First steps · 8 min read · 31 August 2026
What to do when someone dies: the UK checklist, in order
Written by Simon D Campbell, Director, Shropshire Expert Cleaners LTD · 17 years in bereavement, trauma and hospital-standard cleaning
The short answer
First, have the death verified by a doctor or paramedic (GP or NHS 111 if expected, 999 if sudden). Once the medical examiner has confirmed the cause, register the death within 5 days in England and Wales, use Tell Us Once, then arrange the funeral, find the will and deal with banks, property and probate in that order.
Most people are handed a leaflet and left to work the rest out. This is the same information in the order it actually happens in England and Wales, with the parts that can wait clearly marked as able to wait.
The first few hours
The death has to be verified by a doctor or paramedic. If the death was expected and happened at home, call the GP surgery in working hours or NHS 111 out of hours. If it was sudden, unexpected or unexplained, call 999. Police attend sudden deaths as a matter of routine — they are confirming there is nothing suspicious, not investigating the family.
After that, only three things genuinely matter today: the property is secure, any pets are being cared for, and someone knows where you are. You do not have to choose a funeral director tonight.
Before you can register
GOV.UK sets out that the doctor confirms the death and then contacts a medical examiner — a senior doctor who was not involved in the person's care. The medical examiner checks the cause of death and contacts you to explain it and answer questions. That conversation is voluntary. You must wait for the medical examiner's office to confirm you can register.
The first five days
Once you have that confirmation, the death must be registered within 5 days in England and Wales (8 days in Scotland), including weekends and bank holidays. If you need longer, tell the register office straight away. When you register you receive a certificate for burial or cremation — the 'green form' — which the funeral director, crematorium or burial authority needs before the funeral can go ahead.
Order several certified copies of the death certificate while you are there. Banks, pension providers and insurers each want to see one, and copies ordered later from the General Register Office cost £12.50 each.
At the same appointment the registrar will offer Tell Us Once, which notifies most government departments in one go. It does not cover banks, insurers, utilities or private pensions.
The first month
Find the will and confirm who the executor is. Work out whether probate is needed. Notify banks, pension providers, insurers and utilities. Keep every reference number in one place — you will be asked for them repeatedly.
What can wait
Clearing the house, sorting clothes, cancelling subscriptions, deciding what to do with the property. None of that is urgent, and doing it too quickly is the thing people most often regret.
If it helps to have this as one action at a time rather than a wall of text, the free step-by-step guide on this site does exactly that and remembers where you stopped.