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What to Do When Someone Dies: Immediate Next Steps

Written by Adam McIlroy.

20 minute read

Article reviewed by Emily Cross, Self-Employed Death Doula on August 22, 2025.

Understanding what to do when someone dies can feel overwhelming. The legal, financial and practical matters can leave many feeling like they don’t know where to start. This article is designed to guide you through the essential steps immediately following the loss of a loved one. From registering the death to planning the funeral, we are here to help you feel prepared to handle these responsibilities.

Key takeaways:

Many families choose to spend quiet time with their loved one before taking any formal steps.
Some people find the Tell Us Once service helpful for notifying government departments all at once.
It’s common to speak with a funeral director early on, even before all paperwork is in place.
Valuing the estate and checking for inheritance tax or probate is often part of the process.
Bereavement support, both emotional and practical, is available through various charities and services.

There are lots of different things which need to be done when someone dies.

The things to do immediately when someone dies

The immediate hours after someone dies can feel still, surreal, or confusing. Many people describe it as a moment when time slows down, and everyday tasks fade into the background. There’s often no urgency to act straight away, and some choose to spend time with, and can even feel the energy of their loved one — they might sit quietly, speak to them, or allow close family to gather.

What happens next can depend on where the person died and whether their death was expected. Some people begin by contacting a doctor, hospice team or care provider to confirm the death and begin the necessary steps. Others prefer to wait a little while before making any calls.

It’s not unusual to feel unsure in these first moments. There is no ‘right’ way to begin, only what feels manageable. For some, that means taking practical action straight away. For others, it means pausing — and that’s okay too.

What to do when someone dies at home

If someone dies at home and the death was expected, you will need to contact their GP. They will confirm the death and begin any required paperwork.

If the death occurs outside of regular GP surgery hours, you can wait until the next day or use their emergency number. If you don’t know the GP, or if there is no emergency number, call NHS 111 for assistance. You may be asked a few questions about the deceased like their name, date of birth, address as well as your contact telephone number to call you back.

Do not be alarmed if they do not arrive immediately, it may take a few hours. You can spend time with your loved one and ask family and friends to join you during this time.

If the person who has died was under the care of a hospice or palliative team, you may need to call them instead of the GP. The team caring for the person who has died should provide the numbers for you to call in this instance.

When someone has died at home, you may wonder how you can look after them before your funeral director arrives to take over their care. Sometimes families feel they would like the funeral director to attend very quickly, and sometimes families prefer to have some time with the person at home.

If you would like to take some time with your loved one before they are collected, you may wish to understand how best to care for them during this time. It is important to say that this isn’t essential, and you shouldn’t perform any care for someone if you do not feel comfortable doing so.

However, one of the most important things you can do to care for someone who has died at home is help to keep them as cool as possible. This can feel at odds with what you think you should be doing, but it is one of the best ways to keep someone safe. Turn off any radiators in the room the person is in, and keep heavy blankets off the person until their body has had time to naturally cool down. Someone feeling very cool can feel quite alarming, but it is completely natural and normal and no cause for concern.

When someone dies in a hospital or a hospice

When someone dies in a hospital or hospice, medical staff will be there to help. The same is likely true when someone dies in a care home. If the cause of death is clear, a medical certificate will be issued quickly. You can then authorise your chosen funeral director to take the deceased into their care directly from the hospital or hospice.

What to do if someone dies abroad

Knowing what to do when someone dies aboard can be difficult, with the process often varying by location. For specific advice by country, you can use the government website.

First, you must register the death in the country where it occurred. You may need assistance from the local embassy or consulate; they can guide you through the process and help with language barriers. The foreign death certificate, accompanied by a certified English translation, can be used for legal matters such as probate, accessing pension benefits, or claiming life insurance.

To obtain a death certificate abroad, you may need:

A document with your full name and date of birth like a passport or driving license.
The passport of the person who died, including their full name, date of birth, and passport number, as well as where and when the passport was issued.
Details of the next of kin (if this isn’t you)

Check whether the person who has died had travel or life insurance that includes repatriation costs as it can greatly ease the logistical and financial burden. You can find this information through their bank, credit card company, or employer if the travel was work-related. Without insurance, you will need to select a funeral director or an international repatriation service to handle the arrangements.

