When someone dies in the UK, you need to do four things in order. First, get the death verified by a doctor or nurse, by calling the GP or NHS 111 if the death was expected or 999 if it was unexpected. Second, contact a funeral director when you are ready. Third, register the death within 5 days of the medical examiner confirming the cause of death (8 days in Scotland). Fourth, use the Tell Us Once service to inform government departments in one go. Nothing else is urgent in the first few hours, and you are allowed to take time.
Everything below expands on those steps, explains the paperwork in plain language, and shows where experienced funeral directors in UK can take work off your shoulders. Official guidance is published by GOV.UK and is the final authority on any rule or deadline.
The Checklist at a Glance
| When | What to do | Who or where |
|---|---|---|
| First hours | Get the death verified by a doctor or nurse. Tell close family. | GP or NHS 111 if expected, 999 if unexpected |
| Day 1 to 2 | Choose a funeral director and have your loved one brought into their care. | A funeral director of your choice |
| Day 2 to 5 | Wait for the medical examiner to confirm the cause of death, then register within 5 days. | Register office |
| Within 28 days | Use Tell Us Once with the reference number from the registrar. | GOV.UK or by phone |
| First 3 months | Claim Bereavement Support Payment if eligible, and start probate if needed. | DWP and the probate service |
Step 1: Get the Death Verified
The first practical step depends on where the person died and whether the death was expected. A death is expected when the person had a terminal illness or was receiving end of life care. A death is unexpected when it was sudden, unexplained or you are not sure.
- At home and expected: call the GP surgery during the day, or NHS 111 in the evening, at weekends and on bank holidays.
- At home and unexpected: call 999, because paramedics and police will attend, which is standard procedure and not an accusation.
- In hospital or a hospice: staff will verify the death and a bereavement officer will explain the next steps to you.
- In a care home: the home will contact the GP and the family, and will guide you on collecting belongings.
A doctor, nurse or trained paramedic confirms that death has occurred. This is called verification of death, and it is separate from the medical certificate that records the cause. Once the death is verified, there is no emergency, and you can sit with your loved one and call family before doing anything else.
Step 2: Understand the Medical Certificate, the Medical Examiner and the Coroner
A doctor who cared for the person will complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. In England and Wales, every certificate is then reviewed by an independent medical examiner, a system that became statutory in September 2024. The examiner’s office may phone you to explain the cause of death and ask whether you have any concerns. This usually takes a few days, and it is a normal part of the process rather than a sign that anything is wrong.
Some deaths are referred to a coroner, for example if the cause is unknown, the death was sudden or the person had not seen a doctor recently. If this happens, you cannot register the death until the coroner has finished, and the coroner can issue an interim certificate so that you can deal with urgent matters. The GOV.UK guidance on deaths reported to a coroner explains what to expect.
Step 3: Contact a Funeral Director
You do not have to call a funeral director in the first hour, but most families do within a day or two, because the funeral director can bring your loved one into their care, advise on the next steps and explain the options. You can choose any funeral director, and you are not obliged to use the one suggested by a hospital or care home.
Before you decide, check three things. Look for a will, because it may state funeral wishes. Check whether the person had a prepaid funeral plan, which should be honoured by the provider named in it. Think about faith and family needs, because many communities require specific timings and rites. Families arranging a Hindu, Sikh or other Asian funeral can find culturally aware guidance through Gooding’s Asian community funeral services overview, which explains how arrangements work for different traditions.
When you speak to Asian funeral directors, ask for a written quote showing the professional fees and the third-party costs separately, so that you can compare like with like. Local price differences can be significant, as our guide to funeral costs in Bradford and across Yorkshire shows.
Step 4: Register the Death Within 5 Days
In England and Wales, you must register the death within 5 days of the medical examiner’s office confirming that you can, and that count includes weekends and bank holidays. If you need longer, tell the register office immediately. You can find your nearest register office on GOV.UK and read the official guidance on how to register a death. A relative usually registers the death, but if no relative is available, someone who was present at the death or the person arranging the funeral can do it.
The registrar will ask for the person’s full name and any previous names, their date and place of birth, their last address, their occupation, and details of any surviving spouse or civil partner. It helps to bring the medical certificate if you have been given it, their birth certificate and marriage certificate if available, and their NHS number or passport.
