The first steps
From registering the death to arranging a funeral, here are steps you need to take.
Formally register the death
When someone dies, their death must be registered. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland this needs to be done within five days, while in Scotland you have eight days.
This should be done at the registry office closest to where the death occurred. The registry office will issue you with the death certificate.
If you can, it's worth requesting multiple copies of the death certificate so that these can be provided to any organisations that need a copy.
You can find your nearest registry office online, where you can find information about how to make an appointment.
If the person has died while overseas, you can find out more information on how to register a death.
Obtain the will (if the deceased has one)
Having the most up-to-date will is important because it sets out the wishes of the deceased and names the executors. The executors are the people who sort out the deceased person’s estate based on their wishes.
If no will exists, the deceased's estate is distributed according to intestacy rules. These rules determine how the estate is divided and shared.
Arranging the funeral
We know that it may be difficult to pay for the funeral. Firstly, you should check if the person who has died had insurance to cover this. If not and the deceased had funds in their account, please call us to discuss your options.