Dealing with money matters after someone close to you dies is rarely straightforward, and it's normal to feel overwhelmed by the number of organisations involved. There's no need to do everything at once — some tasks are urgent, others can wait weeks or months.
The first few days: what actually needs to happen quickly
You'll need to register the death (within strict time limits in most of the UK) and obtain death certificates — order several copies, since banks, pension providers and insurers will each want their own original or certified copy. Beyond that, very little is genuinely urgent in the first week. Funeral arrangements and registering the death take priority over notifying every organisation immediately.
Using the "Tell Us Once" service
In most of the UK, the registrar can offer a "Tell Us Once" service that reports the death to several government departments in one go — including HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions, the passport office and the DVLA. This saves you separately contacting each one and is worth using if it's offered to you at registration.
Notifying banks, pensions and other providers
You'll typically need to contact separately:
- Banks and building societies, for both sole and joint accounts
- Pension providers, including any workplace or private pensions
- Insurance companies, including life insurance and mortgage protection policies
- Utility companies, landlord or mortgage lender, and local council for Council Tax
- Credit card and loan providers, to notify them and stop any debts accruing further interest unfairly
Many major banks have dedicated bereavement teams, and losing a related paper trail is common — keep a simple log of who you've contacted, when, and what reference number they gave you.
Joint accounts and sole accounts
A joint bank account usually passes automatically to the surviving account holder and doesn't normally form part of the estate for the purposes of accessing the funds, though it may still count for inheritance tax. A sole account, by contrast, is normally frozen once the bank is notified of the death, and funds can only be released to the executor or administrator once probate (or, in Scotland, confirmation) has been granted — though many banks will release smaller amounts, or funds specifically for funeral costs, without waiting for probate.
Dealing with the estate
If the person left a will, it should name an executor responsible for administering the estate — collecting in assets, paying off debts, and distributing what remains according to the will. If there's no will, the rules of intestacy decide who inherits, and someone (usually a close relative) will need to apply to become the administrator. Depending on the value and type of assets, you may need a Grant of Probate (or equivalent) before banks, pension providers and the Land Registry will release funds or transfer property.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying money out of the estate to beneficiaries before all debts and any inheritance tax are settled — this can leave the executor personally responsible for a shortfall.
- Assuming a joint account or a life insurance policy written in trust needs to wait for probate, when it usually doesn't.
- Cancelling direct debits for things like the deceased's mortgage or buildings insurance too early, before alternative cover is in place.
- Not checking for pension death benefits — many workplace and personal pensions pay out a lump sum or ongoing income to a spouse, civil partner or nominated beneficiary, but only if you claim it.
What to do next
If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's fine to tackle this in stages: register the death and secure immediate essentials first, then work through notifications over the following weeks. MoneyHelper's bereavement guidance and organisations like Cruse Bereavement Support can offer both practical and emotional help alongside your solicitor or the deceased's bank.