• National Insurance number
• NHS number
• date and place of birth
• date of marriage or civil partnership (if suitable)
• Child Benefit number
• tax reference number
• organ donor card (if registered)

Organ donation

After a death you will have to act quickly if it was the wish of the deceased or the nearest relative to donate organs for transplant. The next-of-kin will usually be approached to make sure they do not object to organ donation.

If the death has to be reported to the coroner, the coroner’s consent may be necessary before the organs or body can be donated. A medical certificate must be issued before any organs can be removed or the body donated for medical teaching.

The doctor attending will advise on procedure. After organ donation, the body is released to the relatives.

• Organ donation

First five days

• tell the family doctor
• register the death at the relevant Registrar’s Office, except where the death has been referred to the Coroner
• find the will – the deceased person’s solicitor may have a copy if you can’t find one
• begin funeral arrangements – you will need to check the will for any special requests
• if relevant, a completed Form 36 should be sent to the local Jobs and Benefits office about the deceased’s benefits (given to you when you register the death; read the reverse to see if it applies)
• if the person who has died was getting any benefits or tax credits you can contact the Bereavement Service
• if the person who has died was a Blue badge holder, the badge must be returned to the Blue Badge Unit
• if the deceased was the first named on an insurance policy, make contact as early as possible to check that you are still insured

Surviving relatives and friends of the deceased may need to make a new will. You don’t need to do this urgently, and we can assist.

If there is a will

Contact the executor if this isn’t you. This person is usually nominated in the will to sort out the deceased’s affairs. They can then start the process of applying for probate by contacting us.

If there is no will

• decide who will apply to sort out the deceased’s affairs
• contact us.

Who to tell

As well as informing people who are close to the person, in many cases you’ll need to close down accounts, or cancel or change insurance details, subscriptions, agreements, payments or direct debits.

Here’s a list to help you keep track.

• relatives and friends
• employer
• school
• solicitor
• accountant

Government organisations

• the relevant Tax Office
• National Insurance Contributions Office if they were self-employed (to cancel payments)
• Child Benefit Office (at latest within eight weeks)
• Land & Property Services (LPS) if they were a ratepayer or getting Housing Benefit, Rate Relief or Rate Rebate
• UK Identity and Passport Service to return and cancel a passport
• Driver Vehicle Agency (DVA) to return any driving licence, cancel car tax or return car registration documents/change ownership
• Local councils in Northern Ireland

Financial organisations

• general insurance companies for home, car, travel or medical
• pension providers
• life insurance companies
• banks and building societies
• mortgage provider
• hire purchase or loan companies
• credit card providers and any store cards

Utilities and household contacts

• landlord or local authority if they rented a property
• any private organisation/agency providing home help
• utility companies if accounts were in the deceased’s name
• Royal Mail(external link opens in a new window / tab) if mail needs re-directing
• TV/internet companies with which the deceased had subscriptions

You may be able to claim certain benefits and one-off payments if you lived with or were dependent on the deceased. Time limits apply, so contact your nearest Jobs and Benefits office as soon as possible to find out.

• Bereavement Support Payment
• Funeral Expenses Payment

If you pay rates you may also be eligible for rate relief and exclusions like Lone Pensioner Allowance or Housing Benefit/Rate Relief.

Remember we can offer advice in relation to any queries you may have.