Who to Notify When Someone Dies
What You Need to Know
Use Tell Us Once service (at death registration) to notify 10+ government departments at once (HMRC, DWP, DVLA, Passport Office, local council). Separately notify: banks within 1 week (prevents fraud, freezes accounts), insurers (life, car, home), pension providers, mortgage lenders, utilities (gas, electric, water), broadband/phone, employer if still working. Then within 2-4 weeks: cancel subscriptions (Netflix, gym), close online accounts, notify professional bodies, cancel loyalty cards.
- Tell Us Once: Single notification to HMRC, DWP, DVLA, Passport Office, council (for council tax/benefits)
- Week 1 priorities: Banks, insurers, pension providers, mortgage lenders, employer
- Weeks 2-4: Utilities (gas, electric, water), broadband, phone, council tax
- Months 1-3: Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify), gym, clubs, loyalty cards, online accounts
- Death certificates: Order 5-10 copies at registration (£12.50 each)—needed for most organisations
- Documents needed: Death certificate, your ID, proof of authority (will/probate for executors)
Have more questions on UK death administration? Let Farra help.
Contents
Notify the government (Tell Us Once)
In most areas of the UK, you can use the Tell Us Once service. When you register the death, the registrar will give you a unique code. Enter it online or by phone, and the following departments will be notified:
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- DVLA (driving licence)
- Passport Office
- Local council (council tax, benefits)
- Public sector pensions (if applicable)
This can save you a huge amount of time and effort. If Tell Us Once isn’t available, you’ll need to contact each body directly.
Coming soon: Farra’s Notify Assistant
A smart checklist and pre-filled templates to help you contact every organisation quickly, clearly, and with the right details.
Inform banks and financial providers
Contact the deceased's bank, building society, and credit card companies as soon as you can. Ask to speak to the bereavement team—they'll guide you through their process.
- Banks and savings accounts
- Credit card providers
- Investment firms or share registrars
- Mortgage lenders
- Pension providers
- Insurance companies (life, home, car)
Many will freeze accounts until probate is granted. You'll likely need a death certificate and may need to send the grant of probate later. However, you may be able to access funds before probate to pay for the funeral.
You can use Farra to track who you've contacted, access pre-written letter templates, and set reminders to follow up later.
Cancel household services
Go through the home and note down anything that’s billed regularly—then begin cancelling or transferring:
- Gas, electricity and water providers
- Broadband, landline and mobile phone accounts
- TV licence and digital subscriptions
- Council tax or rent
- Home security or alarm companies
If the property is empty, you may be eligible for reduced rates or special insurance.
Update legal contacts and property records
If the person owned property or had legal affairs in motion, make sure to notify:
- Solicitor or probate adviser
- Land Registry (if transferring property)
- HMRC (again, for property or capital gains tax)
- Any business contacts if they were self-employed
Inform clubs, subscriptions and more
These may not be urgent, but over time, it helps to review and close:
- Streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
- Magazine or newspaper subscriptions
- Gym, social clubs, or professional memberships
- Loyalty cards or reward programmes
- Online accounts or cloud storage
It can feel strange—but tidying these up brings closure. Farra offers a checklist so you don’t have to remember them all.
Priority Notification Order
Immediate (Within 1 Week)
- Use Tell Us Once service
- Contact banks and credit card companies
- Notify mortgage lender and insurers
- Contact employer if still working
Within 2-4 Weeks
- Utility companies (gas, electricity, water)
- Internet and phone providers
- Council tax and housing benefit
- Pension providers
Within 1-3 Months
- Subscriptions and memberships
- Online accounts and services
- Professional bodies and clubs
- Loyalty cards and reward programs
You don't have to do this all in one go. Farra can help you space it out, share the list with others, and come back when you're ready.
Try Farra – and take one small step at a time.
Next step: Stay organised with Farra
Farra's Notify Assistant is coming soon—with templates, smart checklists, and everything you need to stay on top of it all.
Download your free checklist →Related Guides
Who to Call First
Priority order of contacts when someone dies with urgent notifications in the first hours
Tell Us Once Service
Notify multiple government departments at once including HMRC, DWP and DVLA
Death Notification Service
Use DNS to notify banks, building societies and insurers about a death quickly
Close Bank Accounts
Process for closing deceased person's accounts including required documents and timelines
Cancel Car Insurance
How to notify insurers and cancel or transfer car insurance after someone dies
Notify Utility Companies
Contact gas, electric, water and broadband providers to update accounts
What to Do When Someone Dies
Complete step-by-step guide covering all death administration tasks
Register a Death
Legal requirement to register within 5 days at your local registry office
Notifying Banks After Death
Detailed guide to contacting banks with templates and required documents
Bereavement Benefits and Support
Financial help available including Bereavement Support Payment