When someone dies, the practicalities can feel overwhelming. Amidst grief, you’re suddenly faced with decisions about registering the death, arranging a funeral, and managing finances you may never have considered before. Age UK funeral advice offers valuable guidance during this difficult time, providing clear steps and support for older people and their families navigating bereavement in the UK.
Whether you’re planning ahead for yourself or dealing with a recent loss, knowing your options matters. Age UK’s resources cover everything from understanding funeral costs to exploring different types of services, including direct cremation, a simpler and often more affordable alternative that many families now choose when a traditional ceremony doesn’t feel right.
At Go Direct Cremations, we work with families across England, Scotland, and Wales who want a dignified, straightforward approach without the pressure of a formal service. This guide walks you through what Age UK recommends when someone dies, practical checklists for the days and weeks ahead, and how to make informed decisions about funeral arrangements. You’ll also find information on financial support options, what to expect from different service types, and how to plan a meaningful farewell entirely on your own terms.
Before you start: key documents and decisions
Before you contact funeral directors or register the death, you need to gather specific documents and make a few early decisions that will affect everything else. Having these items organised saves time, reduces stress, and ensures you’re prepared for conversations with the registrar, funeral providers, and banks in the days ahead.
Documents you’ll need to find
Start by locating the deceased’s medical card (if they had one), their birth certificate, and any existing funeral plan documentation. These three items form the foundation of what you’ll need in the first 48 hours. If the person who died had a will, find it immediately as it may contain specific wishes about their funeral arrangements.
You’ll also want to locate their passport, driving licence, and marriage or civil partnership certificate if applicable. The registrar will ask for identification during the death registration process, and having multiple forms ready speeds things up considerably. Bank statements, pension details, and insurance policies (including life insurance) become essential when you start handling the estate and funeral costs.
Age UK recommends keeping all important documents in one folder during this period so you’re not searching through paperwork repeatedly when organisations ask for information.
Create a checklist with these items and tick them off as you find them. If you can’t locate something immediately, make a note and return to it later. Missing one document shouldn’t stop you from moving forward with registration or funeral arrangements, but having everything ready makes the process smoother.
Early decisions to make
You need to decide whether you want a burial or cremation before you contact funeral providers, as this affects cost, timeline, and what services you’ll require. This decision often comes from the deceased’s known wishes, religious beliefs, or what feels right for your family. If the person who died left written instructions, follow those first.
The type of funeral service matters too. Will you hold a traditional ceremony at a crematorium or place of worship? Would an unattended direct cremation followed by a memorial service work better? These choices dramatically change the cost and timeframe, so think about what suits your situation before you start getting quotes.
Decide who will handle the main coordination of arrangements. One family member typically takes the lead, but you can share tasks like contacting organisations, handling paperwork, and making decisions. Clear communication about who’s doing what prevents confusion and duplicate work when you’re already dealing with grief.
Creating your immediate action plan
Write down the first three tasks you need to complete today or tomorrow. These might include getting a medical certificate of cause of death, calling the registrar’s office to book an appointment, or contacting a funeral provider for initial information. Age UK funeral advice emphasises breaking everything into small, manageable steps rather than trying to tackle everything at once.
Set up a simple system for tracking who you’ve contacted and what they’ve told you. A notebook or phone notes app works perfectly. Record the date, organisation name, and key information from each conversation. You’ll refer back to these notes repeatedly, especially when dealing with banks, pension providers, and government departments.
Identify one trusted person you can call when you need help or feel overwhelmed. Having practical support matters as much as having the right documents, and knowing who to turn to for advice or just a listening ear makes the whole process more manageable.
Step 1. Confirm the death and contact the right people
Once someone has died, your first priority is to confirm the death officially and notify the people and organisations that need to know immediately. This step happens before you register the death or make any funeral arrangements. The medical certificate of cause of death is essential for everything that follows, so getting this document starts the entire process moving.
Getting the medical certificate
If the death happened at home or in a care home, you need to call the person’s GP as soon as possible. The doctor who attended the deceased during their last illness should visit to confirm the death and issue the medical certificate of cause of death (sometimes called the MCCD). This certificate states the cause of death and allows you to proceed with registration.
When death occurs in a hospital or hospice, the staff handle this automatically. They’ll give you the certificate directly, usually within a few hours. Keep this document safe as you’ll need to hand it to the registrar when you book an appointment to register the death.
