Your trusted funeral advice guide from an established funeral service provider

A Will is a legal document that becomes valid when it is properly written, signed, dated, and witnessed by two independent individuals.

The primary purpose of a Will is to outline how your estate—including property, bank accounts, and personal belongings—should be distributed after your death.

A Will also names the person or people responsible for carrying out these instructions. This individual is known as the Executor (or Executrix), who is legally obligated to follow your wishes, provided there are sufficient assets to cover any outstanding debts.

For most families, the immediate priority after a death is arranging the funeral. This is typically done by the next of kin or other close family members. If the Executor is not the next of kin, it is helpful to inform them early so they can confirm any funeral wishes specified in the Will. If the Executor is a solicitor, they may also assist with these arrangements.

If you have the original Will or a copy, you may open it immediately—there is no requirement for a formal "reading of the Will." Reviewing it early can help identify the Executor, as well as any instructions regarding the funeral or other relevant matters.

As long as you have the mental capacity to make decisions, you can appoint one or more individuals as your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

There are two types of LPA, each requiring a separate application:

1. Property and Financial Affairs LPA – This allows your appointed Attorney(s) to manage your finances, such as handling bank accounts, paying bills, or even selling your home if necessary (for example, to fund long-term care).

2. Health and Welfare LPA – This enables your Attorney(s) to make decisions about your medical treatment, care, and living arrangements.

It's important to note that an LPA becomes invalid upon your death. At that point, your Attorney must stop acting on your behalf and notify the Office of the Public Guardian. The original LPA documents must then be returned to them.

An Advance Statement, often called a Living Will, is a document in which you give instructions about what medical treatment you would want or not want in the event of you being seriously unwell and unable to express your wishes at that time.

This document is legally binding for doctors to follow, as long as they are aware of the Advance Statement.

When a death is reported to the Coroner

A death may be reported to the Coroner for various reasons, such as if it was sudden, unexplained, or occurred in unusual circumstances. Once notified, the Coroner's office will assess the situation and decide on the appropriate next steps.

What the Coroner does

The Coroner will:

• Liaise with healthcare professionals who cared for the person

• Review the medical history

• Decide if a post-mortem (also known as an autopsy) is needed

The Coroner can decide:

1. The cause of death is clear

2. A post-mortem is needed

3. An inquest must be held

1. If the cause of death is clear

If the Coroner is satisfied that the cause of death is natural and known:

• A doctor will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death

• You take this certificate to the Registrar to register the death

• The Coroner will send a certificate to the Registrar stating that no post-mortem is needed

2. If a post-mortem is needed

A post-mortem is an examination to determine how the person died. This may take place in a hospital or mortuary.

Note: You cannot object to a coroner’s post-mortem. However, if requested, the coroner must inform you and the deceased’s GP about when and where it will take place.

After the post-mortem

• The body will be released for a funeral once no further examinations are needed

• If an inquest is not required, the Coroner will send:

• A ‘Pink Form’ (Form 100B) to the Registrar stating the cause of death

• A ‘Certificate of Coroner – Form Cremation 6’ if the body is to be cremated

3. If the Coroner holds an inquest

An inquest is a formal investigation held in the following situations:

The cause of death is still unknown

The death was violent or unnatural

The person died in prison or in police custody

During the inquest

You will need an interim death certificate to:

• Notify the Registrar

• Apply for probate

• Report the death to government departments

To do this:

1. Ask the Coroner for the interim death certificate

2. Find a Registrar (see our Registering a Death page)

3. The Registrar will help you report the death or give you a reference number to use the ‘Tell Us Once’ service

After the inquest

• The Coroner confirms the final cause of death to the Registrar

• The Registrar officially registers the death

• You can then request a final death certificate

Getting help

You can receive free, independent support from:

The Coroners’ Courts Support Service

Helpline: 0300 111 2141

Hours: Monday to Friday: 9am – 7pm

Saturday: 9am – 2pm

Help with funeral costs (Funeral Expenses Payment)

Overview

You may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment (also called a Funeral Payment) if you’re receiving certain benefits and are responsible for arranging a funeral.

If you receive money from the deceased’s estate

If you inherit money or assets from the person who died, your Funeral Expenses Payment will be reduced accordingly.

Note:

The estate includes any money or property owned by the deceased, except:

• A home left to a surviving spouse or civil partner

• Personal belongings left to them

What the payment covers

• The Funeral Expenses Payment can help with some or all of the following costs:

• Burial fees (for a specific plot)

• Cremation fees, including the doctor’s certificate

• Travel expenses related to arranging or attending the funeral

• Transporting the body (over 50 miles within the UK)

• Death certificates and other necessary documents

You may also receive a contribution towards other funeral-related expenses, such as:

• Funeral director’s fees

• Flowers

• The coffin

Maximum contribution

Up to £1,000

Important: The payment will not usually cover all funeral costs.

