What to do when someone dies

When someone you love dies, the last thing you want to think about is paperwork and phone calls. But certain things need to happen, and knowing what they are — and in what order — can make the first few days feel slightly less overwhelming. This guide covers the practical steps, one at a time. You don't have to do them all at once.

In the first few hours

If the death was expected (at home or in a care home)

If the person was under the care of a GP or district nurse and their death was expected, call their GP surgery or the out-of-hours GP service. A doctor needs to attend to confirm the death and issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). This is the document you'll need to register the death.

There is no rush to contact a funeral director immediately — take whatever time you need with the person who has died.

If the death was unexpected or sudden

Call 999 immediately. Paramedics will attend and, where the death is unexpected, the coroner will become involved. The coroner's office will guide you through the next steps, which may include a post-mortem examination. This takes longer — registration may be delayed — but the coroner's office handles this process and will keep you informed.

If the death was in hospital

The hospital's bereavement team will contact you. They will arrange for the death to be certified and will give you the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death when it is ready. The hospital will also explain how to arrange collection of the person's belongings and body.

Contacting a funeral director

You can contact a funeral director at any time — they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and are experienced in guiding families through exactly this situation. They will arrange to bring the person into their care, and will advise you on the next steps specific to your area.

You are not obliged to use the first funeral director you contact. You are entitled to request quotes from more than one and to compare them. Funeral costs vary significantly.

Registering the death

In England and Wales, a death must be registered within five days of it occurring (unless the coroner is involved, in which case this deadline is paused). You register the death at the local register office for the area where the death took place — not where the person lived.

See our full guide: How to register a death in the UK.

Arranging the funeral

Your funeral director will guide you through all of the following, but these are the decisions that need to be made — usually within the first week:

• Burial or cremation — did the person express a preference, formally or informally? Check for a will or any written instructions.
• The date and time — your funeral director will liaise with the crematorium or cemetery and church/venue
• The officiant — a vicar, priest, rabbi, imam, humanist celebrant, or other appropriate person to lead the service
• The order of service — hymns, readings, music, who will speak (see our full guide)
• Flowers, notices, and donations — whether to invite flowers or to direct donations to a charity
• A wake or reception — venue, catering, and invitations

You do not need to make all of these decisions on the first call with the funeral director. They are used to working with families who need a little time.

Who to notify

After the death is registered, you'll need to inform a number of organisations. The government's Tell Us Once service (available in England, Wales, and Scotland) lets you notify most government departments in a single step — your registrar will give you a reference number to use it.

Beyond Tell Us Once, consider notifying:

• The person's employer or former employer (for pension purposes)
• Banks and building societies — accounts will need to be frozen then dealt with through probate
• Insurance companies (life insurance, home insurance, car insurance)
• The DVLA — to return the driving licence and notify about the vehicle
• Utility companies and subscription services
• The person's solicitor, if they had one
• Close friends and extended family who haven't already heard

The will and probate

If the person left a will, the executor named in it is responsible for administering the estate. If there is no will, the rules of intestacy apply and the next of kin typically applies for administration.

Probate (the legal process of dealing with the estate) does not need to be started immediately — and often cannot be, until the death is registered. Most solicitors offer an initial conversation free of charge, and many families manage straightforward estates without a solicitor at all.

Looking after yourself

The practical demands of the first days after a death can be relentless. It is easy to find yourself three days in, having made dozens of phone calls and decisions, and suddenly realise you have barely eaten or slept.

If you are responsible for managing arrangements, ask someone to help — to make calls, to keep a record of who has been notified, to sit with you while you do difficult things. You do not have to do this alone.

The Cruse Bereavement Support helpline (0808 808 1677) is available free of charge if you need to talk to someone.

More free guides

• How to register a death in the UK
• What to write in a funeral order of service
• How to write a eulogy
• Poems and readings for funerals
• Popular hymns for funerals
• Funeral order of service — FAQ