A Step By Step Guide To What To Do When Someone Dies

Losing someone close to you is one of life’s most difficult experiences, and knowing what needs to be done in the days that follow can feel overwhelming. This guide explains the practical steps to take when someone dies in England, so you can move through them at your own pace. Our team at Hillier Funeral Service is here to support you at every stage.

In the first few hours

What you need to do first depends on where the person has died.

If the death was expected and happened at home, contact the GP or the medical team who had been caring for them. A doctor will need to verify the death before any further steps can be taken. If the death happens during the night and was expected, you can usually wait until the morning to make the call.

If the death was unexpected, or happened suddenly, telephone 999 and the emergency services will advise you on what to do.

If the death happened in a hospital, hospice or care home, the staff there will guide you and will look after the person until you have chosen a funeral director.

There is no need to rush. Once the death has been verified, you can take the time you need before contacting us to bring the person into our care.

Obtaining the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death

Before a death can be registered, you will need a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.

When someone dies of a known and natural cause, the doctor who was treating them will normally issue this certificate.

If the cause of death is unknown, sudden or unnatural, the doctor or the police will refer the matter to a coroner. The coroner may arrange a post-mortem examination to establish the cause. This can delay the issuing of the certificate and, in turn, the funeral arrangements. The coroner’s office will keep you informed and will tell you when and where you can register the death. In some cases an inquest may be held.

You can read more about this on the Government’s guide to coroner services.

Registering the death

In England, a death must be registered within five days at a register office, ideally in the area where the person died. You will usually need to make an appointment first; you can find your nearest office on the GOV.UK register offices page.

When you attend, you will be asked to provide details about the person who has died, and it helps to bring supporting documents such as their birth certificate, passport, NHS medical card and a recent utility bill where available.

Once the death is registered, the registrar will provide:

• One or more certified copies of the death certificate (a small fee applies for each copy, and it is worth obtaining several, as banks and other organisations often ask for an original).
• A Certificate for Burial or Cremation, commonly known as the “green form”, which gives permission for the funeral to go ahead.
• A form for the Department for Work and Pensions regarding any benefits or pension.

Letting people and organisations know

Telling others about a death is often easier with the help of the Tell Us Once service. This free Government service lets you report a death to most government departments in one go, including HM Revenue & Customs, the DWP, the Passport Office and the DVLA. The registrar will give you a reference number to use the service either online or by telephone.

You will need to contact some organisations yourself, including banks and building societies, insurance providers, utility companies, and any landlord or housing association. If you were the husband, wife or civil partner of the person who died and you lived together in a council property, the tenancy will usually pass to you, though the rules differ for other family members.

You may also be entitled to financial support, such as Bereavement Support Payment, particularly if your partner has died or you are caring for a child whose parents have died. Details are available on the GOV.UK bereavement support page. If your right to remain in the UK depended on your relationship with the person who has died, you may need to apply for a new visa.

Arranging the funeral

Once you have registered the death, you can begin to arrange the funeral. This is where we can help you most.

At Hillier Funeral Service, we will guide you gently through every decision, from choosing between burial and cremation to planning a service that truly reflects the person you have lost. Whether you wish for something traditional or entirely personal, we will listen to your wishes and take care of the practical arrangements on your behalf.

If the person left a funeral plan or written wishes, do bring these to us, as they will help shape the arrangements. There is no obligation to decide everything at once, and we are always happy to answer questions as they arise.

To talk to a member of our team, please contact us and we will arrange a time to meet that suits you.

Dealing with the estate and applying for probate

After someone dies, their money, property and possessions are known collectively as their estate. If you have been named as the executor in the will, you may be responsible for managing this.

In many cases you will need to apply for probate, a legal document that gives you the authority to deal with the estate and release the person’s assets. If there is no will, a similar process called letters of administration applies.

You can find clear, impartial guidance on the Citizens Advice website, which explains how to value the estate, settle any debts and distribute what remains. For larger or more complex estates, it may be worth seeking advice from a solicitor.