Registration is free, but certified copies of the death certificate are not. Copies currently cost £12.50 each in England and Wales, and most families order between 5 and 10, since banks, insurers and pension providers often insist on originals. Ordering them at registration is cheaper and quicker than ordering later, and you can also order a copy of a death certificate through GOV.UK. The registrar will also give you the document needed for a burial or cremation to go ahead, and a reference number for Tell Us Once.
Step 5: Use Tell Us Once
Tell Us Once is a free service that reports a death to most government organisations in a single submission, including HMRC, the DWP, the DVLA, HM Passport Office and the local council. The registrar will give you a reference number, and you then use the service online or by phone, usually within 28 days. Full details are on the GOV.UK Tell Us Once page. It is not available in Northern Ireland, and it does not cover private companies, which you must contact yourself.
- Banks and building societies should be told as soon as possible, because they will freeze the person’s sole accounts.
- Insurers, pension providers and employers need to be contacted directly, and they will usually ask for a death certificate.
- Utility, phone, broadband and subscription providers can be dealt with once the urgent tasks are finished.
- Landlords and mortgage lenders should be told early if the person lived alone, to protect the property and avoid arrears.
Step 6: Find the Will and Secure the Home
Look for a will among the person’s papers, or ask their solicitor or bank whether one is held. The will names the executor, who is responsible for the estate. If there is no will, the law decides who can act as administrator. Probate may be needed to access some assets, and applying carries a fee, currently £300 for estates worth over £5,000. If the person lived alone, make sure the home is secure, pets are cared for and perishable food is cleared.
Step 7: Check What Financial Help Is Available
Money worries often arrive alongside grief, and several forms of help exist, although most of them require you to claim.
- Funeral Expenses Payment can help families on certain benefits with funeral costs, and it must be claimed within 6 months of the funeral.
- Bereavement Support Payment gives eligible spouses and civil partners a lump sum plus monthly payments, and you should claim within 3 months to get the full amount.
- Statutory time off for dependants allows reasonable time away from work to deal with an emergency, and many employers offer extra compassionate leave.
The relevant GOV.UK pages are the funeral payments guidance and the Bereavement Support Payment page. The higher rate of Bereavement Support Payment is £3,500 plus £350 a month for up to 18 months, and the standard rate is £2,500 plus £100 a month, so it is worth checking eligibility early.
If the Death Happens in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Abroad
The broad steps are similar across the UK, but some details differ. In Scotland, a death must be registered within 8 days. In Northern Ireland, it is within 5 days, and Tell Us Once is not available. If someone dies abroad, you must register the death in that country first. Always check the official guidance for the nation where the death occurred.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not assume the medical certificate is the same as the death certificate, because the registrar issues the death certificate after registration.
- Do not wait until the funeral to ask about costs, because early quotes let you compare providers calmly.
- Do not cancel the person’s phone or email before you have saved the numbers and accounts you need.
Looking After Yourself
Grief affects sleep, appetite and concentration, and it is normal to feel numb, overwhelmed or unable to make decisions. Accept practical offers of help from family and friends, write things down because memory is unreliable in the first weeks, and speak to your GP if you are struggling. If the funeral involves Hindu or Sikh customs around ashes, our guide to scattering ashes in UK rivers for Hindu and Sikh families explains the rules.
Support From the First Phone Call
No one expects you to know all of this, and you do not have to manage it alone. Gooding Funeral Services is a team of experienced funeral directors in UK who will answer your questions, care for your loved one, explain every cost clearly and guide you through registration, the funeral and the weeks that follow. Get in touch whenever you are ready, and we will take the next step with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the first thing to do when someone dies?
If the death was expected, call the GP surgery or NHS 111 out of hours so a doctor or nurse can verify it. If it was unexpected, call 999. Once the death is verified, you can call a funeral director whenever you feel ready.
- How long do you have to register a death in the UK?
In England and Wales you must register within 5 days of the medical examiner confirming the cause of death, and in Northern Ireland within 5 days. In Scotland the limit is 8 days. Tell the register office at once if you need longer.
- Who can register a death?
A relative usually registers the death. If no relative is available, someone present at the death, an occupier of the building or the person arranging the funeral can do it.
- What is Tell Us Once?
Tell Us Once is a free government service that reports a death to most public bodies, including HMRC, DWP, DVLA and HM Passport Office, in a single submission.
- How many death certificates should I order?
Most families order between 5 and 10 certified copies, because banks, insurers and pension providers often ask for originals. Each copy currently costs £12.50 in England and Wales.
- Do I need to call a funeral director straight away?
No. There is no legal rush once the death has been verified, though many families call within a day or two so their loved one can be cared for properly.
