Things to be done when someone dies

If someone dies at home you should call the doctor who will sign a medical certificate confirming the cause of death, unless they decide to refer the matter to the coroner (the procurator fiscal in Scotland). If the death happens in hospital the doctor there will issue the certificate.

The medical certificate must be taken to the registrar within five days of the death (eight days in Scotland), unless it has been referred to the coroner.

Your funeral director, doctor or Post Office should be able to give you the registrar's address and telephone number, or look in the phone book under 'Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages'. It is a good idea to phone to make an appointment so that you are seen promptly. Take the medical certficate giving the cause of death with you and the deceased's medical card and birth and marriage certficates, if available. The registrar will also need other information about the person who has died such as their usual address, and whether they were receiving a pension or any other welfare benefits.

The registrar will give you two documents: a certificate of registration of death for social security purposes; and the certificate for burial or cremation which should be given to the funeral director. You may also need several copies of the death certificate (which is a certified copy of the entry in the death register) - perhaps for the will, and for settling any pension claims, insurance policies and investments. You will have to pay for any extra copies so ask the registrar for guidance on how many you will need.

If the death is sudden or unusual it will be reported to the coroner (the procurator fiscal in Scotland), who may call for a post-mortem and, in some cases, an inquest. Don't be alarmed - this is a normal legal requirement and the coroner's officer should be able to answer any questions you have. If you need extra support, contact one of the organisations in the Useful Contacts section.

The funeral

The funeral is a time for saying goodbye to the person who has died, and for celebrating their life. It gives family and friends the chance to support and comfort each other. Grief can be shared at a funeral, so don't worry about getting emotional or accepting offers of help. Before you begin to arrange the funeral it is worth thinking about a few points:

Did the person who has died have firm ideas about what they wanted their funeral to be like? Did they make any requests about funeral arrangements in their will? Had they already made arrangements?

What sort of funeral do you, and other family and friends, want? Do you want a quiet family gathering or an elaborate ceremony? Will there be a religious service?

How will the funeral be paid for? Bear in mind that if you arrange a funeral you'll be responsible for paying the bills. You don't have to go to a funeral director to organise the funeral. If you want to make your own arrangements, you can get advice from the Natural Death Centre (Tel: 0871 288 2098) or from the cemeteries and crematoria department of your local authority. However, most people do use a funeral director, who can make all the arrangements for the funeral - whether burial or cremation, a religious or a non-religious service.
 
The choice of funeral director is important. The firm may be known to you personally, may be recommended by a friend or a religious adviser or may have a good reputation locally. There are two trade associations for funeral directors - the National Association of Funeral Directors and the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors. These associations have codes of practice which require members to provide clear information on prices, and which guarantee that a funeral will not cost more than any written estimate given to you.
 
It is important to get this estimate in advance and it is also a good idea to ask different firms to quote so that you can compare costs and cut back on items you feel are unnecessary or you would rather not have. Don't feel embarrassed about asking for a 'basic funeral' - it is up to you to decide what sort of funeral you want.

Paying for the funeral

If you get Pension Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit (with a disability element), or Child Tax Credit, you may qualify for a Funeral Payment from the Social Fund to help pay for the funeral. You must make your claim within three months of the funeral. The Pension Service,  your funeral director, your local social security office or the Citizens Advice Bureau can help you to claim. For more information call SeniorLine.
 
You may also get help with paying for the funeral if the person who has died was a war pensioner. For more information call the Veterans Agency helpline on 0800 169 2277 or contact them at the address listed in the Useful Contacts section.
 
If the person who has died was in work, a death-in-service payment may be available, or the employer may have a benevolent fund which can help. Sometimes an occupational or personal pension scheme will provide a lump sum towards funeral costs. Find out whether the person who died was a member of a cremation society or had a pre-paid funeral plan or an insurance policy to cover the cost of the funeral.
 
If the financial assets of the person who died have been frozen and you do not have access to money, their bank or building society may be able to help you until probate (in Scotland, confirmation of the estate) is granted. If there is a life insurance policy the insurance company may be able to give you the interest earned on the money in the policy before probate is granted.
 
If there is no money to pay for the funeral, the local council should arrange and pay for a simple funeral (or sometimes the hospital will do so if the person died there). This will be a dignified funeral followed by cremation or burial, and is not like the old 'pauper's' funeral. If you don't have the money to pay for a funeral, talk to the council (or hospital) as soon as possible - don't make any arrangements before you do this. You might find it helpful to get advice and support from your local Citizens Advice Bureau if you are in this position.
 
Sometimes people find themselves in the difficult position of being unable to pay the bill for the funeral when they finally receive it. This can be very distressing, but there are ways of resolving the problem - for example some funeral directors will allow the bill to be paid in instalments. If you can't afford to pay the funeral bill at once try not to worry about it, but seek advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau, SeniorLine or Cruse Bereavement Care as soon as you can.

