Death in the United Kingdom: the steps in England and Wales
In the United Kingdom, the formalities have their own names and their own order. This guide covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules.
The essentials
In England and Wales, a doctor certifies the cause of death, then the death is registered at the Register Office within five days. The Tell Us Once service then informs every government department at once. To deal with the deceased's estate, you often need to apply for probate.
The steps, in order
- 01
The medical certificate of cause of death
A doctor issues it (medical certificate of cause of death), then a medical examiner checks the paperwork. Wait until they contact you before registering the death.
- 02
If a coroner is involved
When the death is reported to a coroner, it cannot be registered until the coroner allows it.
- 03
Register the death
At the Register Office, within five days. The registrar gives you the documents for the funeral and the death certificates.
- 04
Use Tell Us Once
The registrar gives you a reference number: with it, Tell Us Once informs government departments in one go (tax, benefits, passport, driving licence). It must be used within 28 days.
- 05
Inform other organisations
Tell Us Once does not cover everything: inform the bank, the employer, private pensions and energy suppliers yourself.
- 06
Apply for probate
Often needed before you can deal with the deceased's property, money and possessions (the estate).
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to register a death in England?
Five days, at the Register Office. If a coroner is involved, registration waits for their permission.
What is Tell Us Once?
A public service that informs government departments of the death in one go. The registrar gives you the reference number; it must be used within 28 days.
What is probate?
The authorisation to settle the estate: without it, banks and other organisations often do not release the deceased's assets.
The British formalities, followed with the family
In your Milele file, choose the United Kingdom: the formalities appear with the Register Office, probate and their deadlines, and your loved ones can share some of them.
Open a file for freeRead also
- The first 48 hours after a deathWhat to do in the first two days after a death, at home or in hospital: the doctor, the declaration, the funeral home, the deceased's wishes and the deadline for the funeral.
- Announcing a death: to whom, how, and what to writeIn what order to inform family, friends and the employer, message templates to announce a death, and what a death notice contains.
- Arranging the funeral: choices, quotes and costsArranging a funeral in France: burial or cremation, funeral home quotes, who pays and how to take the costs from the deceased's account, what can be done with the ashes.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — What to do when someone dies: step by step
- GOV.UK — Tell Us Once
- GOV.UK — Applying for probate
- Barnsley Council — What to do after someone dies
Updated on October 23, 2026. This guide summarises the usual steps; it does not replace advice from a notary, a lawyer or your country's authorities. How we write our guides