What to do after the funeral

Once the funeral has concluded, you will still need to sort out the deceased’s affairs. Depending on how complicated they are this process can take weeks, months or sometimes, years.

Much depends on whether the deceased made a Will and whether the people named as Executors are able to fulfil their duties.

Here, we take you through the various processes that need to happen to finalise someone’s estate.

The people administering the estate need to obtain a Grant of Representation before they can begin. This is a legal document, from the Probate Registry, and authorizes a person or persons to collect the money and assets, pay outstanding bills and distribute the estate. Banks, insurance companies, and other organisations will need to see this document before releasing any assets. See more on applying for probate on the Government’s website.

If the estate is held jointly and everything passes to the surviving owner, then you will not be required to apply for probate. Also, if the estate is very small, some organisations may release the money without the need for a Grant of Representation.

60% of people die intestate, which means they have died without having made a will. In this situation, the responsibility for administering the estate normally falls to the next of kin, in the following order of precedence:

  1. Husband or wife
  2. Sons or daughters (but not stepchildren)
  3. Parents
  4. Brothers or sisters
  5. Grandparents
  6. Uncles or aunts

If none of the above are alive, then nephews, nieces and cousins become eligible to apply for probate.

If there is no officially recognized instructions on how the estate should be distributed, the rules of intestacy will be applied. This sets down clear guidelines as to who should inherit and what proportion of the estate they should inherit after liabilities have been paid. There are different intestacy rules for different countries and the rules applied are aligned to where the deceased was permanently resident at the time of death. For England and Wales, you can find out more about Intestacy here.

Unless the will names a specific solicitor, the executors or administrators will have a choice: to administer the will themselves or ask a solicitor to do it for them.

If you have sufficient time to spare, are quite methodical and take advice on matters you don’t understand, administering an estate is not necessarily that complicated. However, many times, it is simply easier and guarantees a smoother process to employ a solicitor and pay for this service out of the estate.

We particularly recommend employing a solicitor in the following circumstances:

  • There is no will
  • The will is poorly worded and there are different interpretations of the intent
  • Any provisions in the will are likely to be contested
  • There are assets abroad
  • There are business interests involved
  • There is not enough money in the estate to pay the debts
  • Any beneficiaries are under 18 years old

The Citizens Advice Bureau can offer more advice and we are happy to provide you a list of local solicitors if you require help finding one.

When you submit the application for probate, you need to list out the assets and the liabilities. If the deceased was well organised, they will have compiled a list of assets which also states where relevant documents can be found. Often these will be stored in a safe or perhaps with the bank, solicitor, or accountant.

Unfortunately, in many cases, it is not always straight forward and listing all the necessary information will require persistence. It’s common for older people to have papers in the attic, or perhaps at the bottom of a cupboard for example. Younger people, assuming they plenty of years to live, may not have any records at all.

The process for administering the estate is straight forward, but it can sometimes take time to complete – it’s not unreasonable to expect around 6 months. This is especially the case where there are property assets that need to be sold or you may discover assets or unexpected debts along the way:

  • Collect all the assets
  • Pay the bills and taxes
  • Distribute the net assets

If you are not able to identify the creditors from the deceased’s accounts, you might need to advertise in the local newspaper.

All transactions should be recorded, and it is a good idea to set up a special executor’s bank account. The tax authorities have the power to do spot checks and so you must ensure everything is accounted for, so collect receipts from everyone including people who are receiving money.

For property, you must register the change of ownership of the property with the Land Registry using form AS1.

Usually, a will nominates how people should receive the residue of the estate and they should receive a full set of accounts to show how the estate has been administered.

In addition to the registrar, some organisations will require official notification of the death. Some of these can be dealt over the telephone or a personal visit, but most institutions require written confirmation and a copy of the death certificate.

Organisations that need to release money, transfer, or sell assets, will probably also need to see the Grant of Representation from the Probate Registry.

It is a good idea to write a standard letter, and then simply change the address for the different organisations that need to be notified. Then, file a copy of the letter and any reply received. In this way, you will have a complete record of what has been done.

Below, we provide a list of potential organisations and agencies you might need to contact. Please note this is not exhaustive and if you are employing a solicitor, you should discuss which matters you can deal with yourself and the ones the solicitor can assist with.

Here is a list of organisations and agencies you might need to contact to officially notify of the death. The list is not exhaustive and is meant only as a helpful aid:

Bereavement register

Informing the Bereavement Register, while not absolutely necessary, will remove the deceased’s name from mail order databases and prevent unwanted junk mail being sent to the deceased.

Bank

A bank needs to be informed when someone has died. If the account if a joint one, the bank will typically transfer it into the name of the surviving holder. If it is a sole account, the bank will freeze the account and cancel all standard orders or direct debits, as well as any debit or credit cards linked to it. You will need to destroy any cheque books, paying in slips and credit and debit cards.

If the total estate is under a certain amount, the bank may release the money, but you will need to sign an indemnity form and send a copy of the will (if one exists). In other cases, the bank will need to see the Grant of Representation before releasing any funds.

