Checklist

In which part of the UK did the person pass away?

  • In England, you must register the death within 5 days at the local register office. You’ll receive a Green Form for funeral arrangements.
  • In Wales, the process is the same as England — registration must happen within 5 days at the local register office. You’ll get a Green Form for the funeral director.
  • In Scotland, you must register the death within 8 days. You can use any local registrar, and you’ll receive Form 14 to give to the funeral director.
  • In Northern Ireland, you must register the death within 5 days using the General Register Office (GRONI). You’ll receive Form GRO 21.

When did the person pass away?

  • Thank you for letting us know. You’ll usually need to wait for a doctor or hospital to issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death before registering. We’ll include this step in your checklist and guide you through it.
  • Thank you for sharing. You’re within the registration window – in most cases, deaths must be registered within {number_of_days_when_person_pass_away} days. We’ll guide you to the right office next.
  • Thank you for letting us know. If more than {number_of_days_when_person_pass_away} days have passed, it’s best to contact the register office as soon as possible. Delays are sometimes permitted, especially if the death was referred to a coroner. We’ll help you find the right office.
  • That’s completely okay — thank you for telling us. We’ll guide you through the next steps either way, and you’ll still need to register the death as soon as possible.

Where did the person die?

  • In this case, a GP (if they saw the person recently) or an out-of-hours doctor will usually issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. You’ll need this to register the death.
  • Hospital or hospice staff will typically handle the Medical Certificate and guide you to the register office. You can ask for help from the bereavement team.
  • Unexpected or unexplained deaths are often referred to the coroner, who may order a post-mortem or inquest. Registration will usually happen after the coroner’s investigation.
  • That’s okay. If you’re unsure, we’ll help you understand what documents you might need and who to contact.

Was the death expected by doctors or family?

  • Thank you for letting us know. If the death was expected, a doctor will usually issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death directly — either from the hospital or the person’s GP. We’ll guide you to the next steps from here.
  • ⚠️ Thank you for sharing this. When a death is unexpected, it may need to be reported to the coroner. This can sometimes delay registration while the cause of death is confirmed. We’ll guide you through what this means.

    What does the coroner do?
    – Order a post-mortem (to understand the cause of death)
    – Hold an inquest (a public court process, in some cases)
    – Issue paperwork directly to the register office once complete

    📌 You won’t be able to register the death until the coroner gives permission, but we’ll support you with the steps.
  • That’s completely okay — thank you for letting us know. If you’re unsure, the doctor or hospital team will decide whether the death needs to be referred to a coroner. We’ll guide you through the right steps either way.

Has a doctor issued the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death?

  • hank you — that’s helpful. You’ll need to bring this to the register office to register the death. It’s usually issued by a GP or hospital doctor. We’ll guide you to the next step.
  • That’s okay — it can take a little time for a GP or hospital to issue the Medical Certificate. You’ll need to wait for it before you can register the death. We’ll guide you through what to do once it’s ready.
    📌 You can’t register the death without it.
  • No problem — it’s common for there to be a short delay while doctors or hospitals prepare the certificate. As soon as you receive it, you’ll be able to book an appointment at the register office. We’ll help you remember this step.
  • That’s completely okay — this can be confusing. The certificate is usually issued by the GP or hospital where the person died. You can check directly with them, and we’ll guide you through what to expect either way.

Do you know if they left a valid will?

  • If there’s a valid will, it should name one or more executors — these are the people responsible for handling the estate, including probate if needed.
    🧭 We’ll include steps to help the executor carry out their role.
  • If there’s no will, the estate is handled under intestacy rules. The next of kin will usually need to apply for ‘letters of administration’ to manage the estate.

    ℹ️ In England & Wales, partners who weren’t married or in a civil partnership usually don’t automatically inherit if there’s no will.
  • ℹ️ That’s okay. If you’re not sure, it’s important to try to locate a will soon — it could be with a solicitor, in a safe, or registered with a will service.

    💡 Checklist step: Search for the will or contact solicitors who may hold one

Are you responsible for managing their affairs — either as the executor of the will or next of kin?

  • Thank you. We’ll guide you through the steps you’re legally responsible for — including registering the death, planning the funeral, and managing the estate.
  • That’s fine. We’ll still show you what’s involved, but you won’t be expected to complete the legal steps yourself.
  • Great — we’ll show you the steps the responsible person needs to take, so you can assist them or explain what’s coming.

What do you need help with right now?

Answer Image Registering the death
Answer Image Planning the funeral
Answer Image Understanding probate
Answer Image Notifying banks, utilities or services
Answer Image Finding or reading the will
Answer Image Managing their property or belongings
Answer Image Dealing with digital accounts or passwords
Answer Image I’m not sure yet — show me everything
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