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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