What to do when someone dies - checklist
To help you further, we've put together a checklist of the things you may need to do
after someone has died.
GOV.UK also has additional information to help you through this difficult time.
What to do in the first 5 days
- Notify the family doctor
-
Find the will - the deceased person's solicitor may have a copy if you can't find
one
-
Funeral arrangements - you will need to check the will for any special requests
If there is a will
-
Contact the executor if this isn't you (usually nominated in the will to sort out
the deceased's estate) - to enable them to start the process of obtaining
probate in England and Wales or to apply for confirmation from the sheriff court
in Scotland
There is a simplified procedure for estate below £36,000 in Scotland
If there is no will
-
Decide who will apply to sort out the deceased’s estate in England and Wales.
In Scotland there is a strict order of preference of who can apply to the sheriff
court for appointment as executor dative
-
Contact the Probate Registry to apply for “letters of administration” in England
and Wales and to apply to the sheriff court in Scotland for confirmation. The
sheriff will require the executor dative to obtain a bond of caution (insurance)
except in certain circumstances where the surviving spouse / civil partner is
appointed as executor dative
Who else to contact
As well as informing people who were close to the person, you may also need to
close down accounts, cancel or change insurance details, subscriptions, agreements,
payments or direct debits.
Here's a list to help you keep track; just cross through the ones that don't apply:
- Relatives and friends
- Employer
- School
- Solicitor/accountant
Financial Organisations
- General insurance companies - contents, car, travel, medical etc
- Rental, hire purchase or loan agreements
-
If the deceased was first named on an insurance policy, make contact as
early as possible to check that the insurance will continue
- Pension providers/Life insurance companies
- Banks and building societies
- Mortgage provider
- Credit card providers/store cards
Utilities and household contacts
- Landlord or local authority for a rented a property
- Any private organisation/agency providing home help
- Utility companies if accounts were in the deceased's name
- Royal Mail, if post needs re-directing
- TV/internet subscriptions
Other Considerations
-
Bereavement Register and Deceased Preference Service - these will remove
the deceased's name from mailing lists and databases
-
Cancel memberships of clubs, trade unions, associations with seasonal
membership
- Inform church/regular place of worship
- Social groups to which the deceased belonged
- Dentist and other medical providers
- Creditors - anyone to whom the deceased owed money
- Debtors - anyone who owed the deceased money
- Blue Badge – contact the council for instructions on what to do with the badge
Benefits and financial help
You may be able to claim certain benefits and one-off payments if you lived with or
were dependent on the deceased. Time limits apply, so contact the DWP
Bereavement Service as soon as possible to find out.
-
You can complete an eligibility check to determine potential entitlement to
DWP benefits, in particular Bereavement Benefits and / or Social Fund
Payments available to yourself (or the husband, wife, spouse or partner of the
deceased) as a result of your recent bereavement.
You can do this either online at www.gov.uk,
search under ‘Death and benefits’, or by telephoning the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012
(Textphone 0800 731 0464) or to speak to someone in Welsh on 0800 731
0453 (Textphone 0800 731 0456)
Relay UK
(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone) 18001 then 0800 151 2012
Video Relay Service
for British Sign Language (BSL) users
-
Check your current benefits and tax credits
Making a new will
-
Surviving relatives and friends of the deceased may need to make a new will.
It's important to ask a solicitor about this.
Bereavement – counselling and support
-
If you or someone you know needs counselling or support, ask your family
doctor or contact an organisation such as Cruse Bereavement Care. Their aim
is to promote the well-being of bereaved people and provide counselling and
support. Cruse also offers information, advice, education and training services