If you plan to bring your loved one back to the UK, consult with the embassy about the regulations and paperwork required. Once the body is in the UK, you will need to take the death certificate to the register office in the area where the funeral is taking place.

”My late Partner had an email exchange between 2 or 3 of the online cremation providers. On the evening of her death I had to make a decision and chose Aura, I’ve not experienced loss before it all happens so quickly, especially when no provision had previously been made for the funeral. I’m so glad I did, it is a shock to the system when after my initial contact my Partner was collected within a couple of hours and taken to a mortuary, awaiting a cremation date, following the completion of the paperwork. A lady called Tracy was very helpful and supportive from the start, always keeping me informed of the procedures and dates & times. I got to choose a song for her arrival at the chapel on her cremation date and her ashes were delivered back to me very soon after. Tracy as been in touch several times since my partner passed, in fact almost 2 months have passed and she as continually offered support and even sent me a candle with seeds impregnated into the label which I can plant, another way to remember my beloved. So thank you to Aura and Tracy, I would highly recommend their services, if this is the type of funeral the deceased had or collectively you had chosen. Thank you“

—S MOULD | Trustpilot

What to do when someone dies checklist

Getting a medical certificate

The Medical Certificate of Death (MCCD) is an official record and is required to enable you to register the death.

Following changes to the registration system in September 2024, the process has become more streamlined, with most documents now being shared directly between medical teams and the registrar.

After someone dies, a medical professional who cared for them will confirm the death and complete the MCCD, including the cause of death. This certificate is then reviewed by a medical examiner to check for accuracy before being sent straight to the local register office. Once the registrar has received it, they will either contact the next of kin or invite you to book an appointment to complete the registration.

Register the death

You must register the death within five days of the person passing away in England and Wales (eight days in Scotland). This is done at the registry office in the area where the person passed away.

The Registrar will require the following information from you:

Date and place of death.
Full name and address of the person who has died (including maiden name if they had been married).
Date and place of birth.
Occupation.
Name and address of their husband or wife, or civil partner.
Your name, address and your relationship to the person who has died.
Whether the person who has died was in receipt of a pension from public funds.

How to get a death certificate

Once the death is registered, the registrar will issue a Death Certificate. You can request multiple certified copies which are necessary for legal, financial, and insurance purposes. However, there is a fee for every copy.

The registrar will also provide you with a certificate for burial or cremation (i.e. the ‘Green Form’ or the GR021 in Northern Ireland). This form enables the funeral to go ahead. They may send this form directly to your chosen funeral director or hand it to you.

Tell organisations and government services about the death

The registrar’s office will also provide you with a unique ‘Tell Us Once’ reference number. This online service enables you to inform most government departments of the death with one form. This is not available in Northern Ireland, but there is a helpful guide on the NI Direct website. If this service is not in your area, you may need to inform the following government departments individually:

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP Bereavement Service)
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
National Insurance (NI) Contributions Office
Child Benefit Office
Tax Credit Office
Passport Office
Personal, Workplace and Armed Forces Pensions
Local Council
DVLA (if the person had a driving licence)

Below is a list of other organisations you may need to inform. Not all will be relevant to you and it is not exhaustive, but it is a helpful place to start:

Employer
Lawyer
Accountant
Financial Adviser
Banks, Pay Pal, Bitcoin
Utility Providers (Electric, Gas, Water)
Insurers (Household, Mortgage, Life, Health, Car, Pet)
Mortgage Provider
Credit Card Provider
Car Loan
TV and Media subscriptions (Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc)
Books, Audio Books, Music Subscriptions
Online Gaming Subscriptions
Online Photo/Data Storage
Home Security Systems
Landlord
Mobile Phone
Landline Telephone
Internet
Antivirus (Norton, etc)
Gym or Health-Club Membership
Loyalty Cards
Trade Unions
Newspapers
Milk delivery

Value the estate and check if you need to pay Inheritance Tax

To figure out the value of an estate you will need to total the worth of everything the person owned when they passed away— this includes cash, property, and other valuable belongings. In the UK, there is a tax-free threshold of £325,000. Anything over that amount will be subject to inheritance tax.

