What to do when someone dies
When someone dies in England and Wales, the first step is to get the death certified by a doctor — since September 2024, a medical examiner must also review every non-coroner death before the death can be registered. You then have five days from when the register office receives the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to register formally, after which you can arrange the funeral, notify organisations, and assess whether probate is needed.
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First 48 hours
Getting the death certified
Before anything else can happen — registering, arranging the funeral, notifying anyone — the death must be certified by a doctor. What you do next depends on where and how the person died.
Died at home
Call the GP surgery, or out-of-hours/NHS 111 if outside office hours. A doctor will attend or advise. They will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) once satisfied about the cause.
Died in hospital or hospice
Contact the hospital or hospice bereavement office. They will guide you through collecting the MCCD and any personal belongings. There is no rush to collect on the same day.
Sudden or unexpected death
Call 999. The death will be reported to the coroner. The coroner decides whether to investigate — if so, the 5-day registration clock is paused and there is no fixed time limit.
New since 9 September 2024 — Medical Examiner Reform
Since 9 September 2024 (under the Health and Care Act 2022), every death in England and Wales that is not referred to a coroner must be reviewed by an independent medical examiner before the MCCD is released. This is mandatory — it is not optional and not a cause for concern.
- · Free — no charge to the family
- · Takes approximately 1–2 working days
- · The ME's office may contact next of kin — this is routine, not alarming
- · You can also contact the ME's office if you have any concerns about the cause of death
If a coroner is involved: the 5-day registration clock is paused and there is no legal time limit. The coroner's officer will keep you informed of progress. You cannot arrange the funeral until the coroner releases the body.
Tip: Contact a funeral director early — even before registering — to begin making arrangements. Ask about a pre-paid funeral plan: many people arrange one in advance and the plan number should be with their paperwork.
Within 5 days
Registering the death
Key fact: the 5-day clock starts when the register office receives the MCCD — not the date of death.
Once you have the MCCD, book an appointment at the local register office in the district where the death occurred — not where the deceased lived, if those are different. Most offices require an appointment.
Who can register
- · A relative who was present at the death or during the final illness
- · Any other relative of the deceased
- · A person present at the death (not a relative)
- · The person responsible for arranging the funeral
What to bring
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) | Required — registration cannot proceed without it |
| Birth certificate | Helpful but not compulsory |
| Marriage or civil partnership certificate | If applicable |
| NHS number or medical card | Helpful for the registrar |
| Passport or driving licence | Helpful for identity verification |
What you receive
Certified copies of the death certificate
Each costs £11. Order at least 5–10 — banks, pension providers, insurers and HMRC each need one. Re-ordering later is slower and more costly. Source: GOV.UK, verified May 2026. Verify current amount on GOV.UK.
Certificate for Burial or Cremation (green form)
Handed to the funeral director. The funeral cannot go ahead without it.
Tell Us Once reference number
Use within 28 days to notify government departments in one step.
Which register office? Ideally the one in the district where the death occurred. If that is not possible, you can register "by declaration" at any register office in England and Wales — but this adds a few days as the paperwork is forwarded. Do not delay; registering locally where possible is faster.
Failing to register a death within five days without good reason is a criminal offence. Contact the register office immediately if you are having difficulty.
First weeks
Notifying organisations
Two free services handle the bulk of notifications. Use both — they cover different organisations and do not overlap.
Tell Us Once
Government departments
One notification reaches DWP, HMRC, DVLA, Passport Office, council services, and public-sector pensions. Free. Use your Tell Us Once reference within 28 days of registration.
Tell Us Once guide →Death Notification Service
Banks & building societies
One online notification reaches participating banks and building societies. Free. Visit deathnotificationservice.co.uk.
DNS guide →What Tell Us Once does and doesn't cover
| Covered by Tell Us Once | Notify separately |
|---|---|
| DWP (State Pension, benefits, Universal Credit) | Banks not in the Death Notification Service |
| HMRC (Income Tax, Child Benefit, Tax Credits) | Mortgage lender |
| DVLA (cancels driving licence) | Utilities (gas, electricity, water) |
| HM Passport Office | Phone and broadband providers |
| Local council (Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Blue Badge, electoral register) | Insurers (home, car, life) |
| Public-sector and Armed Forces pensions | Private and workplace pensions |
| Veterans UK | Employer (if still employed) |
| Subscriptions and social media | |
| TV Licensing | |
| Royal Mail redirection | |
| The Bereavement Register (stops marketing mail) |
Tell Us Once timing: Works with an interim death certificate. Use within 28 days of registration. Available in England, Scotland and Wales.
Lasting Power of Attorney: An LPA ends on the death of the donor. If you were acting as attorney, you must notify the Office of the Public Guardian.
Bank accounts after death
Banks and building societies need separate notification — they are not covered by Tell Us Once. You can notify multiple participating banks at once using the Death Notification Service, or contact each bank's bereavement team directly.
- ·Sole accounts are frozen once the bank is notified. No further card payments or direct debits leave the account. The bank provides a date-of-death balance statement, which you need for the estate valuation.
- ·Joint accounts are treated differently. They usually pass to the surviving account holder by right of survivorship, without probate — the bank removes the deceased's name on receipt of a death certificate.
- ·To release funds from a sole account, the bank may ask for a death certificate, your proof of identity, and — if the balance exceeds the bank's threshold — the sealed Grant of Probate.
- ·Many banks will release funds specifically to pay funeral costs before probate is granted. Ask the bereavement team.
After registration
The funeral
The funeral cannot go ahead until the death is registered (so the funeral director has the green form) or, if a coroner is involved, until the coroner formally releases the body.
Funeral options and approximate costs
| Type | Approximate cost | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional funeral with service | ~£4,000–£6,000+ | Funeral director, hearse, coffin, burial or cremation, service |
| Direct cremation | ~£900–£1,800 | Cremation with no service; ashes returned; memorial arranged separately |
| Attended direct cremation | ~£1,200–£2,500 | Small number of attendees, simple service |
| Woodland/green burial | ~£1,000–£4,000 | Natural burial site, biodegradable coffin, no embalming |
Costs are approximate — verify locally. Source: industry surveys.
Funeral Expenses Payment
Means-tested DWP payment for people on qualifying benefits. Covers reasonable funeral costs up to scheme limits.
gov.uk/funeral-payments →Bereavement Support Payment
Lump sum plus monthly payments for a surviving spouse or civil partner (subject to eligibility).
gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment →Next stage
The will and probate
Finding the will
Check at home first: filing cabinet, desk, safe, or important documents folder. If not found there, contact their solicitor or bank (many hold wills for safekeeping), and search the National Will Register at certainty.co.uk.
No will found? The estate passes under the rules of intestacy, which determine who inherits and who can apply to administer the estate. Intestacy rules explained →
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Start the free assessment →Frequently asked questions
What's the first thing to do when someone dies?
How long do I have to register a death?
What is the medical examiner and do I need to do anything?
How many death certificates do I need?
What does Tell Us Once cover?
Can you access bank accounts before probate?
Source: GOV.UK, verified May 2026. Fees are indicative; verify on GOV.UK. This guide covers England and Wales only. Settle is an administrative organiser and does not provide legal, tax or financial advice.