UK Death Notification Process: Complete Guide 2026 for All Organisations

Quick Overview: UK Death Notification Process

Here's the complete notification process at a glance:

• Immediate (Hours 1-24): Doctor (certify death), family/close friends, employer, funeral director
• Within 5 days: Register death at Register Office (England/Wales), request Tell Us Once
• Within 1 week: Banks, building societies, insurance, pensions, utility companies
• Within 2 weeks: Mortgage lender, credit cards, loans, subscriptions, memberships
• Within 1 month: Professional bodies, charities, social media, online accounts
• Total organisations: Average person needs 40-60 notifications; Tell Us Once handles 20+

The Tell Us Once Service: Notify 20+ Organisations Automatically

Tell Us Once is a free UK government service that lets you report a death to multiple government organisations simultaneously:

What Tell Us Once Notifies

The service automatically informs:

• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - All benefits including State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Carer's Allowance
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) - Tax records, National Insurance, Child Benefit, Tax Credits
• Passport Office - Cancels deceased's passport
• DVLA - Driving licence and vehicle registration
• Local council - Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Blue Badge, Library card, Electoral roll
• NHS - Medical records (in some areas)
• Veterans UK - If deceased was receiving armed forces pension

How to Use Tell Us Once

1. Register the death first - You must register the death before using Tell Us Once
2. Request at registration - Most Register Offices offer Tell Us Once immediately after registration, or you can request it within 28 days
3. Get your reference number - Registrar gives you a unique Tell Us Once reference number
4. Complete online or by phone - Use reference at gov.uk/tell-us-once or call 0800 085 7308 (8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm Sat)
5. Takes 20-30 minutes - You'll need deceased's details: NI number, addresses for last 3 years, benefit/pension details, NHS number, passport number, driving licence number
6. Notifications sent within 1 day - Most organisations updated within 24 hours

What Tell Us Once Doesn't Cover

You still need to notify separately:

• Banks, building societies, and credit unions
• Insurance companies (life, home, car, health)
• Pension providers (workplace and private pensions)
• Mortgage lenders and landlords
• Energy suppliers (gas, electricity)
• Water companies
• Phone, broadband, and TV providers
• Credit card companies and loan providers
• Employers (if employed or self-employed)
• Professional bodies and membership organisations
• Social media and online accounts

Priority 1: Immediate Notifications (Hours 1-24)

These must be done within the first 24 hours:

1. Doctor to Certify Death

• When: Immediately after death
• Who calls: Family member or care facility
• At home: Call deceased's GP or out-of-hours service (dial 111)
• In hospital/care home: Staff handle this automatically
• What you receive: Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
• Timeline: Usually issued within 24 hours (longer if referred to coroner)

2. Immediate Family and Close Friends

• Who to tell: Spouse/partner, children, parents, siblings, closest friends
• Method: Phone call (don't rely on text/social media for close family)
• Consider: Ask family to help spread news to extended family and friends

3. Employer or Business Partners

• If employed: Notify employer HR department
• If self-employed: Notify key clients and business partners
• If company director: Notify other directors, company accountant, Companies House (within 14 days)
• Why urgent: Prevents automatic absences, payroll issues, business disruption

4. Funeral Director

• When: Within 24 hours if possible
• Why: Body must be moved from hospital/home, preservation may be needed, arrange storage
• What they do: Collect body, arrange temporary storage, guide you through funeral planning
• Cost: Get 2-3 quotes; average £3,000-£5,000 for full service

Priority 2: Within 5 Days (Death Registration)

Legal requirement in England/Wales (8 days in Scotland):

Register Office

• Deadline: According to GOV.UK, 5 days in England/Wales, 8 days in Scotland, 5 days in Northern Ireland
• Who can register: Relative, person present at death, occupier of property, person arranging funeral
• What you need: Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD), deceased's details (full name, date/place of birth, last address, occupation, NHS number if known)
• What you get: Death certificate copies (order 5-10 at £12.50 each), Tell Us Once reference number
• Book appointment: Register online at gov.uk/register-a-death or call local Register Office

Priority 3: Within 1 Week (Financial & Essential Services)

Notify these organisations within 7 days to prevent issues:

Banks and Building Societies

• Priority: High - notify within 1-3 days if possible
• Why urgent: Freeze accounts, prevent fraud, access funeral payment releases (more information at MoneyHelper)
• Documents needed: Death certificate, your ID, will (if executor)
• What happens: Sole accounts frozen, joint accounts may remain accessible, funeral payments released (£5k-£50k)
• Timeline: Receive probate valuations in 2-4 weeks
• See our guide: How to Notify Banks After a Death UK

Insurance Companies

• Life insurance: Notify immediately to start claim process (policies pay out £10k-£500k+)
• Home insurance: Notify within 7 days - unoccupied property may invalidate cover
• Car insurance: Cancel or transfer within 14 days for refund
• Health/dental insurance: Cancel to stop premiums
• Documents: Death certificate, policy numbers

