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When Someone Dies

When someone dies there are many decisions and arrangements to make, all of which can be difficult in a time of grief. To help, we've put together this checklist to guide you through the process.


Where do I start ?  It would be useful to have the following information available about the person who has died.

  • National Insurance number
  • NHS number
  • Date and place of birth
  • Date of marriage or civil partnership (if appropriate)
  • Tax reference number

Documents/information needed in the first five days

You'll need to gather together the following documents and information as soon as possible - to enable registration of the death, which must be completed within 5 days, to start funeral arrangements.

Documents

  • Medical (white) certificate of the cause of death (signed by a doctor)
  • Removal order to allow Funeral Directors to transfer the deceased.

and if available:

  • Birth certificate /marriage/civil partnership certificates
  • NHS Number/NHS Medical Card

Information    

  • The full names of the deceased     
  • any names previously used, including maiden name
  • the deceased's date and place of birth (town and county if born in the UK and country if born abroad
  • their last address                             
  • their occupation
  • date of marriage/civil partnership if certificate not available
  • the full name, occupation and date of birth of a surviving spouse or civil partner
  • whether the deceased was receiving a state pension or any other state benefits

Other documents/information, if relevant:

  • organ donor card
  • body donated to London School of Anatomy
  • religion/special cultural needs

Documents needed in order to notify benefits/tax credits offices

  • correspondence confirming payment to the deceased of benefits (normally Jobcentre Plus office), tax credits (HM Revenue & Customs) and/or State Pension (Department for Work and Pensions)                               
  • Child Benefit Number (if relevant)   

Documents relating to a partner or relative

  • proof of your relationship to the deceased (eg marriage/civil partnership or birth certificate, child's birth certificate naming both parents)
  • your social security card/National Insurance number if you will be claiming/changing benefits

Documents/information needed by the person attending to the deceased's affairs

The personal representative/executor, is the person formally responsible for sorting out the deceased person's estate, paying any taxes and debts and distributing the estate. They will need the following documents (where relevant):

 Documents needed by the personal representative:

  • sealed copies of the grant of representation (probate/letters of administration)

Documents relating to the death:

  • the will if there is one
  • death certificate (often needed when requesting access to funds; it's best to order at least two extra certified copies when registering the death)

 Savings/investments related:

  • bank and building society account statements
  • investment statements/share certificates
  • personal or company pension account statements

Insurance:

  •  life insurance documents (including mortgage cover)
  • general insurance policies (home, car, travel, medical etc)

 State pension/benefits:

  • relevant correspondence or statements from Jobcentre Plus (for benefits) and/or The Pension Service

Amounts owing by the deceased:

  • mortgage statement
  • credit card statements
  • utility/ Council Tax bills in the deceased's name
  • rental agreements/statements (private or local authority)
  • other outstanding bills
  • leases, hire purchase agreements or similar (eg for equipment, car or furniture)
  • educational loan statements
  • any other loan statements

Amounts owed to the deceased:

  • outstanding invoices if the deceased ran a business
  • written/verbal evidence of other money owed to the deceased

Property

  • property deeds or leases (main home and any other at home or abroad)
  • property keys

Other possessions:

  • existing valuations of property such as jewellery, painting and similar (though an up to date market valuation will be required)
  • any existing inventories of property/possessions
  • safety box deposit information

Employment or self-employment:

  • PAYE form P60 and latest payslips if the deceased was employed
  • recent tax returns and tax calculation statements (if relevant)

 Business related:

  • company registration documents, accounts, tax and VAT returns if they had a business

Other documents/information

The following documents and information will be required by the personal representative or close relative in order to contact relatives and friends or to return documents to relevant organisations:

  • address book/information listing close friends and relatives who will need to be informed
  • passport
  • vehicle registration documents if the deceased owned a car
  • driving licence/parking permits/travel cards/Blue Badge for disabled parking
  • membership cards or documents/correspondence showing membership of clubs, associations, Trade Unions and similar
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