Death notice

You may wish to put an announcement about the death in the national or local newspapers, giving details of the funeral and your wishes about flowers or contributions to charity. The classified advertisement department of the newspaper will help you with the wording and give you an idea of the cost over the telephone. Or you can ask your funeral director to arrange things, usually for a fee. For security reasons, you may decide not to include your address.

Dealing with the will and estate

If there is a will, the executors are responsible for making sure that what is specified in the will is carried out. The executors may need to get a grant of probate from the Probate Registry to give them the authority to deal with the estate. If the person who died didn't leave a will, but had money or property, an application for legal authority to administer the estate should be made to the Probate Registry. The Probate and Inheritance Tax Helpline on 0845 30 20 900 can give you details of your local registry, and can also give you general advice on getting probate. In Northern Ireland contact the Probate and Matrimonial Office on 028 9072 4679.
 
In Scotland, application for confirmation of the estate, or for the appointment of an executor where this is no will, is made to the local sheriff court.
 
You can deal with all this yourself (with advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau if neccessary), or you may prefer to use a solicitor. If you don't have a solicitor, ask a friend or relative to suggest one, or ask at your local Citizens Advice Bureau for a list of local solicitors and the areas of law in which they specialise. Consulting a solicitor can be expensive; you pay for the time they spend dealing with your affairs, so ask for an estimate of how long things will take, and charges, before you commit yourself. It is a good idea to get all your documents together, and make a note of questions, before you visit the solicitor as this will save you time and money.
 
If you are on a low income, you may be able to get help from a solicitor through a legal help or legal aid scheme. Ask at your local Citizens Advice Bureau for more information or call the Community Legal Service Direct helpline on 0845 3454 345.
 
For more information on dealing with the will and estate see the 'Guide to Estate Administration' available from the Wills & Legacies Department at Help the Aged on 020 7239 1965.

Who to tell about the death

If the person who died was receiving any welfare benefits, such as a State Retirement Pension, inform the social security office of their death and return any order books. The registrar will give you a certificate to fill in and return with the books. Keep a note of any reference numbers as you may need them later on.
 
If the person who died had a driver's licence, return it to the DVLA; if they had a passport return it to the UK Passport Agency. You should also let the tax office know.
 
Depending on the circumstances, you may need to contact some other organisations as well. These could include:

• personal or occupational pension schemes
• insurance company
• bank and building society
• employer or trade union
• mortgage provider, housing association or council housing office
• social services (if the person was getting any community care services or equipment)
• energy or telephone suppliers

For more detailed information see the leaflet 'What to do after a death' which is available from your local social security office. There are different versions for England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Also see leaflet IR45 'What to do about tax when someone dies' which you can get from any tax office. 

 

Concerns about money

Many people have money worries after bereavement, so it is a good idea to check whether you are entitled to any welfare benefits. Some widows and widowers are entitled to special bereavement benefits, and if you now have less money coming in you may be able to claim a benefit like Pension Credit or Council Tax Benefit. Our free information sheet Bereavement Benefits (PDF) has more information or your can call our freephone advice line, SeniorLine. One of our advisers can help you to check what you are entitled to. 
 
You can also contact The Pension Service for advice by calling 0845 6060 265 (textphone: 0845 60 60 285) or write to The Pension Service, PO Box 1005, Newcastle NE98 1WZ. You can make an appointment to talk to someone at your local Pension Service information point or ask someone to visit you at home if necessary. If you live in Northern Ireland contact your local social security agency.
 
You may also have worries about debt, or about managing your finances, especially if you are not used to dealing with money and bills on your own. If you have any money worries, get in touch with your local Citizens Advice Bureau, or call SeniorLine for advice on who else you can talk to in your area. Our free advice leaflet Thinking About Money (PDF) gives useful advice on money management and budgeting.

Practical help and support

Sometimes a bereavement can make it difficult for you to manage in the way you used to. For example, if the person who died used to give you a lot of help and support around the house then you may feel that it will be impossible for you to manage without them. However, there may be other ways of getting the help you need.
 
Local authorities have a duty to assess the care needs of older and disabled people, and arrange services which help them to live in their own homes. Services could include:

• home help to assist with general household tasks
• home care to help with things like bathing and dressing
  meals on wheels
• lunch clubs, social clubs or day centres

Contact your local social services department (social work department in Scotland, or local health and social services trust in Northern Ireland) for information on getting an assessment, or seek advice from SeniorLine.
 
A local voluntary organisation or a private care agency may also be able to provide extra help. Our free advice leaflet Help in Your Home (PDF) gives more detailed information on different ways of getting help at home.
 
You may want to consider getting a community alarm. These allow you to call for help even if you can't get to a phone; you can contact a 24-hour response centre from anywhere in your home. Staff at the centre will then call out the best person to help you - perhaps a neighbour, relative or friend or the emergency services.
 
Your local council may have a community alarm scheme; ask their housing department. Help the Aged runs its own immediate telephone response service (like a community alarm scheme) called SeniorLink (or CareLine in Northern Ireland). You can buy or rent a SeniorLink unit, or Help the Aged may be able to supply you with one free of charge if you are on a low income. For more information, contact SeniorLink.