When someone dies, there’s a surprising amount of practical and legal ’admin’ to handle — often at a time when you least feel equipped for it. Here’s a clear, structured list of the main tasks in the UK (many apply elsewhere, though details vary):
1. Immediate Steps
Get a medical certificate of cause of death from a doctor (required in order to register the death).
Register the death with the local register office, usually within 5 days (8 in Scotland). You’ll receive a death certificate.
Notify close family and friends.
Arrange care for dependents or pets if needed.
2. Arranging the Funeral
Check whether there’s a will or prepaid funeral plan.
Choose a funeral director (or arrange it yourself if you prefer).
Book burial or cremation and decide on service details.
3. Securing Property and Assets
Ensure the person’s home, car, and possessions are safe.
Cancel or redirect regular deliveries (post, newspapers, groceries).
4. Notifying Organisations
You can use the government’s Tell Us Once service (England, Wales, Scotland) to notify HMRC, DWP, DVLA, and Passport Office in one go. Additionally, you’ll need to contact:
Banks and building societies
Pension providers
Insurance companies
Utilities (gas, electricity, water, broadband)
GP, dentist, and any health services
Clubs, memberships, subscriptions
There are actually various online options that can help you tell everyone you need to when someone has died, like www.lifeledger.com
5. Handling the Estate
Find the will. If there’s none, intestacy rules apply.
Apply for probate (or confirmation in Scotland) if needed—this gives you legal authority to deal with the estate.
Pay debts, close accounts, distribute assets according to the will or law.
File final tax returns if required.
6. Other Considerations
Stop or transfer housing benefit, council tax, or other allowances.
Deal with social media and digital accounts—many offer ’memorialisation’ options (and we covered this in one of our February blogs)
Obtain plenty of certified copies of the death certificate; you’ll need several for different organisations and even if you ask, they don’t always send them back to you.
If you need help you can ask someone like us to help. For all the legal side of things we always recommend using a private client lawyer to help you, especially if things are complicated (eg, the will is complicated, or the family is complicated). And remember to keep all of the paperwork for 21 years as HMRC can investigate Inheritance Tax up to 20 years after the tax is paid. Yikes!