Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
When a parent dies, adult children often find themselves expected to handle the practicalities — the registration, the phone calls, the decisions — while also grieving. This guide covers what tends to matter most in the weeks ahead, in order.
A few things need to happen quickly. Most can wait.
To register the death you first need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death from the doctor or medical examiner. In England and Wales, you must register within five days. Any adult relative can register — you do not need to have been named in the will or have any particular legal status.
How to Register a Death in the UK
Who can register, what to bring, and what you will receive at the register office.
The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
What it is, who issues it, and why you need it before you can register.
When Does a Death Go to the Coroner?
What triggers a coroner investigation and what to expect during the process.
Funeral Planning Checklist
Decisions to make, in what order, and who has the legal right to arrange the funeral.
Finding the will should be one of your first priorities. The person named as executor is legally responsible for administering the estate — collecting assets, paying debts, and distributing what remains.
If there is no will, the estate is dealt with under intestacy rules. The closest living relative applies for Letters of Administration rather than probate. The process is similar; the document is different.
Finding the Will
Where to look, what to do if you can't find one, and who has the right to see it.
What Executors Can Do Before Probate
Your authority and limitations before the Grant of Probate is issued.
Letters of Administration (No Will)
The process when your parent died without a valid will.
Renouncing the Executor Role
How to formally step back if you have been named executor but cannot or do not wish to act.
There are dozens of organisations to notify. The most efficient place to start is Tell Us Once — a free government service that notifies HMRC, DWP, DVLA, the Passport Office, and your parent's local council in a single step after you register the death.
The Tell Us Once Service
Notify multiple government departments in a single step after registering.
Notifying Banks After a Death
How to inform banks, what they will ask for, and what happens to accounts.
Notifying the DVLA After a Death
What to do with your parent's driving licence and any vehicles they owned.
Contacting HMRC After a Death
Notifying HMRC, stopping tax credits, and dealing with the final tax return.
Whether probate is required depends on what your parent owned and how. It is generally needed when assets were held in their sole name above the bank's threshold — particularly for property, significant savings, or investments.
Do You Need Probate?
How to determine whether probate is required for your parent's estate.
Valuing the Estate for Probate
How to value property, savings, and investments — and which IHT form to use.
Inheritance Tax: Complete Guide 2026
The nil-rate band, residence nil-rate band, exemptions, and when IHT applies.
Applying for Probate: Step-by-Step
The PA1P form, the Probate Registry, costs, and what to expect.
How Long Does Probate Take?
Typical timelines, common causes of delay, and how to avoid them.
The Deceased's Final Tax Return
Whether HMRC needs a tax return for the year of death, and who must file it.
If your parent owned their home, this is usually the most significant part of the estate. You will typically need the Grant of Probate before you can sell or transfer the property. The house can remain empty while the estate is being administered — but you should notify the home insurer promptly, as policies sometimes have conditions about unoccupied properties.
What to Do with an Inherited Property
Your options — sell, let, or live in it — and the tax implications of each.
Clearing a House After a Death
Practical advice on sorting belongings, dealing with furniture, and the emotional side.
Securing an Empty Property After a Death
What to do to protect an unoccupied property during the estate administration period.
As executor, you are legally responsible for collecting your parent's assets, paying any debts and taxes, and distributing what remains according to the will. It is a significant role but most people manage it without a solicitor. You have the authority to act from the moment of death, though you will need the Grant of Probate before banks and the Land Registry will deal with you on the estate.
Under UK intestacy rules, if your parent had a surviving spouse or civil partner, they typically inherit first (up to £322,000 plus half of the remainder). If there is no surviving spouse, the estate is divided equally between the children. Cohabiting partners have no automatic inheritance rights under intestacy law regardless of how long they were together.
You are the sole responsible person, which can feel overwhelming. But you do not have to do everything at once. Many tasks — probate, estate administration — take months and can be paced. You can also appoint a professional executor or estate administrator to take on the legal work if you would prefer not to. Farra's guided plan is designed specifically for people in this situation.
There is no fixed deadline for applying for probate, but if inheritance tax applies it must be paid within six months of the date of death to avoid HMRC interest charges. For this reason most executors aim to begin the valuation and IHT process within four months. The estate cannot be fully distributed until probate is granted.
Disagreements between executors or beneficiaries are common. If there are multiple executors, decisions should be made jointly. For disputes about the will itself or how the estate is being administered, mediation is usually cheaper and quicker than litigation. If a sibling is the sole executor and you believe they are acting improperly, you can apply to the probate court for them to provide a formal account of their administration.
A complete guide for surviving spouses: the first few days, your finances and home, benefits you may be entitled to, and dealing with the estate.
A practical step-by-step guide to handling death admin in the UK — from the first 5 days to dealing with the estate.
Step-by-step guide for handling a death at home, including who to call, what to expect, and immediate next steps.
Complete guide to hospital death procedures, bereavement offices, and collecting belongings and documentation.
Critical tasks for the first 24 hours after someone dies. A clear, prioritized checklist when you're overwhelmed.
Your AI companion for UK death administration—combining practical guidance with emotional support, available 24/7.
Your AI companion for UK death administration
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