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What to do when someone dies checklist

When someone dies there are many decisions and arrangements to be made. Sadly, these have to be made at a time of personal distress. Some of these things can be done by a close relative or friend; others need to be done by the executor or administrator of the estate - the people appointed to carry out the terms of a will.

Checklist

To help you, nidirect offers a simple checklist to guide you through the process. Before you start, it is very useful to have the following information to hand about the person who has died. This will make the task of completing any forms or documents much easier.

What to do in the first five days

  • notify the family doctor
  • register the death at the relevant Registrar's Office, except where the death has been referred to the Coroner
  • find the will - the deceased person's solicitor may have a copy if you can't find one
  • begin funeral arrangements - you will need to check the will for any special requests
  • if relevant, a completed Form 36 should be sent to the local Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office regarding the deceased's benefits (given to you when you register the death; read the reverse to see if it applies)
  • if the person who has died was receiving any benefits or tax credits, advise the offices that were making the payments - if you can't find relevant correspondence, use the links below to the Tax Credit helpline and Jobs and Benefits Offices.
  • Registering a death
  • Arranging a funeral
  • Tax Credits Helpline (contacts section)
  • Social Security / Jobs and Benefits Offices (contacts section)
  • District Registrars in Northern Ireland

If there is a will

  • contact the executor if this isn't you (usually nominated in the will to sort out the deceased's affairs) to enable them to start the process of obtaining probate.

If there is no will

Who else to contact

As well as informing people who are close to the person, in many cases you'll need to close down accounts, or cancel or change insurance details, subscriptions, agreements, payments or direct debits.

Here's a list to help you keep track; just cross through the ones that don't apply:

  • relatives and friends
  • employer
  • school
  • solicitor/accountant

Government organisations

Financial organisations

  • general insurance companies - for example,contents, car, travel or medical
  • any other company with which the deceased may have had rental, hire purchase or loan agreements
  • if the deceased was the first named on an insurance policy, make contact as early as possible to check that you are still insured
  • pension providers/life insurance companies
  • banks and building societies
  • mortgage provider
  • hire purchase or loan companies
  • credit card providers/store cards

Utilities and household contacts

Other useful contacts

  • Bereavement Register and Deceased Preference Service to remove the deceased's name from mailing lists and databases
  • clubs, trade unions, associations with seasonal membership for cancellation and refunds
  • church/regular place of worship
  • social groups to which the deceased belonged
  • dentist
  • creditors - anyone to whom the deceased owed money
  • debtors - anyone who owed the deceased money
  • Register with the Bereavement Register
  • Deceased Preference Service

Benefits and financial help

You may be able to claim certain benefits and one-off payments if you lived with or were dependent on the deceased. Time limits apply, so contact your nearest Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office as soon as possible to find out.

Making a new will

Surviving relatives and friends of the deceased may need to make a new will. It's important to ask a solicitor about this.

Bereavement - counselling and support

Everyone deals with bereavement in their own way. If you or someone you know needs counselling or support, ask your family doctor or contact an organisation, such as Cruse Bereavement Care. Its aim is to promote the well-being of bereaved people and provides counselling and support. It also offers information, advice, education and training services.

Your local council may provide support and advice about the arrangements that need to be made after a bereavement, such as registering the death and obtaining a death certificate. If you follow the link to the bereavement service you can enter details of where you live and you will be directed to your local authority website where you can find out more.

Do it online