What To Do When Someone Dies

There can be a lot to think about when you're dealing with the loss of a loved one. To help, we’ve put together this easy to follow three-step guide:

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Step One:

Who to Contact

Before you can start making funeral arrangements, there are certain people that you need to tell as soon as possible. Who you need to speak to depends on where your loved one has died.

Step Two:

Registering a Death

Step Three:

Informing Other Organisations

There are several individuals and organisations that need to be contacted as soon as possible.


The death should be registered with the local Registrar within five days. Details of the information you will need to take to the Registrar are detailed above. There are also other people and organisations that need to be notified too. They include:


  • Family, friends and loved ones of the person who has died
  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – to deal with tax and cancel any benefits
  • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – to cancel any benefits, such as income support
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) – to cancel a driving licence
  • Passport Office – to cancel a passport
  • The local council – to cancel housing benefit, council tax benefit, a disabled parking badge, inform council housing services and remove the person from the electoral register.


Tell Us Once Service


Your local Registrar may tell you about a service called Tell Us Once, which lets you report a death to a number of government organisations in one go.


If you wish to take advantage of this service, your local Registrar will provide you with a unique reference number to access the service online or by telephone.


You'll need to provide the following information about your loved one to the Tell Us Once service:

  • Date of birth
  • National Insurance number
  • Driving licence number
  • Passport number
  • Details of any benefits or entitlements they were receiving, e.g. State Pension
  • Details of any local council services they were receiving, e.g. Blue Badge
  • Name and address of their next of kin
  • Name, address and contact details of the person or company dealing with their estate (property, belongings and money), known as the ‘executor’ or ‘administrator’

It’s important to note that you require permission from the next of kin, the executor or administrator, or anyone who was claiming joint benefits or entitlements with your loved one, before you pass on their personal details.

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