Please accept our sincere condolences for your loss at this difficult time. In recent years, there has been a much greater focus on the struggles that people face during bereavement whether it be the challenge of having to deal with administration or emotive trouble and grief. The governments NHS Loneliness Strategy is designed to show social support to those struggling with loneliness, of which many bereaved people often find themselves.
To find a close bereavement difficult is common and you are not alone. The What Next guide has been designed to offer additional support that you may find useful, when making adjustments following a death.
Whilst we cannot endorse products or services provided within this booklet, we hope they are helpful.
The Bereavement Support Network.
What to do following a death
Following a death in the UK, several organizations and individuals need to be informed. Here is a list of key entities that should be notified:
The Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages - Make an appointment to register the death within 5 days of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been completed.
Banks and Financial Institutions - Notify any banks, building societies, or other financial institutions where the deceased held accounts.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) - HMRC should be informed to stop any benefits or tax credits, and to settle the deceased’s final tax returns (income tax, inheritance tax, etc.).
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - Notify DWP to cancel benefits like pensions, universal credit, or any other state benefits. They may also provide a bereavement payment, depending on the circumstances.
Insurance Companies - Contact any life insurance companies as well as other insurers (e.g., home, car, health). They will need a death certificate to process any claims.
Utility Companies and Service Providers - Notify companies that provide services like electricity, gas, water, internet, and telephone to close accounts or transfer them to the name of the surviving party (if applicable).
Council (Local Authorities) - Inform the local council to stop council tax payments, update the electoral roll, and address any other local services (e.g., social care services).
Pensions Providers - Contact any private or workplace pension providers to inform them of the death.
Creditors and Lenders - Notify any creditors (credit cards, loans, mortgages, etc.) to inform them of the death and arrange for the settlement of outstanding debts.
Social Media Platforms - Inform social media platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) to either memorialize the account or close it.
Landlord or Mortgage Lender - If the deceased was renting, notify the landlord. If the deceased owned a property, inform the mortgage lender to discuss what happens with the mortgage after their death.
Solicitor or Executor - If there is a will, the executor of the estate should be informed to begin the process of probate. If there is no will, the person managing the estate (administrator) will need to be notified.
Medical Services and Health Providers - Notify any healthcare providers, including the deceased’s GP, hospital, or specialist, to cancel appointments and update medical records.
Charities and Subscription Services - If the deceased had any ongoing subscriptions, memberships, or donations (such as to charities), these should be canceled to avoid further charges.
Post Office (Re-directing Mail) - If necessary, inform the Post Office to redirect the deceased’s mail.
Other Family Members and Friends - Inform close family members, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. You may also want to make funeral arrangements or hold a memorial service.
The following organisations are here to help, providing services that are designed to support you now and in the future. Many of them are provided at no cost to the public.
Most have invaluable information online and all will have a dedicated helpline to help support you.
MIND 0300 123 3393
www.mind.org.uk
The Mind info line offers thousands of caller’s confidential help on a range of mental health issues, however big or small the individual may feel that they are. They also provide an online supportive community where users can share their experiences and give support.
The Silver Line 0800 470 8090 www.thesilverline.org.uk
The Silver Line is the confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK open every day and night of the year. Specially trained helpline staff offer information, friendship and advice, link callers to local groups and services, offer regular befriending calls and protect and support those who are suffering abuse and neglect.
The Mix 0808 808 4994 www.themix.org.uk
The Mix is here to take on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please don’t make me say it out loud thoughts that people under 25 have in order to give them the best support through our digital and phone services. Often children and adolescents can feel alone following a loss and may be looking for a secure place they can share their thoughts. The Mix is here to help.
AbilityNet 0800 048 7642
www.abilitynet.org.uk
AbilityNet supports people of any age, living with any disability or impairment to use technology to achieve their goals at home, at work and in education.
