What to Do in the First 7 Days After Someone Dies

Losing someone is an incredibly difficult experience. As well as dealing with grief, families are often faced with a long list of practical and legal matters that need attention.

Knowing what needs to be done — and what can wait — can make those first few days a little easier.

This guide explains some of the key steps to consider during the first seven days following a death in England and Wales.

Day 1: Make the immediate arrangements

The first priority is to ensure that the death has been properly confirmed and that the necessary medical or coroner's procedures are followed.

If the death occurred in hospital, a care home or at home, the relevant medical professional will explain what happens next. If the death is unexpected or requires investigation, the coroner may become involved. This can affect when the death can be registered and when funeral arrangements can proceed.

At this stage, you should also:

• Contact close family members and anyone else who needs to know.
• Make arrangements for the person who has died to be taken into the care of a funeral director, where appropriate.
• Check whether there was a prepaid funeral plan or any known funeral wishes.
• Locate any important documents, particularly the Will, if one exists.
• Consider securing the person's home and property if it is going to be left unoccupied.

Don't worry about dealing with everything immediately

It is common to feel that you need to contact banks, sell property and start dealing with the estate straight away. In most cases, these matters do not all need to be dealt with in the first 24 hours.

The immediate priorities are the practical arrangements surrounding the death and making sure important documents and information are safe.

Day 2: Find the Will

If the person left a Will, it is important to establish where the original is and who has been appointed as executor.

The executor is responsible for administering the estate and dealing with matters such as identifying assets and liabilities, paying debts and taxes where appropriate, and distributing the estate to the beneficiaries.

Do not assume that the person named in the Will is automatically able to deal with every aspect of the estate without further formalities. Depending on the assets and circumstances, an application for a Grant of Probate may be required.

If there is no Will, the estate is normally dealt with under the intestacy rules. The people entitled to inherit may therefore be different from those the deceased would have chosen themselves.

If you cannot find a Will, or there is uncertainty about which Will is the most recent, it is sensible to obtain legal advice before taking significant steps.

Day 3: Register the death

In England, the death normally needs to be registered within five days, although different arrangements apply where a death has been referred to a coroner.

The death registration process provides the documents needed to deal with many of the practical matters that follow.

After registering the death, you may be able to use the Government's Tell Us Once service. This allows the death to be reported to a number of government departments and organisations at the same time.

You should also keep copies of the death certificate, as copies may be required when dealing with financial institutions and other organisations.

Day 4: Arrange the funeral

Funeral arrangements will usually be one of the most immediate practical considerations.

Check whether the deceased left instructions about their funeral or had already made arrangements through a funeral plan or insurance policy.

A funeral director can assist with many of the practical arrangements, including burial or cremation and liaising with the relevant authorities. Government guidance confirms that funeral costs may potentially be paid from the deceased's estate, subject to the circumstances and access to the estate's funds.

If you are concerned about how the funeral will be paid for, seek advice before committing to significant expenditure.

Day 5: Start gathering information about the estate

Once the immediate arrangements are underway, begin creating a record of the deceased's financial affairs.

Look for information relating to:

• Bank and building society accounts
• Savings and investments
• Pensions
• Life insurance
• Property
• Vehicles
• Shares and other investments
• Personal possessions of significant value
• Mortgages and loans
• Credit cards and other debts
• Household bills and subscriptions
• Tax records
• Business interests, if applicable

It is useful to keep a simple list of organisations that need to be contacted, together with dates of correspondence and any reference numbers.

Be careful with the deceased's money and possessions

If you are an executor or potential administrator, avoid distributing money or valuable possessions to family members simply because you believe they are entitled to them.

The estate needs to be properly established and administered before assets are distributed.

Day 6: Consider the tax and probate position

At this stage, it may be appropriate to start considering whether the estate requires a Grant of Probate or another form of grant of representation.

You may also need to establish whether Inheritance Tax or other tax liabilities arise.

The Government's probate guidance recommends valuing the estate and determining the relevant tax position before progressing with the administration.

The requirements can vary considerably depending on the circumstances. For example, an estate involving a property, substantial investments, business interests, overseas assets or previous gifts may require more detailed investigation.

This is one of the points at which professional advice can be particularly valuable.

Day 7: Get legal advice if you need it

The administration of an estate can be complicated, particularly where there is property, tax, a large number of assets or disagreement between beneficiaries. Taking professional advice at an early stage can help prevent mistakes and give executors and families greater confidence about what needs to happen next. A solicitor can help you understand your responsibilities and identify issues before they become more complicated.

If you have recently lost someone and are unsure what you need to do, our solicitors can advise you on the administration of the estate, probate, inheritance and related legal matters.