When someone you love dies, it can be very hard to know what to do next. It might feel confusing or upsetting. While you wait to get the official papers from the doctor or hospital, there are a few things you can do if you feel ready.
One helpful thing is to look for any important papers that show what the person wanted after they died. These might include:
- A Will (this says who gets what)
- Funeral wishes (these might be in the Will or in a special funeral plan)
- Birth or marriage certificates
- Divorce papers (these show if they had a different last name)
- Death certificates of a husband or wife who died before
- Papers showing a name change
- Papers about their pension or benefits (like their National Insurance number)
- NHS medical card
- Insurance papers
- Bank or building society account details
If you can’t find the Will, it might be at the person’s solicitor’s office or their bank. Sometimes it is kept safe at a special office in London called the Principal Probate Registry. If it is there, you might find a paper that says where it is.