It’s important to get the estate’s value right, so it’s recommended that you make a detailed list of all the person’s assets and subtract any debts they had. Also, if the person had given away any significant gifts in the last seven years of their life or left things to their spouse, partner, or a charity, these actions could change the tax situation.

To determine if there’s any inheritance tax to pay, and to ensure compliance with legal requirements, you can use tools such as the online inheritance tax checker provided by the government. This page can also provide you with more detailed information on how to value the estate.

Apply for probate

To manage the finances and assets of someone who has died, you may need to apply for probate. Not everyone will need this, it often depends on how much that person owned when they passed and whether they left a will.

To find out if it is necessary, you can check with banks and see if the deceased owned any property alone. If the person who died only had savings and owned land with others, you may not need probate.

If you do need probate, you will also need to value the estate and check if you need to pay inheritance tax first. If there’s a will, the person named as the executor has to apply for probate. If there is not a will, the closest living relative can apply. You can find more details and apply for probate on the government website.

Deal with benefits, pension and taxes

When someone dies, it’s essential to address their benefits, pensions, and taxes to ensure all financial matters are settled correctly.

Benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and others do not automatically stop upon death. You’ll need to inform the appropriate government offices. If your partner or spouse was the one who died and they were claiming benefits for the family, you may need to apply again under your name.

Pension arrangements can vary, but some may continue to provide for a spouse or dependents. Contact the pension provider to understand the next steps and whether any benefits will continue.

You must also notify the appropriate government departments about the death to manage tax matters, including potential inheritance tax. To inform these government departments in an easy and fast way, you can use the Tell Us Once service.

Check if the person who died had a lasting or enduring power of attorney

If someone loses the capacity to make decisions, maybe due to sickness or an accident, they can appoint one or more people to act on their behalf. This legal arrangement is called lasting or enduring power of attorney.

Power of attorney stops being valid when they pass away. At that point, handling their estate is governed by their will or, if there is no will, by standard legal regulations. If you need to check whether someone has a power of attorney, you can look this up through the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). You can email or mail them a form using the information on the government website.

What if someone dies without a will?

When someone dies without a will, they’re said to have died “intestate,” which means the rules set by law decide who inherits money, property and possessions.
A relative or close friend can volunteer to manage this. They need to get a “grant of letters of administration,” which is a legal document that authorises them to manage the estate. The specifics of who inherits what and how much will depend on the value of the estate and the family structure. To find out more about inheritance, you can use this guide on the government website.

Check if you need to apply to stay in the UK

If your right to stay in the UK depended on a relationship with someone who has died, you might need to reassess your visa status.

When a partner or family member passes away, you may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain if your partner was a British citizen or had settled status. This allows you to continue living, working, and studying in the UK, and you might even qualify for public funds and eventually apply for British citizenship.

For more detailed information on eligibility, the application process, and necessary documents, or if your situation involves other visa types, read the UK government’s official guidance.

Find bereavement support, information and advice

Bereavement affects everyone uniquely, and various resources are available to help manage grief and find support. Organisations like Cruse Bereavement Support and the National Bereavement Service are useful places to go for insights into the grieving process.

You can also access counselling and support through group or one-to-one sessions. Sue Ryder offers online bereavement support, including a community to talk to and video chat counselling. AtaLoss also provides a free live chat with a bereavement counsellor. If you also need guidance with practical or legal matters, Citizens Advice is a useful resource.