Pension Providers

• State Pension: Handled by Tell Us Once automatically
• Workplace pensions: Contact each provider separately - may have death benefits
• Private pensions: Notify SIPP/personal pension providers for valuations and death benefits
• Death benefits: Many pensions pay lump sum (2-4x salary) to nominated beneficiaries
• Timeline: Request valuations for probate (takes 2-4 weeks)

Utility Companies

• Gas and electricity: Notify supplier, take final meter reading, close or transfer account
• Water: Contact water company, provide death certificate, close or transfer
• Council Tax: Notify council (Tell Us Once does this) for discount/exemption on empty property
• Why urgent: Empty property discounts apply from date of notification, not date of death

Phone, Broadband, and TV

• Mobile phone: Cancel contract or request PAC code to keep number
• Landline and broadband: Cancel or transfer (30-day notice usually required)
• TV Licence: Cancel for refund (pro-rata from date of death)
• Sky/Virgin/BT TV: Cancel subscriptions (check contract termination fees)

Priority 4: Within 2 Weeks (Credit & Subscriptions)

Mortgage Lender or Landlord

• Mortgage: Notify lender immediately - check for life insurance cover on mortgage
• Landlord: Give notice on tenancy, check if estate owes rent
• Life insurance payout: Many mortgages include life cover that pays off loan
• Documents: Death certificate, mortgage account details

Credit Cards and Loans

• Notify: All credit card issuers and loan providers
• What happens: Accounts frozen, balances frozen, interest may continue
• Important: Family members NOT liable unless joint account holder or guarantor
• Payment: Debts paid from estate during probate in legal priority order
• PPI or payment protection: Check if loan/card had insurance covering death

Subscriptions and Memberships

• Streaming services: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Spotify, Apple TV, Disney+
• Gyms and clubs: Gym membership, golf club, social clubs
• Magazines and newspapers: Print and digital subscriptions
• Professional bodies: Medical, legal, accounting, teaching memberships
• Refunds: Most offer pro-rata refunds for unused period

Priority 5: Within 1 Month (Non-Essential Notifications)

Online and Social Media Accounts

• Facebook: Memorialise account or request permanent deletion (facebook.com/help/contact/234739419951449)
• Instagram: Memorialise or delete through same Facebook process
• Twitter/X: Contact support to deactivate (@Twitter support)
• LinkedIn: Report deceased member (linkedin.com/help)
• Email accounts: Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo - contact provider (may need death certificate)
• Apple ID: Contact Apple Support for account closure
• Google: Use Inactive Account Manager if deceased set it up

Loyalty and Reward Schemes

• Supermarket cards: Tesco Clubcard, Sainsbury's Nectar, Asda Rewards
• Airline miles: British Airways Avios, Virgin Points (some transferable to family)
• Hotel points: Marriott, Hilton, IHG (check transfer policies)
• Store cards: John Lewis, M&S, Boots Advantage
• Cashback sites: TopCashback, Quidco (withdraw balance first)

Charities and Regular Donations

• Direct debits: Cancelled automatically when bank account frozen
• Standing orders: Notify each charity separately to confirm cancellation
• Gift Aid: Charities can still claim on donations after death
• Legacy gifts: Inform charities if deceased left them bequest in will

Complete Notification Checklist by Category

Government and Public Services (Most via Tell Us Once)

• ☐ Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) - All benefits
• ☐ HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) - Tax, NI, Child Benefit
• ☐ State Pension service
• ☐ DVLA - Driving licence and vehicle registration
• ☐ Passport Office
• ☐ Local council - Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Electoral roll
• ☐ NHS - GP surgery (if not via Tell Us Once)
• ☐ Blue Badge scheme
• ☐ Companies House (if director - within 14 days)

Financial Services (Notify Separately)

• ☐ All banks and building societies
• ☐ Credit unions
• ☐ National Savings & Investments (Premium Bonds, savings bonds)
• ☐ Investment platforms and stockbrokers
• ☐ Workplace pension schemes
• ☐ Private pension providers
• ☐ Life insurance companies
• ☐ Mortgage lender or landlord
• ☐ Credit card issuers
• ☐ Loan providers (personal loans, car finance)
• ☐ PayPal, Revolut, Monzo, other fintech

Property and Housing

• ☐ Home insurance provider
• ☐ Contents insurance
• ☐ Mortgage lender
• ☐ Landlord or letting agent
• ☐ Gas supplier
• ☐ Electricity supplier
• ☐ Water company
• ☐ Council Tax (via Tell Us Once)
• ☐ Home phone and broadband
• ☐ TV Licence

Transport

• ☐ Car insurance
• ☐ DVLA - Vehicle registration
• ☐ DVLA - Driving licence (via Tell Us Once)
• ☐ Car finance company
• ☐ Breakdown cover (AA, RAC)
• ☐ Parking permit issuer
• ☐ Season ticket provider (train, bus)

Communications and Media

• ☐ Mobile phone provider
• ☐ Landline provider
• ☐ Broadband provider
• ☐ Sky/Virgin/BT TV
• ☐ TV Licence
• ☐ Streaming services (Netflix, Amazon, Spotify, etc.)
• ☐ Magazine/newspaper subscriptions

