First things first
We're sorry. This page is here to tell you what has to happen now, what can wait, and roughly how long things take — nothing else. There is no form on it, and you're welcome to call whether or not you want to instruct anyone.
What has to happen now
- 01The medical certificate
A doctor issues the certificate confirming the cause of death. In some cases it goes to a coroner first, which adds time — if that happens, you'll be told, and it doesn't mean anything is wrong.
- 02Register the death
Usually within five days in England and Wales, at any register office. You'll be given the documents you need for everything that follows, and it's worth asking for several copies of the death certificate — most organisations want to see an original.
- 03Tell the government once
The Tell Us Once service notifies HMRC, DWP, the passport office, the DVLA and the local council in a single step. The registrar will give you a reference to use.
- 04The funeral
The funeral director will handle most of what's required. If there's a will, check it first for any wishes — and check whether a funeral plan was already paid for.
What can wait
People try to do everything in the first week. Almost none of this is urgent, and knowing that is worth more right now than knowing how probate works.
Closing bank accounts and cancelling cards
Cancelling subscriptions, memberships and utilities
Clearing the house, or making any decision about the property
Selling or transferring anything
Working out who inherits what
Choosing a solicitor or a probate service
Finding the will
Start with the obvious places — a home safe, a filing drawer, a bank's safe custody service. Then check whether it was stored with a solicitor, a will writer or a national storage service; most keep a searchable register.
If no will can be found, the estate is dealt with under the intestacy rules, which set out who inherits and in what order. It's workable, but it rarely matches what the person would have chosen — and it's worth taking advice early rather than late.
Not always. Small estates, and assets held jointly that pass automatically to the survivor, often don't require it. Banks each set their own threshold, so one may release funds where another won't.
Where it is needed, probate is the legal authority to deal with the estate: establishing what's owned and owed, reporting to HMRC, settling any tax, then distributing what remains.
Inheritance tax is due six months after the end of the month of death
Often before the estate can be distributed, and sometimes before probate has been granted — which means the money to pay it may not be accessible yet. Tax attributable to property can usually be paid in instalments over ten years, with interest.
This is the single most useful thing on this page. If the estate may be taxable, it's worth a call now rather than in five months.
Typical ranges, not promises. If yours is taking longer, that usually doesn't mean anything has gone wrong.
How long things take
If it would help to talk it through
Call us. We'll tell you what needs doing and in what order, and if you don't need us, we'll say so.
01246 293015Monday to Friday. You're welcome to call whether or not you want to instruct anyone.