The First 5 Days, Who To Notify?

• Notify the family Doctor (if not already done so)
• Register the Death at the registrar’s office.
• Complete Form BD8 (if appropriate) when you register and send it to the Job centre Plus or Social Security office.
• Find the Will; this may be kept at home, in a bank or at a solicitor.
• Contact the executor of the will; this may be a relative or a third party (i.e. Solicitor)
• Begin funeral arrangements; the Will may be able to help you.
• If the person who has died was receiving any benefits or tax credits, advise the offices that were making the payments that the person has died.

What happens if there isn’t a Will?

If someone dies without making a will, they are said to have died ‘intestate’. A close relative of the deceased can apply to the probate registry to deal with the estate. In this case, they apply for a ‘grant of letters of administration’. If the grant is given, they are known as ‘administrators’ of the estate. Like the grant of probate, the grant of letters of administration is a legal document which confirms the administrator’s authority to deal with the deceased person’s assets. In some cases, for example, where the person who benefits is a child, the law states that more than one person must act as the administrator.

Who else should I notify?

• Employer
• Clubs, Associations, Social Groups, Trade Unions and places of worship
• Solicitor/Account
• The relevant Tax Office
• National Insurance Contributions Office (for those who are self-employed)
• Child Benefit Office (notify within 8 weeks)
• The Local Authority (Council Tax, Social Services)
• Voluntary Organisations that may have been providing help and assistance
• UK Passport Office
• DVLA (Vehicle Ownership, Car Tax, Driving Licences)
• General Insurance Companies (Car, House or Medical Insurance) (If the deceased was the first name on the policy, you need to check that you are still insured)
• Rental, Lease or Hire Purchase Companies
• Pension Providers and Life Insurance Companies
• Bank & Building Societies
• Mortgage Provider
• Credit Card, Store Card or Catalogue Companies.
• Landlord, Local Authority or Housing Association, if in rented property
• Utility Companies, Gas, Electric, Water, if the bill is in the deceased name TV or Internet Companies
• The Royal Mail, the deceased’s mail may need re-routing
• Dentist, Chiropractor, Osteopath, Hairdresser
• Creditors – anyone to whom the deceased owed money
• Debitors – anyone who owed the deceased money

Legacy Trail

Legacy Trail is a bereavement administration service helping families manage the accounts and services of someone who has died.

What is Legacy Trail ?

Legacy Trail helps families locate, notify and manage organisations connected with someone who has died, reducing the time and stress involved in contacting providers individually. This can include financial providers, utilities, pensions, insurance, subscriptions and digital accounts.

How it works?

Through our partnership with Legacy Trail, families can access support with the practical administration that follows a bereavement.

• Notify organisations of the death and update the account status.
• Locate accounts and services belonging to the person who has died.
• Receive support with closing or transferring accounts where required.
• Access further assistance with pensions, insurance, subscriptions and other private-sector accounts.