You should ask the bank for the balance held in the account as you will need this later when you fill in the inheritance tax form. And you can also ask if any documents or certificates are kept in the bank on behalf of the deceased.

Building Society

The process for Building Societies is the same as banks. If the deceased had a mortgage in joint names, the responsibility for paying off the mortgage will transfer to the survivor. If the account was in a single name, then the building society will probably suspend payments until the grand of representations comes through and then will discuss future arrangements. Do check to see if there is any insurance which pays the mortgage on death.

Council

If the person was receiving housing and/or council tax benefit, your local council will need to be informed. If the house is now going to be occupied by one person instead of two, then the council tax will be reduced.

Inform the electoral registration office so the deceased’s name is deleted from the electoral register.

Credit card issuer

If there are credit cards issued by companies other than the bank, you should report the death and ask for an up-to-date statement. If there is payment required, you can let them know that there may be some delay until the grant of representation comes through.

Electricity supplier

If the property is not going to be lived in for some time, you should have the meter read and the supply disconnected. If someone else is going to move into the property, transfer the account to the new person, without the need for disconnecting.

Employer

While the deceased’s employer will know about the death already, it’s important to check whether there are any unpaid salary or benefits, or if the company pension is payable to the estate or surviving partner. You might also need to hand back building passes, computers, and other equipment that belong to the employer.

In the case of full-time students, you should inform the educational establishment.

Gas supplier

Follow the same process as with the electricity supplier.

Water company

Follow the same process as with the electricity or gas supplier, inform the water company of the situation and arrange for the supply to be turned off if water is no longer required at the property.

Government Organisations

You will need to contact several government organisations and departments. A full list including contact details can be found here.

Insurance

It is advisable to send a copy of the death certificate, along with an official notification, to the relevant insurance companies. You are not able to transfer car insurance and the agreement will need to be terminated and any over payment refunded to the estate. It is important to note anyone entitled to drive on the deceased’s insurance policy will cease to be legally insured. House insurance can usually be transferred to any person continuing to live in the house or in charge of the property.

Landlord

If the deceased was the sole tenant, the landlord needs to be notified, the tenancy agreement terminated, and arrangements made to remove possessions from the property. Any outstanding rent payments will need to wait until the grant of representations comes through.

If someone will continue to live in the property, if the tenancy agreement was joint then it’s normally simplest to transfer to the survivor. If the tenancy agreement was in the name of the deceased alone, then a new contract will need to be agreed and signed.

Library

Library books and membership cards should be returned.

Life assurance

Payment is made on production of a death certificate. If there is no nominated beneficiary, it will be paid to whoever is administering the estate.

Medical matters

You will need to return any borrowed equipment to the local hospital or doctor’s surgery and, also, cancel any doctor or dental appointments.

National savings

Premium Bond holdings can be held for a further 12 months and are still eligible for any prize won during this time. At the end of this period, the investment is paid to the estate.

Subscriptions

Cancel any subscriptions and stop payments. In some cases, a refund may be due.

Sundry Creditors

It is not always easy to find out who all of these are until there is a requirement for payment. In each case, you should inform them of the situation and refer them to the administrator of the will. Under no account should anyone accept responsibility for paying a bill at this stage. Most creditors accept payment cannot be made until the grant of representation comes through.

Telephone provider

Have the telephone disconnected if is it no longer needed and instruct the invoice is sent to the deceased’s representative.

Trade unions

Some unions, or friendly societies, will pay out funeral benefits or other benefits to their members so it’s well worth contacting them.

TV License

Contact the Licensing office if the TV license was in the deceased’s name.

Reactions to death & The Grieving Process

People react to death, grieve, and cope with bereavement in different ways. Some common feelings after someone dies includes:

  • Shock and numbness
  • Pain
  • Anger
  • Guilt
  • Depressing
  • Seeing and hearing the person
  • Physical feelings

The grieving process is different for everyone. Cruse Bereavement Support has more information and support for those going through the loss of a loved one. Mind lists several crisis helplines and listening services that may help.

Looking to the future

It may help to plan an occasion where friends and family get together to remember a loved one and share memories, whether it’s to mark the anniversary of their passing, on their birthday, or on another day that might have been special to them. It can be nice to plant a tree in their memory and watch it grow over the years.

Other creative ways to remember a loved one include:

  • Cook their favourite meal
  • Take a trip to a place that was special to them
  • Go to their favourite landmark or attraction
  • Have their ashes incorporated into jewelry
  • Buy a star in their memory
  • Host a memorial fundraiser in their memory

There is a 5-step process to apply for a Grant of Representation, which is the legal document allowing payments to be made from the estate. If you are employing a solicitor, they will typically do this for you:

  1. Obtain the probate application form PA1P (if there is a will) or PA1 (if there isn’t a will) and the return of estate information form (IHT205).
  2. Complete the forms, referring to the accompanying notes as required.
  3. Return the form, and other required documents and fees, to the Probate Registry of the area where you wish to be interviewed.
  4. Attend the interview where you are required to affirm the information you have given is correct.
  5. Receive the grant of representation, typically in a few weeks.