Once you have registered the death the next steps are to arrange a funeral and to inform others of the death.

Order a death certificates

Death certificates may be needed for:

  • banks and building societies
  • insurance companies
  • national saving accounts
  • property matters that may be being dealt with by a solicitor (they can copy and certify at a cost if more than one needed)
  • stocks and shares
  • redirecting post.

Buy a copy of the death certificate for a small fee.

These can be bought on the day of registration or after the registration process.

Funeral support and commemorative displays

Arranging a funeral can not only be stressful - it can also be expensive. The person may have left instructions (in their will or somewhere else) about the type of funeral they wanted and if they wanted to be buried or cremated.

Your district council can provide you with information about:

  • funeral arrangements, including local funeral directors, cremations, burial costs and cemetery plot fees
  • memorials, including benches and trees
  • financial support
  • cemetery and burial ground records.

Visit your district council's website for more information:

Financial matters (probate, debts and estates)

When you’re ready, you might need to sort out the deceased's financial matters, for example their:

  • money
  • money owed to the person who has died
  • shares
  • property
  • personal possessions like their car or jewellery.

To get help and advice visit:

Losing a loved one is a devastating time emotionally, and it can also be an incredibly difficult financially. Bereavement benefits are cash payments designed to help reduce the financial impact of losing a partner. Learn more about the Bereavement Support Payment.

Receiving unwanted post

Redirecting post

The Royal Mail offer a redirect post service.

Complete the special circumstances form and take it to your local Post Office - you can’t do it online or by post. The Post Office will need to see a death certificate or proof of power of attorney.

Unwanted marketing

The Bereavement Register Service can reduce the amount of unwanted marketing post being sent to them, stopping painful daily reminders.

By registering with their free service, the names and addresses of the deceased are removed from mailing lists, stopping most advertising mail within as little as 6 weeks.

Visit the Bereavement Register Service website to sign up.