Royal Voluntary Service 0808 196 3646 www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk
Older people in particular can find it difficult to settle back into home afterwards, especially if they have no-one nearby to support them. Having someone there to give a word of encouragement, make a cup of tea or check on medication can make all the difference. Support Leaving Hospital volunteers help with the jobs that make recovery a little easier, from preparing a healthy meal to walking the dog, tidying the garden or collecting shopping or prescriptions.
Re-engage www.reengage.org.uk
Re-engage exists to support older people who live alone and find it hard to get out in normal times. “Call companions” is a free service for older people who live alone and feel they could do with a friendly phone call every week or two.
WAY UK www.widowedandyoung.org.uk
WAY is a UK charity that offers a peer-to-peer support network for anyone who’s lost a partner before their 51st birthday –married or not, with or without children, whatever their sexual orientation. NETMUMS www.netmums.com
Netmums is an inclusive and supportive parenting community, welcoming millions of parents every month to our provide a support network and helping parents feel heard, supported.
Accessing money in the Estate
When a loved one dies, sorting out their finances and ensuring their last wishes are complied with can be a complex, lengthy and stressful experience.
As an Executor of a Will your responsibilities include collecting all assets (including property and money due to the estate), paying any debts owed by the deceased, setting any inheritance tax due and distributing the estate proceeds to the beneficiaries once Probate has been granted.
As a Beneficiary of an estate, you will need to wait until Probate has been granted and the assets sold before you can receive your inheritance. For some, this can take 12 months or longer.
If you are the Executor and/or Beneficiary of an Estate, it can therefore often be sensible to explore options that enable you to access the money in the estate without any delay. In some cases, you can borrow against the expected inheritance but this depends on a few factors:
Probate Loans (Inheritance Advance): Some lenders offer inheritance advance loans, which allow beneficiaries to borrow against their future inheritance. These loans are typically short-term and are repaid once the probate process is completed and the estate is settled. However, interest rates for such loans can be high, and the lender will typically require proof of the expected inheritance.
Estate Loan or Loan Against Estate Assets: In some cases, a loan can be taken out against specific assets in the estate (such as real estate or stocks) before the estate is fully settled. This would require the agreement of the executor or the administrator of the estate, and the lender may require documentation about the value of the estate and the expected timeline for settlement.
Risks and Considerations: Borrowing against probate can be risky, as there is no guarantee of when the estate will be settled, and the value of the estate may not be as high as expected.
It’s important to consult with the executor of the estate and a legal or financial advisor to understand your options and the implications before proceeding.
ACCESSING MONEY IN THE ESTATE WITHOUT DELAY
PROVIRA LTD IS A SPECIALIST LENDER ENABLING:
•Executors to access up to 60% of the value of the estate now
•Beneficiaries to access up to 60% of their inheritance now
Estate Advance – access up to 60% of the value of the estate now
• Aimed at Executors or Personal Representatives of Estates
• Can be used to pay Inheritance Tax, legal fees, estate liabilities or repair/renovate a property in the estate
• Available to testate and intestate estates
• Applications assessed solely on the value of the estate, not personal circumstances or credit rating. No charges over property
• Advance is repaid to us when the assets from the estate are realised. No monthly repayments and no early repayment fees
• No risk to the borrower. If it turns out the value of the estate is less than expected you will not be required to pay the shortfall should there be one
• Arrangement fee of 1.5% of loan amount plus 1.5% per month
REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE
Inheritance Advance – access up to 60% of your inheritance now
• Aimed at Beneficiaries of Estates both pre and post Grant of Probate
• Can be used for any purpose, including clearing personal debt, paying bills or a dream purchase
• Available to testate and intestate estates
• Applications assessed solely on the value of the estate, not personal circumstances or credit rating. No charges over property
• Advance is repaid to us when the inheritance is available to be distributed. No monthly repayments and no early repayment fees
• No risk to the borrower. If it turns out that your inheritance is less than expected you will not be required to pay the shortfall should there be one
• Arrangement fee of 1.5% of loan amount plus 1.5% per month
An advance of £50,000 will incur an Arrangement Fee of 1.5% (£750). Interest is calculated on the advance and the fee. Interest accrues daily, based on an annual rate of 18.2% (fixed). Assuming the Estate takes 12 months to liquidate, you would owe £9,220 in interest plus £50,750 in capital and fees, resulting in a total balance owed of £59,970 and a representative 19.9% APR.
