The administration of a deceased person’s Estate is a task that many of us will have to face inevitably. Here at MWQ Estate Planning, we are frequently asked, “what should I do now?” as grieving loved ones attempt to move forward with their lives.
Because everyone’s Estate and life situation is unique, there is no universal solution to this problem. However, this guidance can help you get off on the right foot.
Register the death
You must file a death certificate within five days of the passing of a loved one (in England and Wales). The government website provides a wealth of information to help you navigate this process, and the hospital, hospice, or GP may typically offer advice as well.
Organise a funeral
Once the death has been reported, funeral arrangements can be made, and the government website provides a wealth of resources, such as details on how to apply for benefits or aid to cover the costs of the ceremony.
Inform the government about the death
Passports, driver’s licences, and state welfare applications are just a few examples of the many official government documents we all have and will need to have cancelled. The government’s “tell us once service” is convenient because it allows people to cancel many services at once. You can get assistance with this from the registrar, and additional information is available on the official government website.
Inform other institutions and organisations
You should inform the authorities, of course, but you should also inform the bank, the insurer, and the utilities companies. While each of them will have its own unique set of steps and paperwork, you can rest assured that the people in your organization’s bereavement office are experts at helping you through this difficult time.
Apply for Probate
Whether or not there is a valid Will in place, Probate will still need to be applied for. For more information and assistance with this please see our guidance on Probate.
If you need any assistance on the information contained within this post, please call us on 0800 090 3051 for a friendly and supportive, no obligation, free discussion about whether we can help you.