How much you’ll get

The amount you receive depends on your individual circumstances, including:

• Other sources of money available to cover funeral costs (e.g. insurance policies or the deceased’s estate)

• If the deceased had a pre-paid funeral plan, you can only get up to £120 for items not covered by the plan

How the payment is made

• If you’ve already paid for the funeral: the money will be paid into your bank, building society, or credit union account

• If you haven’t paid yet: the payment goes directly to the funeral provider (e.g. funeral director)

Visit the official website for more details and to apply.

Eligibility for Bereavement Support Payment (BSP)

You may be eligible for BSP if your husband, wife, or civil partner died within the last 21 months.

• To receive the full amount, you must apply within 3 months of their death

• You can still apply up to 21 months after their death, but you’ll receive fewer monthly payments

BSP has replaced the following benefits:

• Bereavement Allowance (formerly Widow’s Pension)

• Bereavement Payment

• Widowed Parent’s Allowance

You may qualify if your partner:

• Paid National Insurance for at least 25 weeks in one tax year, or

• Died due to a work-related accident or illness

At the time of their death, you must have been:

• Under State Pension age, and

• Living in the UK or in a country that pays bereavement benefits

Note: You cannot claim BSP if you are in prison.

If your partner died more than 21 months ago

You may still be eligible if the cause of death was only confirmed more than 21 months later.

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Words of comfort

Your words can bring comfort to those experiencing the loss of a loved one. Regardless, if you write a condolence letter, paragraph or keep your condolences short in a card, it truly is the thought that counts.

It’s not how much you say, but what you say. For those also mourning, a simple "I’m thinking of you" can be enough.

Keeping your written sentiments short is acceptable. Perhaps you have already expressed most of what you wanted to say or maybe the message is from a group of friends or colleagues and you have the task of writing the card.

Sending cards and thoughts to those most immediately affected by the death, either prior to, or following a funeral, is a common practice.

Finding the right words to say to those most immediately affected by the death may be a daunting task. Here are a few examples of how you might be thinking, of both the deceased and their loved ones, which could be simply put:

• "He/she will remain in our hearts forever."

• "He/she will be in our hearts and memories."

• "I am so sorry for your loss."

• "I am going to miss him/her, too."

• "I hope you feel surrounded by much love."

• "Sharing in your sadness as you remember him/her."

• "With deepest sympathy as you remember him/her."

• "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

• "Your generosity and support during this difficult time are greatly appreciated."

• "We are forever grateful for your kind words and sweet gestures during our time of need."

• "Your presence at (name)'s funeral and reception gave us a great measure of comfort and peace.

• "Thank you for your generosity. May God bless you."

Tell Us Once is a Government-provided service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. You will be told about it by the Registrar when you register a death, but you can visit their site for more information.

The Bereavement Register can help to reduce the amount of unwanted marketing posts addressed to the person that has died. You will need to register online, but it is quick and easy. Visit their website to find out a bit more.

Peace of mind for owners. Love, care, and safety for their beloved pets.

They are the only national charity dedicated to supporting older people and their cherished companion animals.

With a network of 17,000 volunteers, they help owners stay with their pets for as long as possible—whether it’s walking a dog for someone housebound, fostering pets during hospital stays, picking up pet supplies, or cleaning cages.

When staying at home is no longer possible, their Pet Friendly Care Home Register helps people find accommodation that welcomes pets. And with prior arrangements, they also provide lifelong care for pets who have lost their owners.

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If someone passes away while away from home—whether within the UK or abroad—and you wish to bring them back, or have them laid to rest somewhere other than where they lived, their death must first be registered in the place where it occurred.

If the death occurs abroad, it should also be registered with the British Consul in that country. This allows you to obtain a Consular Death Certificate and ensures the death is recorded in the UK.

We can assist you with all the arrangements for bringing your loved one back and holding their funeral here. However, since procedures vary by country and Consulate, we will need specific details in order to advise on timelines, costs, and other requirements.

To find a specific Consulate, click here.

In England and Wales, applying for the legal right to deal with someone’s estate - i.e. their property, money and possessions - when they die is called ‘applying for probate’.

If the person left a will, you’ll get a ‘grant of probate’.

If the person did not leave a will, you’ll get ‘letters of administration’.