Funeral Finance
Losing a loved one is never easy but can be more stressful when the sudden cost of a funeral, especially when combined with the rising cost of living, puts considerable pressure on our disposable income.
Accessing finance created especially for funerals, from a funeral specialist consumer credit company, is a way to make the cost of a funeral more affordable to the bereaved.
How does it work?
Funeral finance is a type of credit agreement that allows you to pay for a funeral in monthly instalments, rather than having to find all the money immediately. Funerals are often unexpected and understandably many people do not have a few thousand pounds lying around.
Why choose funeral finance?
Funeral finance is useful if you do not have the cash available to pay for a funeral there and then. This could be because of delays with probate or life insurance payments, which can take six months to come through. It is also a good alternative to expensive credit cards or depleting your savings.
The benefits of funeral finance?
If you know you can afford the funeral, it means you can arrange finance and not worry about having to find all the money in one go. For example, you may prefer to pay the funeral on a regular monthly basis rather than pay for it out of savings or using a credit card.
Secondly, funeral credit options are flexible and can be tailored to your personal circumstances.
Can funeral finance be used alongside other funding sources?
There are many ways to access help with funeral costs. Funeral finance just acts as a form of credit which gives you breathing space as you gather money from various sources, such as DWP support, probate, or insurance.
•£500-£7,500
•12-48 months
•0% deposit
•No early repayment fees
•No arrangement fees
“Making
What to do if you have been left with a car
After the death of a loved one, it’s important to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) as soon as possible and also to decide what you intend to do with the vehicle and transfer ownership.
You do not have to wait until you have received a grant of probate or the letters of administration, you can still transfer the ownership to another person and you can also sell it. However, the car tax will need to be cancelled and set back up in the name of the new registered keeper as it can no longer be transferred.
You must have insurance that allows you to drive the car if the vehicle needs to be moved before the ownership is transferred. Any insurance policy will have ceased with the death of the policyholder - you must notify the insurer of this and they may be able to arrange cover for you. With the insurance having lapsed it also leaves you with no third-party cover meaning you cannot store the car on a public road.
If you need to move the car as a temporary measure, you’ll need to think about insurance. While your own policy probably covers you to drive a car that doesn’t belong to you; most policies only provide such cover if the car is already insured.
You may wish to sell the car and can either do this yourself using websites and local press to get the maximum value or for a more straightforward process consider selling it to a reputable dealer who can come and collect the car for you. This is an attractive option as they will deal with the whole process on your behalf. However, this is unlikely to yield the best price for the car, so you’ll need to balance the convenience offered with the money it will cost you.
What to do with a Car
The death of a family member can be a very traumatic experience and you may have been left with a vehicle that you no longer want or unsure of what to do.
There may be several options available to you including selling the car privately, gifting it to a relative, selling it to a trader or keeping the car for yourself.
A motor vehicle is classed as a chattel, and you do not have to wait until a grant of probate or letters of administration have been issued to be able to transfer a car to another owner or to sell it. You will need to deal with the car tax as this can no longer be transferred to another person, it must be cancelled and re set in the name of the new registered keeper unless you are selling the car straight away. If the car has been sat for some time the tax may have expired.
If a car has to be moved before ownership is transferred, the person who drives the car must have insurance that enables them to do so. Usually the driver's insurance will have become invalid when they passed away unless you have made contact with the insurance company to arrange cover.
If the car is old and you feel it is not worth trying to sell it commercially, you may want to consider using a scheme that will scrap and recycle the car to raise money for charity.