If the death was sudden, unexplained, or the doctor hasn’t seen the person recently, the case may be referred to the coroner. This delays the registration process but is a standard legal requirement in certain circumstances.
In coroner cases, you won’t receive the medical certificate immediately. The coroner’s office will investigate and issue their own documentation once they’ve completed their inquiries. This can take several days or weeks, depending on whether a post-mortem examination is required.
Making immediate notifications
Contact close family members and friends first, ideally by phone rather than text or email. People who were closest to the deceased deserve to hear the news directly from someone they know. Make a list of who needs to know urgently and work through it systematically.
Following age uk funeral advice, you should inform the deceased’s employer or pension provider within the first day or two if they were still working or receiving workplace benefits. Banks and building societies need notification soon, though you can’t access accounts until you have official documentation like the death certificate.
Priority contacts in the first 48 hours
These organisations and people require immediate notification:
- GP surgery (if they don’t already know)
- Department for Work and Pensions for state pension or benefits
- Landlord or housing association if the deceased rented their home
- Utility companies if the property will be empty
- Life insurance provider if a policy exists
You don’t need to contact everyone immediately. Focus on time-sensitive notifications first, particularly if there are security concerns about an empty property or if benefits payments need stopping to avoid overpayments that must be repaid later. Create a spreadsheet or list tracking who you’ve contacted and when, as you’ll refer to this information repeatedly over the coming weeks.
Step 2. Register the death and get certificates
You must register the death within five days in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, or within eight days in Scotland. This legal requirement cannot be delayed, and you’ll need the medical certificate from the doctor before you can book your appointment. Registration creates the official death certificate that funeral directors, banks, and insurance companies require to process their services and release funds.
Booking your registrar appointment
Call the register office in the area where the person died, not where they lived if these are different locations. Most offices now offer telephone registration as well as in-person appointments, which saves travel time if you live far from where the death occurred. You can find your local register office by searching online for "register office" plus the town or city name.
When you call, have the medical certificate number ready along with basic information about the deceased: their full name, date and place of birth, last address, and occupation. The registrar will book you a slot, usually within two to three working days. Following age uk funeral advice, ask whether you can attend alone or if you need to bring someone else who can confirm details about the deceased.
What happens during registration
The registrar asks specific questions about the person who died, including their NHS number, marital status, and whether they were receiving any pensions or benefits. You’ll need to provide your own details too as the person registering the death. The appointment typically takes 20 to 30 minutes and covers all the information required for official records.
Registration appointments are straightforward, but take someone with you if you’re worried about remembering specific dates or details under stress.
Bring original documents, not photocopies. The registrar examines your identity documents and may keep the medical certificate. They’ll issue you with several documents on the spot: a certificate for burial or cremation (sometimes called the green form), a certificate of registration (BD8 form) for claiming benefits, and details about ordering death certificates.
Getting death certificates and costs
You can order death certificates during your registration appointment or later through the register office. Each certificate costs £12.50 if ordered at registration or £35 if requested afterwards, so work out how many you need immediately. Banks, insurance companies, pension providers, and probate services each require an original certificate, not a photocopy.
Most people need between four and ten certificates depending on how many organisations they must notify. Calculate your requirements by listing every financial institution, insurance policy, and government department involved. Order extra certificates during registration to avoid paying the higher cost later, as you can always keep unused copies for records rather than requesting more at inflated prices weeks afterwards.
Step 3. Arrange the funeral and choose a provider
Once you have your death certificates and the certificate for burial or cremation, you can start arranging the funeral. This step involves choosing between different types of services, getting transparent quotes from providers, and understanding exactly what you’re paying for. Take your time comparing options, as funeral costs vary significantly depending on the service type and provider you select.
Getting quotes from funeral directors
Contact at least three funeral directors to compare prices and services before making a decision. Ask each provider to send you a written quote that breaks down every cost separately, not just a single total figure. Following age uk funeral advice, you should receive clear pricing for professional services, the coffin, transport, and any third-party costs like crematorium or cemetery fees.
When you call or visit, ask specific questions about what happens on the day, how long arrangements take to complete, and whether there are any additional charges you should anticipate. Request information about payment options too, particularly if you’re waiting for probate or benefit approvals before funds become available.
Most funeral directors offer payment plans or accept direct payment from the deceased’s bank account with proper documentation, so discuss your situation openly rather than assuming you must pay everything upfront.
