Death admin timeline UK: what to do and when

The death must be formally verified by a medical professional. If the person died in hospital or a care home, this is handled there. If the death happened at home, a GP or NHS service will attend.

If the death was sudden or unexplained, it may be referred to a coroner. This is common and not a sign that something is "wrong", but it can delay registration.

At the same time:

• •Secure the person's home and valuables
• •Check pets, dependants, vehicles
• •Locate key documents if possible (passport, bank cards, will, insurance letters)

The death must be registered within 5 days of the medical examiner's office telling you the certificate has gone to the registrar. That call usually comes a few days after the death, and nothing is late until then. If a coroner is involved, there is no countdown: you register once they release the death.

You'll usually need:

• •Full name (including previous names)
• •Date and place of birth
• •Last address
• •Occupation
• •Marital or civil partnership status
• •NHS number (if known)

You'll receive:

• •The death certificate (you can buy multiple copies)
• •Burial or cremation paperwork
• •A reference for the government's 'Tell Us Once' service

If a coroner is involved, registration may happen later.

Once registered, you can start notifying organisations.

The fastest way to deal with government bodies is Tell Us Once, which can notify:

• •HMRC
• •DWP (State Pension and benefits)
• •DVLA
• •Passport Office
• •Local council services

Tell Us Once does not cover everything, so you'll still need to contact:

• •Banks and building societies (accounts are usually frozen)
• •Mortgage providers or landlords
• •Utility companies
• •Phone, broadband and subscription services
• •Insurance providers (life, home, car)
• •Employers and private or workplace pension providers

At this stage, the goal is to:

• •Stop ongoing payments that shouldn't continue
• •Prevent fraud
• •Keep essential services running (especially home insurance)

This is where admin becomes more structured.

You need to establish:

• •Whether there is a will (around 60% of estates won't have one)
• •Who the executor is (or who can apply to act)
• •What the person owned (assets)
• •What they owed (debts)

Assets commonly include:

• •Property (and how it was owned matters)
• •Bank accounts and savings
• •ISAs, investments, Premium Bonds
• •Pensions (many are paid outside the estate)
• •Life insurance
• •Vehicles
• •Business interests

Debts can include:

• •Mortgage
• •Loans and credit cards
• •Utility bills
• •Care costs
• •Overpaid benefits

Many organisations will engage in a limited way before probate, but full access usually comes later.

Most estates that include property or significant assets require probate.

There are two routes:

• •Grant of Probate (if there is a will)
• •Letters of Administration (if there is no will)

You'll need:

• •A full estate valuation
• •Inheritance Tax forms (even if no tax is due)
• •The original will (if one exists)

Once probate is granted:

• •Assets can be collected or sold
• •Debts and taxes are paid
• •The remaining estate is distributed to beneficiaries

Most estates take 6–12 months to complete. More complex ones take longer.