Managing Someone's Affairs After Death
After someone dies, there are many practical matters to deal with alongside arranging the funeral. From notifying banks and government departments to cancelling household services and managing digital accounts, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This guide explains the organisations you may need to contact and the practical steps involved in managing someone's affairs after their death.
If the Tell Us Once service is available, it can notify several government departments of the death on your behalf.This may include:
Your registrar will let you know if the service is available when you register the death.
Contact the person's bank or building society as soon as possible. They will explain what information they need and what will happen to the accounts. Some banks also belong to the Death Notification Service, allowing you to notify several financial organisations through one service.
Remember to notify any insurance providers, including:
Some policies may need to remain active until property or vehicles have been transferred or sold.
Contact the suppliers for:
Accounts can usually be closed or transferred into another person's name.
If the person owned their home, speak to the mortgage provider if there is an outstanding mortgage. If they rented their home, contact the landlord, housing association or local council to discuss the tenancy.
Notify any pension providers and check whether benefits need to stop or whether any payments are due to a surviving partner or dependant. The Tell Us Once service may notify some government departments automatically.
Many people now have online accounts that may need to be closed or managed.These may include:
Each provider has its own process for dealing with accounts after a death.
You may need to return or cancel documents such as:
Your local authority or the issuing organisation can explain what needs to be returned.
It can be helpful to keep a record of:
This can make it easier to manage the estate and deal with any future queries.
No. Some matters are more urgent than others. Start with the most important organisations, such as banks, government departments and utility providers.
Yes. An executor, administrator, solicitor or another authorised person can often deal with these matters on behalf of the estate.
Many organisations will ask for details of the deceased and may require a certified copy of the death certificate before making changes to their records.