What to Do When Someone Dies: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Losing someone you love is one of life's most difficult experiences. In the middle of grief, you're suddenly faced with a long list of practical tasks that feel overwhelming. This guide walks you through everything you need to do, step by step, so nothing gets missed.

We've helped families across Bridlington and East Yorkshire through this process many times. You don't have to do it alone, and you don't have to do everything at once.

The First 48 Hours

In the immediate aftermath, there are a few things that need to happen relatively quickly. Try not to feel rushed — these steps can usually be handled over a couple of days.

If the person died at home or in a care home, contact their GP surgery as soon as possible. The GP or hospital doctor will issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). If the death was unexpected or the cause is unknown, it will be referred to the coroner, which can delay the registration process.

You should also contact a funeral director. They can help with practical arrangements and can often collect the deceased from their place of death. Many funeral directors in Bridlington offer out-of-hours services.

Registering the Death

In England and Wales, a death must be registered within 5 days at the local register office. You can register the death in the district where the person died, or where they lived.

Notifying Organisations

Once you have the death certificate, you'll need to notify various organisations. The government's Tell Us Once service (available through some register offices) can notify multiple agencies in one go, including HMRC, the DWP, DVLA, and the local council.

Even with Tell Us Once, you'll typically need to contact these organisations separately:

• Banks and building societies — to freeze or close accounts and release funds
• Mortgage lender — if the deceased owned property with a mortgage
• Pension providers — to stop payments and claim any lump sums or survivor benefits
• Insurance companies — life insurance, home insurance, car insurance
• Utility companies — gas, electric, water, broadband, phone
• Council tax — you may be eligible for a discount or exemption
• Credit card companies — to prevent further charges
• Subscription services — TV, streaming, magazines, memberships

Arranging the Funeral

The funeral can usually take place once the death has been registered and the funeral director has the green form. Most funerals happen within 2-3 weeks, though there's no legal deadline.

Check whether the deceased left any instructions about their wishes — this might be in their Will, a letter of wishes, or a pre-paid funeral plan. If they had a pre-paid plan, contact the provider as soon as possible to activate it.

Do You Need Probate?

Probate is the legal process that gives someone authority to deal with the deceased person's estate — their money, property, and possessions. Not every estate needs probate, but most do.

You'll likely need probate if:

• The deceased owned property (house, flat, or land)
• They had savings or investments above the bank's small estates threshold (typically £5,000–£50,000 depending on the bank)
• They held shares or premium bonds

You may not need probate if:

• All assets were held jointly and pass automatically to the surviving owner
• The estate is very small (under the bank's threshold)
• Everything was held in trust

Getting Help in Bridlington and East Yorkshire

If you're dealing with a bereavement in Bridlington, Driffield, Scarborough, or anywhere in East Yorkshire, you don't have to navigate this alone. As a local firm, we understand how important it is to have someone nearby who can guide you through the process with care.

Aaron at Safe Harbour Legal can handle the full probate process on your behalf — from applying for the Grant of Probate to distributing the estate. We offer fixed fees so you know exactly what it will cost from the outset.