What do I need to do first when someone dies?

First, register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). You'll need the medical certificate of cause of death. The registrar will give you certified copies of the death certificate which you'll need for banks and other organisations.

How do I access the deceased's bank accounts?

Contact each bank with a certified copy of the death certificate. For small balances (typically under £5,000-£50,000), they may release funds without probate. For larger amounts, you'll need a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.

Do I need to pay inheritance tax?

Inheritance tax is only due if the estate exceeds the threshold (£325,000, or £500,000 if leaving a home to children). Most estates don't pay inheritance tax, but you may still need to report to HMRC.

How long does it take to wind up an estate?

Simple estates can be wound up in 6-9 months. More complex estates with property, multiple assets, or inheritance tax may take 1-2 years. Using a solicitor can help expedite the process.

Financial Checklist When Someone Dies — UK Step-by-Step Guide | PocketWise

Dealing with finances after someone dies can feel overwhelming. This checklist guides you through each step in order.

Immediate Priorities (First Week)

Before Anything Else

Task	Priority
Register the death	Within 5 days (8 in Scotland)
Get death certificates	Order 10+ certified copies
Secure the property	Lock home, check insurance
Locate the will	Check home, solicitor, will storage
Notify immediate contacts	Family, employer

What You’ll Need

Document	Where to Get
Medical certificate of cause of death	Doctor or hospital
Death certificate	Registrar
Will (if exists)	Home, solicitor, or will register
ID of deceased	Passport, driving licence

Tell Us Once Service

What It Does

The government’s Tell Us Once service notifies multiple organisations with one call:

Organisations Notified	Automatically Contacted
HMRC	Yes
DWP (pensions, benefits)	Yes
Passport Office	Yes
DVLA	Yes
Local council	Yes
Council housing	Yes

How to Use It

Registrar provides your Tell Us Once reference
Use online at gov.uk or call
Complete within 28 days of registration
Covers most government departments

Financial Notifications Checklist

Banks and Building Societies

Action	Details
Notify each bank	Call or visit with death certificate
Stop cards and cheques	Request immediate freezing
Direct debits	Some continue, some stop — review
Joint accounts	Surviving holder can continue access
Sole accounts	Frozen until probate granted

What Banks Need

Document	Why
Death certificate	Proof of death
Your ID	Verify you’re entitled to act
Grant of Probate	For large balances
Marriage/birth certificate	To prove relationship

Insurance and Pensions

Task	Organisation
Life insurance	Contact insurer
Pension (workplace)	Contact employer/pension provider
State pension	Notified via Tell Us Once
Private pension	Contact provider directly
Health insurance	Cancel if applicable

Bills and Subscriptions

Type	Action
Utilities (gas, electric, water)	Transfer name or close
Council tax	Notify council
TV licence	Cancel or transfer
Phone/broadband	Cancel or transfer
Mobile phone	Cancel
Streaming services	Cancel
Gym memberships	Cancel
Magazine subscriptions	Cancel

Property and Vehicles

Asset	Action
Home insurance	Inform — may need to adjust cover
Car insurance	Cancel or transfer
Mortgage	Notify lender
Rent	Notify landlord
DVLA	Register vehicle keeper change

Finding All the Accounts

Common Places to Check

Location	What to Look For
Post	Bank statements, bills
Email	Account confirmations
Filing cabinet	Financial documents
Safe/lockbox	Important papers
Bank safe deposit	Valuables, documents

Asset Search Services

Service	What It Does
Unclaimed Assets Register	Find lost accounts
NS&I Tracing	Premium Bonds, savings
Pension Tracing Service	Find workplace pensions
Insurance company search	ABI death notification

Probate or Letters of Administration

When You Need Probate

Value of Estate	Probate Required?
Under £5,000-10,000	Usually no
£10,000-50,000	Depends on institution
Over £50,000	Usually yes
Property involved	Almost always yes

Grant of Probate vs Letters of Administration

Document	When Used
Grant of Probate	When there’s a valid will
Letters of Administration	When there’s no will

How to Apply for Probate

Option	Cost (2025/26)
Online application	£300 (no IHT) / £215 (with IHT)
Paper application	Higher fee
Through solicitor	£2,000-5,000+

Inheritance Tax

Do You Need to Pay?

