What to Do After a Funeral

After the funeral, there's still a fair amount of administration to work through. This guide walks you through the key tasks and helps you understand what to focus on first. For the full official overview, see the GOV.UK guide on what to do after a death.

What you need to know

Notify banks, pension providers, and utility companies about the death
Cancel any ongoing subscriptions and memberships
You may need to apply for probate to deal with the estate
It's okay to take breaks and share the work with others

Who to Notify After the Funeral

You'll need to let a number of organisations know about the death. The sooner you do this, the sooner accounts and payments can be updated or closed.

Banks and building societies, use the Death Notification Service to notify multiple banks at once.
Pension providers, both workplace and private pensions. There may be a survivor's pension or lump sum payable.
State Pension, contact the Pension Service to stop payments and check for any arrears.
HMRC, report the death and deal with any outstanding tax affairs.
Insurance companies, check for life insurance policies and make any claims.
Utility providers, gas, electricity, water, broadband, and phone.
Local authority, for council tax and any benefits received.

The Death Notification Service lets you notify multiple banks and building societies in a single step. The Tell Us Once service can also notify many government departments for you.

Cancelling Subscriptions and Memberships

Go through their bank statements to identify any ongoing subscriptions, things like streaming services, gym memberships, clubs, and magazines. Cancel each one to avoid ongoing charges.

How to Handle the Estate

The estate includes everything the person who has died owned, such as property, money, and possessions. How it's distributed depends on whether there's a will.

If there is a will: the executor named in the will is responsible for administering the estate.
If there is no will: the rules of intestacy apply. Close family members (spouse, children) are prioritised.

How to Apply for Probate

Probate is the legal authority to deal with the estate of the person who has died. It's usually needed if the estate includes property or is worth more than £10,000.

You can apply for probate online through the government's probate service. If the estate is more complex, it may be worth speaking to a solicitor.

Paperwork You'll Need to Collect

Collect and secure important documents, including:

Will
Birth certificate
Marriage or civil partnership certificate
Passport
National Insurance number
Property deeds and mortgage documents
Bank statements and financial records

Looking After Yourself

Grief takes time. The administrative tasks can feel relentless, but it's okay to take breaks and ask for help. Many people find it helpful to share the work with others.

It's okay to not have it all figured out. You're doing more than you realise.

You can share your plan with the people helping you through this, so everything doesn't fall on one person alone.

Common Questions

It varies, but most straightforward applications take around 8 to 12 weeks to receive the grant of probate. Distributing the estate can take longer depending on its complexity.

Not always. If the estate is straightforward, you can apply yourself online. If there's property, debts, or disputes, speaking to a solicitor can help you understand your options.

If someone dies without a will, the rules of intestacy decide who inherits. This usually prioritises a spouse or civil partner, then children. You can read more on the GOV.UK intestacy page.

Related guides

What to do when someone dies

The full guide to what needs to happen, and in what order.

Funeral planning checklist

Everything you need to arrange, broken down into clear steps.

How to register a death in the UK

Who can register, what to bring, and what you'll receive.

What to do after a funeral