What to do after someone dies: A simple guide

Losing someone close to you can be overwhelming. Alongside dealing with grief, there are often practical matters that need attention in the days and weeks that follow.

This guide explains some of the first steps to consider after a death and where you may need further advice or support.

Key takeaways:

• Registering the death is one of the first legal steps after someone dies
• In most cases, the funeral can be arranged before the probate process or wider estate administration has begun
• Securing property and important documents should be an early priority
• A will can help determine who is responsible for dealing with the estate
• Complex estates may require specialist legal advice

The first things to do

What happens immediately after a death will depend on where the person died.

If the person dies at home, a doctor should be contacted. If the death was expected, the doctor or another healthcare professional will usually confirm the death and provide information about registering it.

If the person dies in hospital or a care home, staff will normally guide you through the process and explain what needs to happen next.

At this stage, you may also wish to:

• Contact close family and friends
• Begin thinking about funeral arrangements
• Locate important documents
• Check whether the person left any written wishes or instructions

Make sure property and valuables are secure

If the person lived alone, one of the most important early steps is making sure their home and belongings are protected.

This may involve:

• Securing the property
• Checking doors and windows are locked
• Making arrangements for valuable items
• Contacting insurers
• Redirecting post if the property will be empty

You should also check whether the insurer has any requirements that apply once a property becomes unoccupied. Apart from any items that need to be moved for security reasons, it’s generally best to leave the deceased person's belongings in place until they can be valued as part of the estate.

Register the death

In England and Wales, a death normally needs to be registered within five days in the district where the person died. As part of the process, the registrar will issue several important documents, including the certificate needed for burial or cremation (a green form), a state benefits form (a BD8), and the death certificate. 

These documents are often needed when dealing with banks, pension providers, insurers, government bodies and other organisations.

What happens if a death is reported to the coroner?

Some deaths are referred to the coroner, particularly if the cause of death is unclear, the death was sudden or unexpected, or further investigation is needed.

If this happens, the coroner may order a post mortem examination to help establish how the person died. In some cases, an inquest may also be held. This is a formal investigation into the circumstances of a death. If the coroner is involved, this can affect when the death can be registered and may delay some funeral arrangements.

Who can register a death?

In England and Wales, a death can usually be registered by:

• A relative of the deceased
• Someone who was present when the person died
• The occupier of the premises where the death occurred, or the person responsible for those premises
• The person who is arranging the funeral

What documents do I need to register a death?

You should take the following documents or information with you when registering a death, if available:

• The medical certificate issued by the doctor
• The person’s birth certificate and marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Details of the person’s date and place of birth, if their birth certificate isn't available
• Details of any other names by which the person was known
• The person’s usual address
• Their last occupation
• The name, occupation and date of birth of their spouse or civil partner
• Their medical or NHS card or National Insurance number
• Details of any state benefits they were receiving

How many copies of the death certificate do I need?

It's often helpful to obtain several official copies of the death certificate. Multiple organisations may ask to see one, and the certificates can't be photocopied. The exact number you need will depend on the estate.

Who needs to be notified after a death?

You may need to inform a range of organisations about the death, including:

• Banks and building societies
• Utility providers
• Pension providers
• Insurance companies
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
• The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Some organisations will ask to see an official copy of the death certificate before they can update their records or close accounts.

Arrange the funeral

Many people leave guidance about their funeral wishes, either in a will, a letter of wishes or other personal documents.

You may want to check:

• Whether funeral preferences were recorded
• Whether there’s a prepaid funeral plan
• Whether the person wished to be buried or cremated
• Whether any charitable donations were requested instead of flowers

How much does a funeral cost?

Funeral costs vary depending on the type of funeral and the services chosen. The funeral itself can be expensive, and there are often extra costs such as newspaper notices and fees for a vicar or church.

You should also check whether the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan to cover some of the costs. In many cases, the deceased’s bank or building society may be willing to pay the funeral bill before probate, provided there are enough funds in the account.

How long after a death is a funeral usually held?

Funerals are often held within a few weeks of a death, although there’s no legal deadline for when a funeral must take place in the UK. The timing can depend on whether the death needs to be registered or referred to the coroner.

Can you have a funeral without a death certificate?

Yes — usually the funeral can go ahead before you receive the final death certificate, provided the death has been medically certified and registered, or the coroner has given the necessary authority. If the death hasn’t yet been certified or referred back by the coroner, the funeral may have to wait.

Find out whether there’s a will and what happens to the estate

One of the next steps is to check whether the person left a valid will. A will usually names the executors, who are responsible for dealing with the estate.

If there’s no will, different legal rules apply. These are known as the intestacy rules and determine who can deal with the estate and who is entitled to inherit.

The person’s assets and debts make up their estate. Before anything can be distributed to beneficiaries (the people entitled to inherit), the estate usually needs to be administered. This may involve identifying assets and debts, valuing the estate, paying liabilities and taxes, applying for probate where required, and distributing the estate.

For more detail, see our guide to administering an estate.

What to do if your partner dies

If your partner dies, there may be additional practical and financial matters to consider.

You should send off the BD8 state benefits form given to you by the registrar as soon as possible, so your state pension can be increased, if appropriate. If you now live alone, you should also contact your local council to request a reduction in your council tax bill.

If you had a joint bank or building society account, the bank or building society will change the account into your sole name once they’ve seen the death certificate. However, the money in the account may still form part of your partner's estate, so you should still tell the personal representatives about it.

Summary and next steps

This guide covers some of the practical steps that often need attention immediately after a death. The next stage is usually dealing with the deceased's estate.

Our private client team regularly helps executors and families with:

• Obtaining probate and other grants of representation
• Administering estates
• Inheritance tax planning and compliance
• Trusts and ongoing trust administration
• Business and agricultural assets
• Other complex estate issues and family circumstances

We can support you with specific aspects of the process or take responsibility for administering the estate on your behalf.

If you would like to discuss your circumstances, please get in touch.

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