If the person who passed away was a relation, spouse or civil partner, after the funeral you have some additional tasks to complete. It might be a good idea to get a notebook that helps you to keep a track of these tasks. You'll want to record the dates and times of phone conversations, email or postal communication. Include the full name of the person you spoke to, their job title and their employer identification or extension number if necessary.
Locate and safeguard as many of the documents listed below that belonged to the person who has passed away. It may help to put each into in a designated set of file folders, and keep them within easy reach:
Birth certificate
Driver's license
Passport
Marriage certificate
Divorce papers
Deeds and Titles to real estate and personal property
Recent hospitalisation records
Insurance documents: life, health, car (there may be more than one policy in each category)
Here is a checklist of the tasks you may be facing in the coming weeks:
Request certified copies of the Death Certificate. Be aware that for each additional copy there is a fee
If the deceased left a will you may need to speak to the lawyers who put this together
Get the mail redirected, if applicable. You can do this at your local post office, or online through Royal Mail
Stop any insurance coverage. You may need to provide them with additional information, so keep your relevant paperwork handy. Not everyone has life insurance, but some people have more than one policy. No matter how many policies were in force, you will probably need to provide each of them with a certified copy of the death certificate for each claim made
Contact the deceased’s employer or union. Determine if there are any death-related benefits available, ask (and answer) questions, and change any relevant contact information
Pay any necessary bills and notify any of the companies who provide their utilities to have the accounts paid off or closed
Transfer title of real estate and personal property. You'll need to inform the DVLA of the change in ownership of any vehicles
Close or modify credit card accounts. You will probably need to provide each of them with a certified copy of the death certificate
Arrange to close or modify bank accounts. Depending on your relationship to the deceased, you may be entitled to convert them into your name
Change any stocks and bonds into your name. To do this, you'll need to provide a certified copy of the death certificate to all organisations involved
If the person who has died was in the armed forces, police force or medical profession, or if they belonged to any national societies, you may need to cancel any benefits or memberships. This might include professional or avocational associations such as Masonic lodges, Rotary Clubs, gym and golf course memberships
Tend to the deceased’s digital estate. If they were active on social media, you'll need to inform the specific networking sites of the change in status. You will need to close any email accounts as well as any online banking portal or investment accounts. You can have emails forwarded to your own account if you prefer