Prepare a list of questions before each conversation:
- What’s included in your basic package?
- Can I see a full price list before deciding?
- How quickly can you arrange the funeral?
- Do you offer a viewing or chapel of rest?
- What happens if costs exceed the initial quote?
Understanding what’s included in the price
Traditional funerals typically include the funeral director’s services, collection and care of the deceased, a coffin, transport to the crematorium or cemetery, and staff attendance on the day. The crematorium or burial fee is separate and paid directly to the facility. Additional costs arise from flowers, orders of service, catering, and limousines for family members.
Ask for itemised quotes that separate essential services from optional extras. This transparency helps you identify where you can reduce costs if needed without compromising the dignity of the service. Some funeral directors include disbursements (payments to third parties) in their total, while others list these separately.
Exploring direct cremation as an alternative
Direct cremation removes the traditional ceremony and viewing, offering a simpler, more affordable option that many families now choose. The deceased goes directly to the crematorium without a formal service, allowing you to plan a personal memorial at a later date in a location that matters to your family.
At Go Direct Cremations, we provide unattended direct cremation across England, Scotland, and Wales, handling all arrangements including collection, preparation, an eco-friendly coffin, and return of ashes. You avoid the time pressure and expense of a traditional funeral while maintaining complete dignity and respect throughout the process. Families often use the savings to create meaningful celebrations of life on their own terms.
Step 4. Handle costs, benefits, and the estate
Funeral costs create immediate financial pressure, but several support options exist depending on your circumstances and the deceased’s estate. You need to understand what benefits you can claim, how to access the deceased’s bank accounts to cover expenses, and when probate becomes necessary. These financial matters run parallel to funeral arrangements, so start investigating your options as soon as you’ve registered the death.
Claiming funeral payment and benefits
If you’re on income-related benefits or Universal Credit, you may qualify for a Funeral Expenses Payment from the government. This contribution covers burial or cremation fees, travel costs, and up to £1,000 for other funeral expenses. You must claim within six months of the funeral, and you’ll need to have received the qualifying benefit before the date of death or within three months afterwards.
Apply online through GOV.UK or by calling the Bereavement Service helpline. The payment gets recovered from the deceased’s estate if they had assets, but you won’t have to repay it personally if the estate has insufficient funds. Age UK funeral advice recommends applying immediately even if you’re unsure about eligibility, as processing takes several weeks and approval allows you to proceed with arrangements knowing support is coming.
The deceased’s own benefits stop immediately upon death, so notify the Department for Work and Pensions quickly to avoid overpayments that you must return later.
Accessing bank accounts and funds
Banks freeze accounts when notified of a death, but most will release funds to cover funeral costs if you provide the death certificate and a funeral director’s invoice. Contact each bank separately with written requests, as policies vary between institutions. Some banks release money before the funeral if you show a confirmed quote, while others require proof that services have been completed.
You’ll need probate or letters of administration to access the full estate if assets exceed the bank’s threshold, typically between £5,000 and £50,000 depending on the institution. Smaller estates often avoid formal probate entirely, allowing beneficiaries to claim funds with just a death certificate and proof of entitlement.
Understanding probate requirements
Probate proves the will’s validity and gives you legal authority to distribute the estate. You need probate when the deceased owned property, significant savings, or investments in their sole name. If assets were jointly owned or the estate is small, you may not require formal probate at all.
Apply for probate through the Probate Registry after gathering information about all assets, debts, and beneficiaries. The process takes three to six months typically, though complex estates take longer. You can start funeral arrangements before probate completes, as this expense takes priority over other debts and distributions from the estate.
What to do next
Following the age uk funeral advice outlined in this guide gives you a clear roadmap through the administrative and practical tasks that follow a death. You’ve learned what documents to gather, how to register the death, what funeral options exist, and how to manage costs through benefits and estate funds. These four core steps provide structure during an otherwise overwhelming time.
Take each task one at a time rather than trying to complete everything simultaneously. Write down your immediate priorities for today and tomorrow, then focus on those specific actions. Whether you’re dealing with a recent loss or planning ahead, having this information ready reduces stress and helps you make informed decisions.
If you’re considering a simpler alternative to traditional funeral services, direct cremation offers a dignified, affordable option that removes the pressure of planning a ceremony while grieving. At Go Direct Cremations, we handle all arrangements across England, Scotland, and Wales, giving your family the freedom to create a personal memorial entirely on your terms.