• Income tax up to the date of death

Distribute the estate

Once all debts are paid and the administration is complete, the executors can distribute the estate according to the will (or the intestacy rules if there's no will).

Looking after yourself

Bereavement is exhausting — emotionally and practically. Don't try to do everything alone:

• Bereavement support: Cruse Bereavement Support (0808 808 1677) offers free confidential support
• Citizens Advice: can help with practical and financial matters
• Tell Us Once: reduces the number of organisations you need to contact individually
• Professional help: a solicitor or probate specialist can handle the estate administration if it feels overwhelming

There's no rush to sort everything immediately. Most of the administrative tasks can be spread over weeks and months. Focus on what's most urgent, and ask for help when you need it.