When someone dies
First steps
If someone close to you has just died — or died recently — this page covers what tends to matter most in the coming days and weeks.
You don't need to do everything at once. Death administration in the UK unfolds in phases, and most things can wait a day or two.
Filter by your situation to highlight what matters most:
First few days
Immediate priorities
There are only a handful of things that genuinely need to happen in the first day or two. Everything else can wait.
Who to Call First When Someone Dies
Who to contact and in what order — from the doctor to close family.
What to Do When Someone Dies at Home
Step-by-step for handling a death at home, including who to call and what to expect.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Hospital
Hospital procedures, the bereavement office, and collecting documentation.
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
What it is, who issues it, and why you need it before you can do almost anything else.
First two weeks
Registration and the funeral
In England and Wales you must register the death within 5 days. The funeral can usually wait a little longer.
How to Register a Death in the UK
Who can register, what to bring, and what you'll receive — including death certificates.
How Many Death Certificates Do You Need?
How many certified copies to order and why — banks, probate, and insurers all need originals.
Finding the Will
Where to look for a will, what to do if you can't find one, and who has the legal right to see it.
The Tell Us Once Service
How to notify HMRC, DWP, DVLA, and your local council in one go through the government's free service.
Funeral Planning Checklist
What decisions need to be made, in what order, and who has the legal right to make them.
First month
Notifications and finances
Once the funeral is behind you, the administrative weight tends to arrive. Start with the finances that affect day-to-day life.
Notifying Banks After a Death
How to inform banks and building societies, what they'll ask for, and what happens to accounts.
Joint Bank Accounts: What Happens When a Spouse Dies
How jointly held accounts are treated and what access the surviving partner has.
Dealing with Utility Companies After a Death
How to transfer or close gas, electricity, water, and broadband accounts.
Do You Need Probate?
Not every estate requires probate. Here's how to work out whether it applies to your situation.
Benefits That Change When Someone Dies
Which benefits stop, which transfer, and what new support you may be able to claim.
The months ahead
Estate and probate
Probate — where it's needed — typically takes six to twelve months. Understanding the process early makes it significantly less daunting.
Valuing the Estate for Probate
How to value property, savings, investments, and debts — and which IHT form you'll need.
Applying for Probate: Step-by-Step
The PA1P form, the Probate Registry, costs, and what to do when there are delays.
Letters of Administration (When There's No Will)
If there's no will, you'll need letters of administration rather than probate. Here's how.
Inheritance Tax: Complete Guide 2026
The nil-rate band, the residence nil-rate band, exemptions, and when IHT actually applies.
How Long Does Probate Take?
Typical timelines, what causes delays, and how to avoid the most common hold-ups.
The Deceased's Final Tax Return
Whether HMRC needs a return for the year of death, and who is responsible for filing it.
Need to apply for probate?
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