Who to Inform About a Death
Telling the Executors about the death
If the person who has died left a Will which does not appoint you as an executor, but you know the people who are appointed executors, make sure they know about the death.
You and the executors can then decide who is to register the death, if this has not already been done, and who is to arrange the funeral.
If you have registered the death and obtained copy death certificates but you are not an executor, hand the copy certificates over to the executors or their solicitors.
If you are not going to deal with the DWP, hand over the form relating to social security benefits too.
If the executors are arranging the funeral, give them the certificate for burial or cremation.
If, because you cannot find a Will, you do not know who the personal representatives are, you can still arrange and hold the funeral.
Solicitors
You may need to contact the solicitors of the person who has died soon after the death to ask if they have the Will and to find out who the executors are. For more information and to find out how to search for a Will click here.
Solicitors
You may need to contact the solicitors of the person who has died soon after the death to ask if they have the Will and to find out who the executors are. For more information and to find out how to search for a Will click here.
If there is a Will
If they have not contacted the solicitor before the funeral, the executors should do so soon afterwards and arrange a meeting.
For guidance about the papers and information to take to the meeting, see the list below of documents to look for before meeting solicitors.
The executors take on a heavy personal responsibility and most prefer to remove that risk by employing a solicitor. To speak to a solicitor click here.
This can either be by the traditional way of administering the whole estate or by using the solicitor as a consultant and to prepare the key documentation while they do the more routine work.
If there is a Will
If they have not contacted the solicitor before the funeral, the executors should do so soon afterwards and arrange a meeting.
For guidance about the papers and information to take to the meeting, see the list below of documents to look for before meeting solicitors.
The executors take on a heavy personal responsibility and most prefer to remove that risk by employing a solicitor. To speak to a solicitor click here.
This can either be by the traditional way of administering the whole estate or by using the solicitor as a consultant and to prepare the key documentation while they do the more routine work.
If there is no Will
If the person who has died seems not to have left a Will, then one or more of the person's closest relatives (wife, husband or civil partner, father or mother, brother or sister, son or daughter) should contact a solicitor for advice.
The solicitor can help with further searches for the Will and explain what to do if the person is intestate.
Bank or building society
Tell the bank or building society where the person who has died had a current account about the death.
Bank or building society
Tell the bank or building society where the person who has died had a current account about the death.
Private landlord or local authority
If the person who has died was a tenant living in rented accommodation, tell the landlord or local authority about the death.
If the accommodation was shared and the remaining occupant was not a co-tenant but wants to stay in the property, the landlord may be willing to make a new rental agreement with the remaining occupant.
The remaining occupant may find it helpful to get guidance from a solicitor or the CAB before approaching the landlord.
Private landlord or local authority
If the person who has died was a tenant living in rented accommodation, tell the landlord or local authority about the death.
If the accommodation was shared and the remaining occupant was not a co-tenant but wants to stay in the property, the landlord may be willing to make a new rental agreement with the remaining occupant.
The remaining occupant may find it helpful to get guidance from a solicitor or the CAB before approaching the landlord.
Employer
If the person who has died was in employment at the time of the death, tell the employer's HR department about the death.
It is best to do this soon after the death to speed up the process of paying out any salary due to the estate and lump-sums from a pension scheme.
DVLA
Contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to cancel the driving licence of the person who has died and to request that the registration details of his or her car are amended.
Alternatively, use the DWP's Tell us once service if it is available in your area.
If anyone is going to drive a car that belonged to the person who has died, check that they are adequately insured.
DVLA
Contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to cancel the driving licence of the person who has died and to request that the registration details of his or her car are amended.
Alternatively, use the DWP's Tell us once service if it is available in your area.
If anyone is going to drive a car that belonged to the person who has died, check that they are adequately insured.
Passport Office
Look for the passport of the person who has died and return it to the UK Identity and Passport Office so that it can be cancelled.
Alternatively, use the DWP's Tell us once service if it is available in your area.
Passport Office
Look for the passport of the person who has died and return it to the UK Identity and Passport Office so that it can be cancelled.
Alternatively, use the DWP's Tell us once service if it is available in your area.
Utility companies and other service providers
The providers of services to the home must be told about the death. For example:
Utility companies supplying gas, electricity and water Broadband, phone and satellite TV providers The Television Licensing Authority The local Council Tax authority Suppliers of other regular services, such as gardening and cleaning.
If the suppliers addressed their bills to the person who has died, tell them about the death and, where appropriate, arrange for them to take meter readings as close to the death as possible.
If someone else is going to go on living in the property, contact the supplier to arrange for the account to be transferred into that person's name if they want to go on receiving the service - or arrange to switch to another supplier.
Remember that direct debits from a bank or building society account of a person who has died, including direct debits to utility suppliers, are cancelled when the bank or building society hears about the death.
Royal Mail
If the person who has died was living alone in a private home, contact the Royal Mail to arrange for post to be redirected.
Redirecting to one of the personal representatives is best since the post is likely to include information about the person's assets and debts.
Royal Mail
If the person who has died was living alone in a private home, contact the Royal Mail to arrange for post to be redirected.
Redirecting to one of the personal representatives is best since the post is likely to include information about the person's assets and debts.
Our dedicated Wills, Probate, Tax & Trusts team
Useful Information
Insights 3 min read
Why Attempting to Administer an Estate yourself might be a False Economy
Video 4m 59s
Funeral Disputes Q & A
Video 3m 10s
Steps You Can Take to Avoid a Posthumous Probate Dispute
Video 5m 57s
Business Lasting Power of Attorney
Video 2m 41s
Lasting Power of Attorney
Contact Us
If you have an enquiry then please fill in your details and someone will contact you.
0800 975 2463 - Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00
Please note that our offices will be closed from midday, Friday 20th December 2024
The offices will be open as usual on Monday 23rd December 2024.
The offices will then be closed from Tuesday 24th December through to Wednesday 1st January (inc), reopening as usual from 2nd January 2025.
The emergency contact number during this time is - 01772 220022 or 01254 675050.