Managing Someone's Affairs After Death
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Managing Someone's Affairs After Death Introduction
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.
Tell Us Once
Start with the Tell Us Once Service If the Tell Us Once service is available, it can notify several government departments of the death on your behalf. If the Tell Us Once service isn't available, you'll need to contact each organisation individually.
This may include:
- HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
- Passport Office
- Your local council
Your registrar will let you know if the service is available when you register the death.
Notify Banks and Building Societies
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. If you're unsure whether the person had accounts with other banks or financial institutions, paperwork or bank statements may help identify them.
Contact Insurance Companies Remember to notify any insurance providers, including:
- Home insurance
- Car insurance
- Life insurance
- Travel insurance
- Health insurance
- Pet Insurance
Some policies may need to remain active until property or vehicles have been transferred or sold.
Inform Utility Companies Contact the suppliers for:
- Gas
- Electricity
- Water
- Telephone
- Broadband
- Mobile phone
- TV Licence
Accounts can usually be closed or transferred into another person's name.
Housing
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.
If the property will be empty for a period of time, tell the insurance company, as this may affect the cover provided.
Pensions and Benefits
Notify any pension providers and check whether benefits need to stop or whether any payments are due to a surviving partner or dependant. Some occupational pensions or workplace schemes may also provide lump sum payments or benefits to surviving dependants.
Digital Accounts
Many people now have online accounts that may need to be closed or managed.
These may include:
- Email accounts
- Social media accounts
- Online shopping accounts
- Subscription services
- Cloud storage
- Online banking
- Cryptocurrency or digital wallets (if applicable).
Each provider has its own process for dealing with accounts after a death.
Return Official Documents You may need to return or cancel documents such as:
- Passport
- Driving licence
- Blue Badge
- Bus pass
- Library cards
- Disabled parking permits issued by other organisations (where applicable).
Your local authority or the issuing organisation can explain what needs to be returned.
Keep Important Records It can be helpful to keep a record of:
- Who you contacted
- Dates of conversations
- Reference numbers
- Copies of letters and emails
- Any documents sent
This can make it easier to manage the estate and deal with any future queries.
A simple notebook or spreadsheet can help you keep track of what's been completed and what still needs attention.
Redirecting Post
Consider arranging for the person's post to be redirected through Royal Mail if the property will be empty or you need time to deal with their affairs. This can help identify organisations that still need to be notified and reduce the risk of important correspondence being missed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to contact every organisation immediately?
No. Some matters are more urgent than others. Start with the most important organisations, such as banks, government departments and utility providers.
Can someone else notify organisations for me?
Yes. An executor, administrator, solicitor or another authorised person can often deal with these matters on behalf of the estate.
What documents will I need?
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.
Should I cancel direct debits immediately?
Not always. Check what each payment is for before cancelling it, as some services or insurance policies may still need to remain active temporarily.
What should I do with online subscriptions?
Contact each provider individually. Some subscriptions can be cancelled immediately, while others may continue until the end of the current billing period.
Can I use the person's bank card after they die?
Generally, no. Once a bank is notified of the death, the account will usually be frozen until it can be dealt with according to the estate administration process.
Tracey's Tip
Don't worry if you can't contact everyone straight away. Make a list of organisations, work through them one at a time and tick each one off. Most organisations have dedicated bereavement teams who will guide you through their own process.