Probate
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possesions (their ‘Estate”) when they pass away.
A Grant of Probate is an order of the Court giving one or more people the legal authority to administer the estate of the deceased in order to distribute it correctly to the beneficiaries.
Who can apply for the Grant of Probate?
The people who have the right to apply for a Grant of Probate are the Personal Representatives (PRs) of the estate. Prs are either the Exectutors named in the Will or the next of kin following the rules of Intestacy if there is no Will. There are two types of Grant depending on the circumstances and who is to deal with the estate.
The two main types of Grant of Represtentation are:
• The Grant of Probate, where there is a Will
• Letters of Administration, where there is no Will
When is Probate required?
Probate is required in the following situations:
• When property is held in the sole name of the deceased or as tennants in common
• When the deceased held assets typically worth £5,000* or more with financial institutions
• When the financial institutions holding assets in the sole name of the deceased require a Grant of Probate for the funds to be released*
• When the deceased benefited from a trust during their lifetime
*Banks and other financial institutions may use a higher threshold than £5,000 before they require evidence of the Grant of Probate to release the funds, so it is worth checking with these organisations exactly what they require.
You may need help, support or advice on what to do when someone dies in relation to probate.
We offer free guidance and advice on the legal and financial aspects of bereavement including your responsibilities and whether probate is required.
Calls are free from most land lines, some calls may be monitored for training purposes and all calls are confidential. This service is provided by the Bereavement Support Network Ltd.
What to do with Bank Accounts after a bereavement?
After suffering a bereavement it can be hard to know where your loved ones assets are held and how you can get in contact with the people holding them to inform them of the death.
With services such as the Death Notification Service you can fill out a simple submission form that will allow them to contact many organisations and societies to notify them of a death. You do not need to know details, but it is quicker if you do, and the participating banks and building societies will search their records for your loved one.
The Death Notification Service is available to anyone who has recently suffered a bereavement and wishes to notify one or more of the participating organisations so that they can update their records. The online form allows the individual to make one quick and straightforward notification that will then be used to contact all the selected member organisations. Once the form has been completed, confirmation of receipt will be provided by the Death Notification Service and the relevant organisations notified. The notified organisations will then update their records and advise the individual of the next steps.
Where a live account is located for the deceased, notifiers can expect to receive a communication from individual member organisations within 10 working days, including and allowing for postal times from the initial date of the notification.
Important: If no account is held with the member organisation then they will not write back to you.
The Death Notification Service
The Death Notification Service is a free service which allows you to notify a number of member organisations of a person’s death, at the same time. Our aim is to make the process quick and easy for you to inform them at a time that suits you.
Before you start
If somebody has already notified us of the details of the person that has died, the service will prevent you from continuing and direct you to our contact centre if you need any further assistance.
If your case is particularly complicated or timesensitive (for example, if money or property needs to be released from the estate urgently), you should discuss it with the person’s bank or building society before using the service.
Members of this service
• Allica Bank
• Bank of Scotland
• Barclaycard
• Barclays
• Birmingham Midshires
• Cahoot
• Black Horse Finance
• Cater Allen
• Clerical Medical
• Equiniti
• First Direct
• Halifax
• HSBC
• IDEM Servicing
• Intelligent Finance
• Leeds Building Society (NB. this does NOT include Leeds Permanent Building Society accounts)
• Lloyds Bank
• Lex Autolease
• M&S Bank
• Marsden Building Society
• MBNA
• Moorgate Loan Servicing
• Nationwide Building Society
• Natwest
• Paragon
• Rothesay
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Santander
• Scottish Widows (incl. Scottish Widows Bank)
• Shawbrook Bank
• St. James’s Place
• The Mortgage Works
• UCB Home Loans Ltd
Click here for a short Youtube video on how to use the service
If you have any difficulties creating an account please contact the Death Notification Service Helpline on 0333
from the UK (opening hours 08:30-17:30, Mon-Fri - excluding bank holidays).