Estate Value	IHT Due?
Under £325,000	No
£325,000-£500,000 (spouse)	Usually no — transfers to spouse
Over threshold	40% on amount above threshold
Leaving home to children	£500,000 threshold (residence nil rate band)

Paying IHT Before Probate

If IHT is due:

Must be paid within 6 months of death
May need to pay before probate granted
Banks can release funds for IHT payment
Property can be sold to pay

Dealing with Debts

What Happens to Debts

Debt Type	Treatment
Sole debts	Paid from estate assets
Joint debts	Surviving person liable
Secured debts	Secured asset may be sold
Unsecured debts	Paid after secured debts
Guarantor debts	You’re liable if you guaranteed

Debts You Don’t Inherit

Debt Type	Your Liability
Parent’s credit card (sole)	None personally
Parent’s loan (sole)	None personally
Their mortgage (sole name)	Estate liable, not you
Their overdraft (sole)	Estate liable

Order of Payment

Funeral expenses
Secured debts (mortgage)
Preferred debts (employee wages)
Unsecured debts (credit cards)
Interest on debts
Beneficiaries

Tax Affairs

Final Tax Return

Situation	Action
Self-employed	File final return to date of death
Employed	P45 issued by employer
Rental income	Report to date of death
Capital gains	Report any disposals

Tax Refunds

Source	How to Claim
Overpaid income tax	HMRC will calculate
Council tax	May be refund due
Overpaid bills	Contact providers

Joint Assets and Accounts

Joint Bank Accounts

Ownership	What Happens
True joint	Surviving holder owns all
Joint tenants	Passes automatically
Tenants in common	Share goes to estate

Property Ownership

Ownership Type	What Happens
Joint tenants	Survivor owns whole property
Tenants in common	Deceased’s share goes to estate
Sole ownership	Whole property goes to estate

Claiming Benefits for Yourself

If You’re the Spouse/Partner

Benefit	Eligibility
Bereavement Support Payment	Under state pension age, spouse contributed NI
Widowed Parent’s Allowance	If have children
Funeral Expenses Payment	On qualifying benefits

Other Support

Support	Details
Council tax reduction	Single person discount
Housing benefit	May continue
Pension credit	May be affected

Timeline: What to Do When

Week 1

Register death
Order death certificates (10+)
Secure property
Locate will
Use Tell Us Once
Notify employer

Week 2-4

Contact all banks
Notify insurers
Cancel direct debits (unnecessary ones)
Notify pension providers
Contact mortgage lender
Apply for probate (if straightforward)

Month 2-3

Gather asset information
Calculate estate value
Pay inheritance tax (if due)
Receive grant of probate
Begin collecting assets

Month 3-6

Sell property (if applicable)
Collect all assets
Pay debts from estate
File final tax return

Month 6+

Distribute to beneficiaries
File estate accounts
Keep records for 12 years

Professional Help

When to Use a Solicitor

Situation	Recommendation
Simple estate, no property	DIY possible
Property involved	Consider solicitor
IHT due	Strongly recommend
Complex will/disputes	Essential
Intestacy (no will)	Advisable

Cost Guide

Service	Typical Cost
DIY probate	£300-500
Solicitor (simple)	£2,000-3,000
Solicitor (complex)	£5,000+
Bank executor service	1-4% of estate

Summary Checklist

Priority	Task
Immediate	Register death, get certificates
Week 1	Tell Us Once, notify family
Week 2-4	Banks, insurers, utility companies
Month 1-2	Probate application, asset gathering
Month 3-6	Collect assets, pay debts
Month 6+	Distribute estate

Legacy Benefits UK 2026/27 — ESA, JSA and Migration to Universal Credit

Contents