What are the deadlines after a death?
Only a few tasks have fixed deadlines, and most of them come later than people expect. This table lists the ones that apply in England and Wales.
| Task | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Register the death | Within 5 days of the medical examiner's confirmation, including weekends and bank holidays | GOV.UK |
| Use Tell Us Once | Within 28 days of getting the reference number | GOV.UK |
| Claim Bereavement Support Payment (partner died) | Within 3 months for the full amount; usually no later than 21 months | GOV.UK |
| Claim a Funeral Expenses Payment | Within 6 months of the funeral | GOV.UK |
| Pay any inheritance tax | By the end of the sixth month after the death, to avoid interest | GOV.UK |
| Send form IHT400, if needed | Within 12 months of the death | GOV.UK |
What should you do in the first few hours?
First, a doctor or nurse needs to confirm the death. If the death at home was expected, contact the GP surgery the person was registered with, or NHS 111 out of hours; an NHS trust example is Derbyshire Community Health Services' guidance. If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 999. In a hospital, hospice or care home, staff start this process.
Once the death has been confirmed, you can ask a funeral director to take the person into their care. There is no need to decide everything that day. If you do not have one in mind, you can find funeral directors near you on FuneralFinder, a free UK directory.
How does the medical examiner process work?
After the doctor confirms the death, a medical examiner checks the cause of death is accurate. GOV.UK says this can take a few days. The medical examiner is a senior doctor who was not involved in the person's care. Their office will contact you to explain the cause of death and answer questions; talking to them is voluntary. They then confirm that you can register the death.
What happens if the death is reported to a coroner?
A coroner looks into deaths where the cause is unknown or the death may have been violent or unnatural. If the coroner finds the cause is clear, they tell the registrar, who contacts you to register. If there is an inquest, you can ask the coroner for an interim death certificate, which you can use to apply for probate and to use Tell Us Once. The free Coroners' Courts Support Service helpline is 0300 111 2141.
How do you register the death?
Contact a register office, ideally the one for the area where the person died, because that is quicker. A relative usually registers; others can if no relative is able to. You can buy death certificates at £12.50 each. The registrar gives you the green form the funeral director needs and explains Tell Us Once. Full details: how to register a death.
Which organisations do you need to tell?
Tell Us Once tells HMRC, DWP, the Passport Office, DVLA, the local council and some public sector pension schemes in one go. You still contact banks, mortgage lenders, insurers, private and workplace pensions, utility companies and landlords yourself. See bank accounts after a death for what banks do.
When can the funeral take place?
The funeral can usually take place once the death is registered, unless it has been reported to a coroner, who releases the body when their examinations are complete. GOV.UK suggests checking whether the person arranged their funeral, for example through a prepaid plan. The will may record wishes too, but it is not always read before the funeral. The funeral can be paid from a plan, by family, or from the estate. If you receive certain benefits, you may get a Funeral Expenses Payment.
How do you find the will and protect the estate?
Look for the original signed will at home, with a solicitor or will-writing service the person used, or at the national probate registry in Newcastle, where wills can be deposited. The probate application needs the original, not a photocopy. Keep the home secure and insured, redirect post, and do not give away belongings until you know who inherits. If there is no will, the intestacy rules apply; see also my partner died without a will.
What help is there for a bereaved partner?
If your husband, wife, civil partner or cohabiting partner has died and you are under State Pension age, you may get Bereavement Support Payment if your partner paid enough National Insurance or died because of their work. It is not means-tested. The higher rate is a £3,500 payment plus 18 monthly payments of £350; the lower rate is £2,500 plus 18 monthly payments of £100. If you lived together without marrying, you qualify only if you were getting, or entitled to, Child Benefit for a child living with you, or were pregnant, when your partner died.
When do you deal with probate and tax?
After the funeral, when you can gather information calmly. Start by listing what the person owned and owed. Use the probate checker to see whether a grant is likely to be needed, then follow the probate guide and the executor checklist. The court fee is £526 for estates worth more than £5,000, from 13 July 2026.
Is the process different in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Yes. Scotland allows 8 days to register and has its own estate process, and Tell Us Once is not available if the person lived in Northern Ireland. This guide covers England and Wales; see wills in Scotland.
Sources
- GOV.UK: What to do after someone dies (register the death; coroner; Tell Us Once; arrange the funeral; bereavement help)
- GOV.UK: Register a death
- Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, section 16
- GOV.UK: Order a death certificate
- GOV.UK: Bereavement Support Payment and Funeral Expenses Payment
- GOV.UK: If there is Inheritance Tax to pay
- GOV.UK: Applying for probate
- Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust: what to do when someone has died
Sources checked 24 September 2026.