What to do when someone dies: a step-by-step guide

When someone close to you dies, the practical tasks can feel overwhelming. You don't have to do everything at once, and you don't have to do it alone. This guide takes you through what needs to happen, in the order it usually happens.

1. In the first hours

If the death was expected

For example at home after an illness - contact the person's GP, or call NHS 111 out of hours. A doctor or nurse will confirm the death.

If the death was unexpected

Call 999.

If the person died in hospital or a hospice, the staff will guide you through the next steps.

Then tell close family and friends. It can help to ask one person to share the phone calls with you.

2. The medical examiner

In England and Wales, a medical examiner - a senior doctor who wasn't involved in the person's care - checks the cause of death before it can be registered. Their office may call you to explain the cause of death and answer questions. You don't have to talk to them if you'd rather not.

If the death is reported to a coroner, the process takes longer. The coroner's office will explain what happens next.

3. Contact a funeral director

You can contact a funeral director straight away - you don't need to wait until the death is registered. They can bring the person into their care and start helping you plan. The funeral itself can't take place until the death has been registered.

It's worth comparing prices: every funeral director must publish a standard price list.

Find a funeral director near you

4. Register the death

England and Wales

Within 5 days of the medical examiner's office confirming you can register

Northern Ireland

Within 5 days

Scotland

Within 8 days

The registrar will give you the certificate for burial or cremation - "the green form" - for your funeral director. Buy several copies of the death certificate while you're there; you'll need them.

Our full guide to registering a death

5. Use Tell Us Once

Tell Us Once is a free government service that reports the death to most government departments in one go - including HMRC, the DWP, the Passport Office and the DVLA. The registrar will give you the details.

6. Gather the paperwork

You'll be asked for these again and again, so it helps to find them early:

National Insurance number

On payslips, P60s, or letters from HMRC or the DWP

NHS number

On letters from the NHS, or ask the person's GP surgery

date and place of birth

On their birth certificate

date of marriage or civil partnership

If relevant

tax reference number

On tax returns or HMRC letters

their will

If there is one - it names the executor, the person responsible for dealing with the estate

7. Tell other organisations

Tell Us Once doesn't cover everything. You'll still need to contact banks and building societies, pension providers, insurers, the landlord or mortgage lender, utility companies, and the person's employer.

To stop post in their name, see our guide to the Deceased Preference Service.

8. Money

• The funeral is usually paid for from the person's estate. Many banks will pay a funeral director's invoice directly from the person's account, even before probate.
• If you're on a low income, you may be able to get help with funeral costs. See paying for a funeral.
• If your husband, wife, civil partner or partner has died, you may be entitled to Bereavement Support Payment - claim within three months to get the full amount.

9. Dealing with the estate

The executor, or the closest relative if there's no will, may need to apply for probate before they can sort out the person's money, property and possessions. See our guide to probate.

Look after yourself

Grief doesn't follow a timetable. If you need support, see our bereavement advice.

Reviewed by the Arranging a Funeral team - September 2026. Checked against GOV.UK.

For free helplines and charities, see bereavement support and charities.

See also Coroners, post-mortems and inquests.

See also The medical examiner.

See also Tell Us Once.

See also When someone dies in Scotland.