”When someone dies, even if it was expected, it can still feel like a shock. In the moment, it’s not always clear what to do. If a doctor or nurse is there, they’ll confirm the death. If not, and it was expected, contact the GP or out-of-hours service. If the death was sudden or unclear, call emergency services so a professional can attend. Once the death is confirmed, a funeral director can bring the person into their care. The death then needs to be registered at a local register office.“

—Emily Cross

End-of-Life Doula

Arrange the funeral

When someone we love dies, planning their final farewell can be a helpful part of the grieving process. As you navigate through this difficult time, it may be helpful to check if your loved one left any specific wishes for their funeral— perhaps through a note, funeral arrangements checklist, detailed instructions in their will, or a prepaid funeral plan. You can organise a funeral alongside taking care of any necessary legal and practical matters.

You may also want to begin thinking about how and when to share a funeral announcement, especially if others will want to attend or pay their respects.

How to arrange a funeral

After the death has been verified by a medical professional, you can begin making funeral arrangements. You do not need a death certificate to arrange a funeral, but the death must be registered before the funeral can take place. The first step to arranging a funeral is to select a funeral director. They will take the deceased into their care, and you can start to organise the details. If a coroner’s investigation is needed, the funeral can only go ahead once all necessary tests have been completed and the coroner has released the body.

In such overwhelming times, you might also wonder does next of kin have to pay for the funeral – our detailed guide answers this question and explains the legal responsibilities involved.

There are a few options for handling the body after death, the common choice is between cremation or burial. There are other options available to you like natural burials and direct cremation.

Aura is here to help you through this process. We specialise in direct cremation services that offer minimal fuss and compassionate care. We can provide services to those who need us now and those looking to set up a prepaid funeral plan for the future.

We also offer the opportunity to add an intimate service to the direct cremation. Alternatively, you can plan a celebration of life separately in your own time and to your loved one’s unique wishes.

Caring for the body

Your chosen funeral director will oversee the collection and care of the body. For a burial, the body is typically embalmed and dressed for a viewing or service. For cremation, embalming is usually not necessary. Each step is handled with respect and sensitivity to carefully honour the person who has passed. You can read more about how Aura cares for your loved ones or get in touch if you have any questions.

When the Coroner is involved

A post-mortem examination may happen if the death was unexpected or suspicious and in this case, consent is not needed. A post-mortem may also occur by request from the family to find out the cause of death or if the hospital wishes to do medical research. In both of these cases, consent is needed from the family.

If the coroner is investigating the death through a post-mortem examination, this can impact how long it takes to arrange a funeral. This is because the body cannot be released until the coroner’s investigation is complete and permission for burial or cremation is granted.

However, you can be given an ‘interim’ certificate to begin practical and financial arrangements while the coroner’s inquest is ongoing.

If you have any other questions about practical and legal matters or need help arranging a funeral, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Tamsin

Amy

Line open

0800 808 5723

Call us anytime, we’re here 24/7

If you’re looking to arrange a funeral or would like a loved one brought into our care, our phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you’re looking to make plans for the future, our dedicated planning team is available Monday–Friday, 9.00–5.00pm.

What should I do immediately after someone dies?: The first steps depend on where the person died and whether their death was expected. If they were under medical or hospice care, contact their GP or the out-of-hours service so a doctor can confirm the death and issue the necessary paperwork. If the death was sudden or unexpected, call 999 straight away. Once the death is confirmed, you can contact a funeral director to bring your loved one into their care and begin making arrangements.

What should I do first when someone dies at home?

It depends on whether their death was expected.

If it was expected (e.g. under hospice or palliative care), contact their GP or call NHS 111.
If it was unexpected, call 999 immediately. Paramedics will advise on the next steps.

Can I spend time with my loved one after they die?: Yes. Many families choose to spend quiet time with their loved one before contacting a funeral director. You may sit with them, invite close family to gather, or simply take a moment of stillness. If the death happened at home, you may also choose to wait a while before arranging collection. This can be an important part of saying goodbye.

How do I register the death?: In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, a death should be registered within five days (or within eight days in Scotland). To do this, you’ll need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death provided by the doctor. Once you have this, you can make an appointment with your local register office.

What if the death was unexpected?: If the cause of death isn’t immediately clear, the police may attend as part of routine procedure. In these cases, the coroner may also become involved and could request a post-mortem or inquest. This is a standard process and does not necessarily mean there is anything suspicious.

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