Healthcare

• ☐ GP surgery (if not via Tell Us Once)
• ☐ Dentist
• ☐ Optician
• ☐ Private healthcare provider (Bupa, AXA, etc.)
• ☐ Pharmacy (repeat prescriptions)

Memberships and Subscriptions

• ☐ Gym membership
• ☐ Golf club/sports clubs
• ☐ Professional bodies
• ☐ Trade unions
• ☐ Alumni associations
• ☐ Religious organisations
• ☐ Social clubs
• ☐ Library (via Tell Us Once)

Online and Digital

• ☐ Email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo)
• ☐ Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn)
• ☐ Apple ID / iCloud
• ☐ Google accounts
• ☐ Amazon account
• ☐ eBay account
• ☐ Online banking apps
• ☐ Cloud storage (Dropbox, OneDrive)

How to Make Notifications Easier

1. Create a Master List

Before you start notifying, create a complete list by:

• Checking bank statements for regular payments and direct debits
• Looking through emails for account notifications
• Reviewing post for bills and correspondence
• Checking wallet/purse for membership cards
• Asking family about known accounts and memberships

2. Use Tell Us Once First

Start with Tell Us Once to handle 20+ government notifications in one go. This frees you to focus on private companies and financial institutions.

3. Batch Similar Notifications

Group notifications by type:

• All banks in one session (Monday morning)
• All utilities together (Tuesday)
• All subscriptions together (Wednesday)

4. Keep a Tracking Spreadsheet

Record for each organisation:

• Organisation name and account number
• Date notified
• Method (phone/email/letter)
• Reference number given
• Action required (refund due, balance owed, etc.)
• Status (pending/completed)

5. Send by Recorded Delivery

For important notifications (banks, insurance, pensions), send death certificates by recorded delivery and keep tracking numbers.

6. Get Written Confirmation

Always request written confirmation that accounts have been frozen, closed, or transferred. Keep these letters for probate records.

Common Notification Problems and Solutions

Problem: Organisation Won't Accept Death Certificate Copy

Solution: This is why you should order 5-10 original certified copies during registration. If you run out, order more from the Register Office (£15 each). Some organisations accept solicitor- certified copies - ask if this is acceptable before ordering more.

Problem: Can't Find All Accounts

Solution: Check 12 months of bank statements for direct debits and standing orders. Use My Lost Account service (mylostaccount.org.uk) for banks. Check credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) for credit accounts. Search email for account confirmations.

Problem: Organisation Keeps Charging After Notification

Solution: This shouldn't happen once bank account is frozen. If it does, contact organisation immediately with date you notified them and request refund. Report to Financial Ombudsman if they refuse. Keep records of when you notified (reference numbers, emails).

Problem: Tell Us Once Not Available

Solution: Tell Us Once is only available in England, Wales, and Scotland (not Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, or Channel Islands). If unavailable, you must notify each government department separately: DWP Bereavement Service 0800 731 0469, HMRC 0300 200 3300, DVLA 0300 790 6802, Passport Office 0300 222 0000, local council directly.

Problem: Overseas Accounts and Services

Solution: For overseas banks, pensions, and properties, contact each directly with certified death certificate copy (you may need international certified copies). Some countries require local probate. Check if double taxation treaties apply. Seek specialist international probate advice if significant overseas assets (over £50,000).

Timeline: When to Notify Each Organisation

Day 1 (Immediate)

• Doctor (to certify death)
• Immediate family and close friends
• Funeral director
• Employer

Days 2-5 (Before Registration)

• Register Office (book appointment for registration within 5 days)
• Banks (start process - full notification after registration)
• Life insurance (start claim process)

Day 5-8 (Registration Week)

• Register death at Register Office
• Complete Tell Us Once
• All banks and building societies (with death certificates)
• Pension providers
• Insurance companies (home, car, life)

Week 2

• Utility companies (gas, electricity, water)
• Phone, broadband, TV providers
• Mortgage lender or landlord
• Credit cards and loans
• HMRC (if not via Tell Us Once)

Weeks 3-4

• Subscriptions and memberships
• Professional bodies
• Charities (direct debits)
• Loyalty schemes
• Social media and online accounts

Next Steps After Notifying Organisations

Once you've completed the notification process:

1. Gather all valuations - Banks, pensions, property, investments for probate application
2. List all liabilities - Mortgages, loans, credit cards, utility bills
3. Calculate estate value - Total assets minus debts to determine if inheritance tax due
4. Apply for probate - If estate value exceeds bank thresholds (typically £5k-£50k)
5. Distribute the estate - Pay debts in priority order, then distribute to beneficiaries

The death notification process is one of the first major tasks in estate administration. Using Tell Us Once for government notifications saves significant time, but you'll still need to notify 20-40 private organisations separately. Taking it methodically - one category at a time - makes an overwhelming task manageable. Keep detailed records of every notification for probate and to track outstanding refunds or balances.