What to do after someone dies

Checklist

You will find it helpful to have important reference numbers and information of the person who died to hand while you go through this process.

  • Date and place of their birth
  • Date and place of their marriage
  • National Insurance number
  • Tax reference number, which you will find on payslips, P45 or P60 documents from employers

If you are asked to post a copy of the death certificate to an organisation, it is a good idea to:

  • send it tracked and signed for
  • include a stamped, addressed envelope for it to be returned to you

Register the death

  • Complete the pre-registration of death form
  • Attend the registering a death appointment
  • Complete the government’s Tell Us Once form using the reference number we give you.

Sort out probate

Arranging the funeral

  • Check the will, in case the person who died has any specific requests.
  • If you want one, contact a funeral director.

Rented accommodation

If the person who died lived in rented accommodation, tell the local authority, housing association or landlord. You may be asked to clear the property within a couple of weeks. Some landlords may allow you a little longer if you ask and/or pay for this.

Who you need to inform

Family members and friends

Employer or education establishments

Health professionals – and cancel any outstanding health-related appointments and recurring prescriptions

Any agencies that have been providing care to the person who died

Financial organisations, including:

  • Banks, national savings and building societies
  • Insurance companies, for example, life, building and contents, medical, car, travel
  • Pension providers
  • Credit card or store card providers
  • Any other financial organisations that the person who died has an account with
  • Any companies or organisations where the person who died has a joint account

Property and utilities, including:

  • Mortgage provider
  • the local authority, housing association or landlord if the person who died lived in rented accommodation
  • Utility companies – arrange transfer of account details if necessary
  • TV and internet service providers
  • HM Land Registry, to update any property records

Other things you may want to do

  • Receiving post for a person who has passed away can be very distressing. Use the Deceased Identity Protection Service to redirect unwanted post.
  • Tell any clubs, membership organisations and social groups that the person who died belonged to. People may wish to attend the funeral.
  • Any social media accounts the person who died had can be closed down or changed to “in memory of” pages.

Page last updated: 22 November 2023

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