What do I need to do when someone dies?

If someone dies at home and it was expected, for example if they had a terminal illness, call their GP, the district nurse or the out-of-hours service. If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 999. A doctor or nurse must confirm the death. If someone dies in hospital or a care home, staff will tell you what to do next.

There is no need to rush to do everything at once. Take time, and ask someone to be with you.

A doctor provides a medical certificate showing the cause of death. You then register the death with the registrar for the area where the person died, normally within five days in England. The registrar gives you a certificate for the funeral, and you can buy copies of the death certificate, which are needed for bank and insurance matters.

Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government departments in a single step, such as the State Pension, benefits, the passport office, the DVLA and the council. The registrar will explain it, and you can use it by phone or online.

Check whether the person left instructions, for example in their will or in a funeral plan. A funeral director can arrange the funeral, and you are free to compare prices. Ask for an itemised price list in writing, and ask what is included. You can also arrange a funeral yourself.

If you are on certain benefits and cannot afford the funeral, you may be able to get a Funeral Expenses Payment. The council may also arrange a basic funeral in some cases.

Look for a will, and for who is named as executor. The executor deals with the person’s estate: closing accounts, paying debts and sharing out what is left. This may involve applying for probate. A solicitor can help, and you can do some of it yourself. Bereavement support is available too, including from your GP and from charities.