FIRST STEPS
What must you do
when someone dies?
Documents you
will need in the
first few days
You’ll need to gather together
the following documents as
soon as possible - to enable
registration of the death and
to start funeral arrangements.
Required Documents
• edical certificate of the
m
cause of death, signed by a
doctor unless the coroner is
involved and there has been
a coroner’s post-mortem
examination.
Useful Documents
• birth certificate
• arriage/civil partnership
m
certificates.
Documents useful if taking
up 'Tell Us Once' Service
• ational Insurance number
N
• driving licence
• bus pass
• passport
• blue badge.
When someone dies, you will need to inform a number of people and
organisations and complete certain legal documents. If you are a relative
or friend you can do some of these things yourself. Others will need to
be done by the executor or administrator of the estate. There is plenty of
support available to help you through this difficult time.
What to do in the first few days
You won’t be able to do everything right away, but in the first few days
it’s important, if you can, to:
• tell the family doctor
• ontact a funeral director, if you intend to use one – they can move
c
the deceased from your home or a nursing home to a Chapel of Rest
if you so wish. However, you do not have to employ a funeral director
if you would rather organize the funeral yourself. If this is what you
would prefer, you’ll need to contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium
Department of your local authority for advice and guidance. Help and
information can also be found on the Natural Death Centre’s website:
www.naturaldeath.org.uk
• btain a medical certificate of cause of death signed by a doctor or,
o
if the coroner is involved, take instructions from coroner’s officers
regarding registration of the death
• egister the death at the Registration Office.You’ll find details of how
r
to do this on page five
• f relevant, complete form BD8 and send to the local Jobcentre Plus or
i
Benefits Agency (this form will be given to you when you register the
death)
• he Registrar can offer you the 'Tell Us Once' service (TUO).
t
Information will be passed to the Department of Work and Pensions
(DWP), who will notify government and council departments on your
behalf - this is a free optional service and will be offered to you at the
end of the registration
• egin arrangements for the funeral – you should check the will for any
b
special requests
• ontact the executor as soon as you can to enable him/her to start
c
the process of obtaining probate if necessary. The executor is usually
nominated in the will
• f there is no will, decide who will apply to sort out the deceased’s
i
affairs and contact the Probate Registry to apply to sort out the
deceased's affairs and apply for 'letters of administration'
if necessary
• t is not necessary to have these documents but you will need to
I
provide information contained within them, e.g. date and place of
deceased's birth, spouse/civil partner's full name, etc.
4
ADVICE AND HELPLINE: 0845 129 5900