What to do when someone dies: step by step

Check what to do after a death - how to register the death, notify government departments and deal with the estate.

This step by step is also available as a Welsh (Cymraeg) guide.

1. Step 1: Register the death

   1. Register the death within 5 days

   Check what to do if:

   • the death has been reported to a coroner
   • the death happened outside the UK
   • you're registering a stillbirth
   • someone is missing and you think they're dead

   To stop or change benefits payments you can tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about the death straight away.

2. Step 2: Arrange the funeral

   1. Arrange the funeral
   2. Find bereavement services from your local council
   3. Get help paying for a funeral
   4. Get help paying for a child's funeral
   5. Find bereavement help and support

3. Step 3: Tell government about the death

   The Tell Us Once service allows you to inform all the relevant government departments when someone dies.

   1. Use the Tell Us Once service to tell government
   2. If you cannot use Tell Us Once, tell government yourself

   You'll also need to tell banks, utility companies, and landlords or housing associations yourself.

4. Step 4: Check if you can get bereavement benefits

   You might be eligible for financial help.

   Check if you can get:

   • Bereavement Support Payment if your spouse or civil partner has died
   • Guardian's Allowance if you're bringing up a child whose parents have died

5. and Deal with your own benefits, pension and taxes

   Your tax, benefit claims and pension might change depending on your relationship with the person who died.

   1. Manage your tax, pensions and benefits if your spouse has died
   2. Check how benefits are affected if a child dies

6. and Check if you need to apply to stay in the UK

   If your right to live in the UK depends on your relationship with someone who died you might need to apply for a new visa.

   Check the rules if:

   • you're in the UK as the partner of a British Citizen or someone with indefinite leave to remain
   • your partner who died served as a member of HM Forces

   1. Contact UKVI to check the rules for other visas

7. Step 5: Apply for probate and check if you need to pay Inheritance Tax

   You might need to apply for probate and pay Inheritance Tax before you can deal with the property, money and possessions (the ‘estate’) of the person who died.

   1. Check if you need to apply for probate

   1. Estimate the value of the estate to find out if you need to pay Inheritance Tax

   1. Find out how to report the value of the estate

   1. Pay Inheritance Tax if it’s due

   1. Apply for probate

8. Step 6: Deal with the estate

   Pay any debts or taxes owed by the person who's died. You can then distribute the estate as set out in the will or the law.

   1. Deal with the estate

   1. Update property records