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Someone has died, and you don’t know where to start. That’s normal. Nobody hands you a rulebook for this. Just a list of things that need doing while you’re still trying to take in what’s happened.
This guide goes through it in order: the first day or two, registering the death wherever you are in the UK, who needs telling, then the funeral and the estate. Use the contents box above if you already know which part you need.
The first 24 to 48 hours
If the death was expected, at home, in a hospice, or in hospital under medical care, call the deceased’s GP or the ward. A doctor has to confirm the death and issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (the MCCD). If they died at home, a GP or an out-of-hours doctor will need to come out first.
If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 999. Paramedics or police may need to attend before anyone can move the body. That’s standard procedure when a death wasn’t anticipated, not a sign anything’s wrong.
Once the death is confirmed:
- Contact a funeral director if you haven’t already. They’ll collect the body and talk you through what’s next.
- Tell close family first, in person or by phone rather than text or social media, if you can.
- If the person wanted to donate organs, tell the medical team straightaway. There’s only a short window for this.
You don’t need to register the death right away. That comes once you have the MCCD.
Registering a death in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
You must register the death within 5 days of it happening (this can be extended if a coroner is involved).
What you need:
The only essential document is the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. Doctors now send this electronically to a Medical Examiner, who checks it before passing it to the registrar, so you may not need to collect a paper copy yourself.
It also helps to bring, where you have them:
- The deceased’s birth certificate and marriage or civil partnership certificate
- Their NHS number and National Insurance number
- Your own ID and contact details
The registrar will confirm exactly what’s needed when you book the appointment, so don’t delay registering just because a document is missing.
Booking the appointment:
Contact your local register office. Some now offer telephone appointments if the informant can’t attend in person because of illness or disability, so it’s worth asking if travel is difficult.
What you’ll get:
Once registered, you can buy certified copies of the death certificate: £12.50 each in England and Wales, £15 in Northern Ireland. Most families end up needing five to ten copies, for banks, pensions, insurance, and probate. Order extra at registration. It’s cheaper than going back for more later.
Registering a death in Scotland and the procurator fiscal
Scotland’s process differs from the rest of the UK in two ways: the time limit, and who may need to be involved.
Time limit: You have 8 days to register a death in Scotland, including weekends and public holidays.
The procurator fiscal: If a death is sudden, unexplained, or happened in certain circumstances (at work, in custody, or without a doctor present recently), it may be reported to the procurator fiscal. Think of this as Scotland’s version of a coroner. They investigate before the body can be released.
That means you can’t register the death or hold the funeral until the investigation finishes. It can feel like a painfully long wait. It isn’t a sign anything’s gone wrong. It’s just how the process works.
Since late 2025, doctors send the certificate straight to the registrar through a secure portal. That’s cut waiting times, since families no longer wait on paperwork being posted or collected.
Certified copies of a Scottish death certificate cost £10 each.
Good to know: a procurator fiscal investigation is a legal safeguard, not an accusation. Most reported deaths are released quickly once the doctor’s findings are confirmed.
Telling the people and organisations who need to know
Once the death is registered, use the Tell Us Once service to notify government departments in one go, instead of contacting each one yourself.
Tell Us Once covers:
- HMRC (tax and National Insurance)
- DWP (state pension and benefits)
- DVLA (driving licence)
- HM Passport Office
- Your local council (council tax, electoral roll, housing benefit)
- Public sector pensions (NHS, civil service, armed forces, police, fire)
It does not cover:
- Banks and building societies
- Utility companies and insurers
- Private pensions
- The deceased’s employer
You’ll need to contact these separately. Use gov.uk/tell-us-once or call 0800 085 7308 within 28 days of the death.
Planning the funeral
The practical decisions, readings, music, the order of service, can wait until the admin above is moving. When you’re ready, our funeral planning checklist walks through it step by step. If the person planned ahead, our guide on planning your own funeral covers what they may have already arranged.
If you’re wondering how soon the funeral can happen, our guide to the time of funeral covers the usual timeline and what can affect it.
Wills, probate and inheritance tax
Finding the will: Check with solicitors, banks, or the deceased’s home first. If you can’t find one, the estate is dealt with as if the person died without a will (intestate), which follows a fixed legal order for who inherits.
Applying for probate: If there’s a will, the executor applies for probate using form PA1P, online via GOV.UK or by post. Online is now the normal route for straightforward estates. The fee is £300. You’ll still need to post the original will in, even after applying online.
Online applications are currently taking around six weeks, though it varies.
Inheritance tax: The threshold is £325,000. Below that, most estates owe nothing, though you still need to report the value. For straightforward, excepted estates, this happens as part of the probate application itself, so there’s no separate form for HMRC. Larger or more complex estates need the full IHT400 form.
Frequently asked questions
How soon do I need to register a death?
Within 5 days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Within 8 days in Scotland.
What if the death is reported to the procurator fiscal?
You’ll need to wait until their investigation is finished before registering the death or arranging the funeral. This applies in Scotland for sudden, unexplained, or unattended deaths.
Do I need the original death certificate for everything?
Not usually. Certified copies work for most purposes, including banks, pensions, and probate. It’s worth ordering several at registration, since that’s cheaper than going back for more later.
Does Tell Us Once contact my bank?
No, that’s one of the gaps. Tell Us Once covers government departments and council services only. Banks, utilities, and private pensions still need a separate call.
How long does probate take in 2026?
Around six weeks for a straightforward online application. Complex estates take longer.
Do I pay inheritance tax on every estate?
Not if the estate is under £325,000. Most estates this size owe nothing, though you still need to report the value.
Where to get support
The admin is only part of this. If you need someone to talk to, Cruse Bereavement Support and your GP are both good starting points. Take it one step at a time. The paperwork has deadlines. You don’t have to.
