What to Do When Someone Dies: Step-by-Step Guide

When someone dies, it can be hard to think clearly and yet there are practical steps that often need dealing with quickly.

This guide sets out what to do when someone dies in the UK, including registering the death, arranging the funeral, and what happens next with the estate (with or without a will). If you’d like help at any stage, our Wills and Probate team can guide you through the process.

The steps below apply broadly across the UK. Some details (especially registration time limits and documents) differ slightly between England & Wales and Scotland.

Contents

1. What to do immediately after a death
2. Registering the death
3. Arranging the funeral
4. Finding the will
5. What happens if there is a will?
6. What happens if there isn’t a will?
7. Do you need probate?
8. When should you speak to a solicitor?
9. Next steps and how we can help

1. What to do immediately after a death

Take a moment

If the death is unexpected or you’re in shock, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed. If you can, ask a trusted friend or family member to help with calls and admin.

Confirm the death and get medical documentation started

What happens here depends on where the person died:

• At home: a GP or medical professional will usually confirm the death.
• In hospital or a care home: staff will guide you through the next steps.
• Unexpected circumstances: the death may be referred to the coroner/procurator fiscal, which can affect timings.

2. Registering the death

You’ll usually need to register the death before the funeral can take place.

When do you need to register the death?

• England & Wales: typically, within 5 days of being told you can register (this can vary where the coroner is involved).
• Scotland: typically, within 8 days of the death.

What you’ll normally receive after registration

You may be given:

• An official document to allow burial/cremation (often known as the “green form” in England & Wales), which goes to the funeral director/crematorium/burial authority.
• The option to buy certified copies of the death certificate (often useful for banks, insurers, pension providers, and other organisations).

Practical tip: Many families find it helpful to buy multiple copies of the death certificate so you can deal with several organisations at the same time. (How many you’ll need depends on the complexity of the estate.)

Keep a record of expenses

You may incur costs early on (travel, certificate copies, funeral deposit, flowers, etc.). Keep a simple record and receipts, these expenses can sometimes be reimbursed from the estate if funds allow.

3. Arranging the funeral

Check whether there are funeral wishes

The person who died may have left instructions in:

• Their will
• A separate letter of wishes
• A prepaid funeral plan
• Paperwork held with a funeral provider

If there are specific wishes (e.g., burial vs cremation), it’s worth checking this early to avoid making irreversible decisions.

If there is a prepaid funeral plan

Contact the plan provider as soon as possible, they will explain what’s covered and what decisions still need to be made.

If there is no prepaid plan: how are funeral costs paid?

Funeral costs are often paid:

• By family initially, then reclaimed from the estate (where possible), or
• Directly from the deceased’s bank account (many banks will pay a funeral invoice from the account even before probate, provided they receive the required documents).

Practical tip: Ask the funeral director for a final invoice on letterhead showing the deceased’s details, banks often require this (not an estimate).

4. Finding the will

How do you know if there is a will?

There’s no single guaranteed place a will is stored. Common places include:

• At the deceased’s solicitor
• In a home safe/filing cabinet
• With important documents (insurance, pensions)
• Bank safe custody (less common nowadays)
• A will-writing company

If you believe a solicitor may hold the original will, they may need evidence of death and confirmation of who is entitled to request it.

5. What happens if there is a will?

If there is a will, it normally names executors. Executors are responsible for dealing with the estate from the date of death until everything is distributed to the beneficiaries (this period is often called the administration of the estate).

Typical executor responsibilities include:

• Identifying assets and debts
• Obtaining valuations (property, investments, personal items where relevant)
• Collecting information from banks and financial institutions
• Dealing with inheritance tax reporting where required
• Applying for the Grant of Probate if needed
• Paying debts, expenses, and taxes
• Selling or transferring assets (for example, a property)
• Preparing estate accounts
• Distributing the estate to beneficiaries in line with the will

Important: Executors are usually not expected to pay estate debts from their own money (as long as they manage the estate properly). The debts are normally settled from estate funds.

6. What happens if there isn’t a will?

If there is no will, the estate is dealt with under the rules of intestacy. Instead of executors, an eligible person applies to become an administrator, who then takes on broadly similar responsibilities to an executor.

In many cases, the closest relatives are entitled to apply, but entitlement and the distribution rules can be more complicated than people expect (especially with unmarried partners, stepchildren second families, and jointly owned property).

7. Do you need probate?

Not every estate requires probate.

You may need probate (or letters of administration) if:

• The deceased owned property in their sole name (or as tenants in common)
• There are sizeable bank accounts/investments that require a grant
• Financial institutions request a grant due to their thresholds
• There are complex assets (shares, business interests, overseas assets)

You may not need probate if:

• Most assets were jointly owned and pass automatically to the surviving joint owner
• Bank balances are low and organisations release funds without a grant
• Assets are held in ways that pass outside the estate (depending on the arrangement)

Because thresholds and circumstances vary, it’s often worth getting quick advice before you start distributing or selling anything.

8. When should you speak to a solicitor?

Some estates are straightforward, but it’s sensible to speak to a solicitor if any of the following apply:

• There is property to deal with (especially sole ownership)
• You can’t find the will, or you’re unsure it’s valid
• You expect inheritance tax to be payable, or you’re unsure
• There are business interests, trusts, or overseas assets
• There is a risk of disputes between family members or beneficiaries
• The estate is insolvent (debts exceed assets)
• You’re an executor/administrator and want to avoid personal risk

Even where you don’t want a full service, many people benefit from “check-in” advice at key stages to avoid costly mistakes.

9. Next steps and how we can help

If you would like help dealing with an estate, or you simply want to know what to do next, our Wills and Probate team can support you with:

• Locating and interpreting a will
• Probate applications and inheritance tax reporting
• Estate administration from start to finish
• Property transfers/sales as part of an estate
• Guidance for executors and administrators

If you’d like to speak to someone, please contact our Wills and Probate team and we can talk you through the options.