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.
UK Death Notification Process: Complete Guide 2026 for All Organisations
By Farra Editorial Team•11 min read•Last updated: 28 January 2026
Who do I need to notify after a death in the UK?
1The average estate requires 40–60 individual notifications; Tell Us Once handles 20+ government departments in one free submission at gov.uk/tell-us-once (must be used within 28 days of registering the death).
2Order 5–10 certified death certificates at registration (£12.50 each) — they cost more if ordered later and most banks, pension providers, and insurers require original copies.
3Notify banks within 1–3 days to freeze accounts and prevent fraud; most will release £5,000–£50,000 to pay funeral costs before probate is granted.
4Tell Us Once covers DWP, HMRC, DVLA, the Passport Office, local council, and NHS — but banks, insurers, pension providers, utilities, and subscriptions must all be contacted separately.
5If the deceased was a company director, notify Companies House within 14 days of death.
Notify 40-60 organisations. Tell Us Once (free gov.uk service) automatically notifies 20+ government departments—DWP, HMRC, DVLA, Passport Office, council—with single notification (request when registering the death, use within 28 days). Notify separately: banks, insurance, pensions, mortgage, utilities. Timeline: immediate (doctor, family, employer, funeral director), within 5 days (register death + Tell Us Once), within 1-2 weeks (banks, utilities).
Tell Us Once: Free service notifies 20+ government departments automatically (gov.uk/tell-us-once)
Total notifications: Average 40-60 organisations; Tell Us Once handles 20+
Timeline: Immediate (doctor, family), 5 days (register + Tell Us Once), 1 week (banks, insurance), 2 weeks (subscriptions)
Death certificates: Order 5-10 at registration (£12.50 each vs £15+ later)
Not via Tell Us Once: Banks, insurance, pensions, mortgage, utilities, phone providers
Keep records: Track each notification with date, method, reference number
Use Tell Us Once to Notify 20+ Organisations Automatically
The free Tell Us Once service notifies most government departments and local council services automatically with a single notification. This includes DWP (benefits), HMRC (tax), DVLA (driving licence), passport office, local council, and more. Request Tell Us Once when you register the death or within 28 days at gov.uk/tell-us-once. This saves hours of individual notifications.
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
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
Register the death first - You must register the death before using Tell Us Once
Request at registration - Most Register Offices offer Tell Us Once immediately after registration, or you can request it within 28 days
Get your reference number - Registrar gives you a unique Tell Us Once reference number
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)
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
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
Order 5-10 certified death certificates during registration at £12.50 each (vs £15+ later). You need separate certificates for: each bank (many won't accept copies), Probate Registry, HMRC, pension providers, insurance companies, mortgage lender, property transfers, and more. Most estates need 5-10 certificates minimum.
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)
☐ 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:
Gather all valuations - Banks, pensions, property, investments for probate application
List all liabilities - Mortgages, loans, credit cards, utility bills
Calculate estate value - Total assets minus debts to determine if inheritance tax due
Apply for probate - If estate value exceeds bank thresholds (typically £5k-£50k)
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.