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Soon after the death:

1. Notify GP/Verify the death
2. Promptly discuss any organ donation wishes with a medical practitioner

Shortly after the death:

3. Obtain Medical Certificate of Cause of Death or contact Coroner’s Office to see when you may be able to register the death
4. Consider using the services of a Funeral Director or how you will organise the funeral yourself
5. Check if the person who has died had a will (which may contain instructions for the funeral)

In the days following the death:

6. Register the death
7. Notify benefits/pensions provider/tax office of the death ASAP to avoid overpayment of benefits
8. Inform people of the death

• Tell family members and friends
• Employer or educational establishments
• Health professionals. You will also need to cancel any outstanding hospital, dental, podiatry or other health related appointments
• Agencies providing care such as social services, home carers, meals on wheels and day centres
• Banks / National Savings / building societies
• Insurance companies (e.g. life, buildings / contents, medical, car, travel)
• Pension providers
• Credit card/store card providers
• Any other financial institutions must be informed so that any accounts solely in the deceased’s name can be frozen to prevent fraud
• You should also inform companies /organisations with joint accounts, although these should normally still be accessible by the other joint holder
• Mortgage provider or if the deceased lived in rented accommodation, inform the local authority, housing association or private landlord
• Buildings and property insurance companies to ensure continued cover especially if the property is left unoccupied
• Utility companies (electricity, gas, water and telephone) and arrange transfer of account details if necessary
• TV/internet companies
• Pensions Service or Jobcentre Plus to cancel any benefits to the deceased or their carer
• Inland Revenue to deal with tax and Child Benefit payments (if applicable)
• Local government offices that provide services such as the Electoral Register, housing benefit, council tax office, bus pass, disabled parking permits, library membership
• The DVLA and the insurance company if the deceased owned a car or held a driving licence
• The Passport Agency
• Arrange redirection of post if necessary and reduce the burden of any unwanted mail by registering with the Bereavement Register
• Clubs / membership organisations/social groups.

In the weeks and months following the death:

9. If there is no will, decide who will sort out the deceased’s estate and contact the Probate Registry to apply for a Grant of Administration
10. Find out if probate is needed
11. Gather any documents relating to financial affairs and property ownership
12. Decide how to go about the probate process and whether to use a professional or undertake the administration yourself.