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WSGWhen Someone Dies Guide
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Practical UK guidance · Last reviewed 1 September 2026

When someone dies, know what to do next.

Clear checklists, calculators and guidance for the practical decisions that follow a death. Free to use, with no account needed.

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In the first few days

  1. Get the death confirmed by a doctor, or call 999 if it was sudden.
  2. Register the death at a register office and ask for several certified copies.
  3. Use Tell Us Once, where available, to notify government departments in one go.
  4. Find the will, and check whether a funeral plan already exists.
  5. Tell the banks, pension providers, insurers and the landlord or lender.
Open the “Someone has died” section
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Practical tools

Take one task at a time

Checklist

Death Checklist

Step-by-step tasks from the first hours to closing the estate.

Calculator

Funeral Cost Calculator

Estimate a funeral cost item by item and see where you could save.

Tool

Do I Need Probate?

A short questionnaire about the will, property and accounts.

Calculator

Estate Value Calculator

Gross estate, liabilities and estimated net estate in one place.

See all tools

Your situation

Where are you up to?

Six sections, following the order most families actually deal with things.

Important letters organised in a welcoming home
Someone has diedStart here. These tools cover the first hours, the first few days, and the weeks that follow.FuneralsWork out what a funeral will cost, and plan it without missing anything.Probate & estateFind out whether probate applies, what the estate is worth, and what it costs.Money after deathWhat happens to the accounts, the debts, the pensions and the policies.PropertyThe house, how it was owned, and what happens to the mortgage.Planning aheadNot for a recent death. These tools help you organise your own affairs in advance.
Two people sharing quiet practical support

Common questions, answered

Plain-English guidance for the decisions that can feel hardest to untangle.

What happens to bank accountsFreezing, joint accounts, direct debits and releasing the money.What happens to a mortgageWho pays, what the lender expects, and the options for the house.What happens to debtsWho is liable, how debts are paid, and what happens if there is not enough.Who pays funeral costsThe estate, the arranger, and the help available if there is no money.
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Common questions

What is the very first thing to do when someone dies?

If the death was expected and at home, contact their GP or the out-of-hours service. In hospital or a care home, the staff will guide you. If it was sudden or unexplained, call 999. Once a doctor has confirmed the death you can contact a funeral director, and then register the death.

How long do I have to register a death in the UK?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland a death is normally registered within five days; in Scotland it is eight days. The clock can pause if the coroner or procurator fiscal is involved. Check the current position on GOV.UK.

Do I need a solicitor to deal with probate?

Not always. Many straightforward estates are handled by the executor without professional help. A solicitor is usually worth it where there is a business, a trust, an unclear will, inheritance tax to pay, or a family dispute.

Do these tools cost anything or need an account?

No. Every checklist and calculator on When Someone Dies Guide is free and works without an account. Your checklist progress is saved in your own browser on your device, not on our servers.

Get the Death Administration Checklist

A simple printable checklist covering the key tasks that may need dealing with after someone dies.

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When Someone Dies Guide provides general information and practical tools for educational purposes. It does not provide legal, financial, tax or medical advice. Rules and fees can change, and individual circumstances differ. Where appropriate, users should check current information with GOV.UK or a suitably qualified professional.