We know that dealing with practical matters immediately after a loved one’s death can be bewildering and distressing. You may never been in this position before. To help you, we have set out the steps to be done as early as possible.
Our team is experienced and compassionate. For expert advice and support, please call the private client team at mfg Solicitors for guidance. We can also guide you through the administration of the estate.
Important first steps
Note that registration of deaths changed fairly recently. Before the death can be registered, a medical examiner will need to review the death (unless it has been referred to the coroner)
In practice, a doctor will sign a medical certificate certifying the cause of death (MCCD) and send it to a medical examiner for review. The medical examiner will then contact you to explain the cause of death and answer any questions you might have – and let you know when you can register the death.
You will then need to:
Register the death – Once you’ve been told you can register the death, you must do so within 5 calendar days. It must be registered with the local registrar in the area in which your loved one died. If in doubt, you can find the local register office here
We suggest getting in touch with the registrar to make an appointment, just in case they need sight of specific documents, such as the birth or marriage certificate or passport.
Once the death has been registered, you will be able to purchase certificate copies of the original death certificate. You or your solicitors will need certified copies to send to banks, building societies, etc – as well as the Probate Register when we apply for the Grant of Probate. So it’s sensible to pay for a few certified copies if you can.
Locate the Will – This will be simple if you know where the Will is stored. You will also need to see who has been appointed as the executors. If you cannot find the Will, we can help you to do a search of the National Will Register (although not every Will is registered) or alternatively, to contact any previous solicitors or bank who may have been instructed to see if they are storing the Will. If there is no Will, a close relative may need to apply for a formal grant giving legal authority to administer the estate.
Funeral wishes – If there is a Will, check whether it contains instructions as to burial or cremation; details about funeral arrangements; and how the associated expenses are to be met.
The beneficiaries – You may want to check who the beneficiaries are in the Will and let them know of the death and their potential inheritance.
Notify organisations – You may need to notify certain organisations of the death, such as the benefits office, banks – and utility providers if their home is now empty. If you are unsure who you need to contact, we can assist you.
Instruct solicitors
Once you’ve undertaken these important steps, you may decide to hand over the administration of the estate to specialist private client solicitors. While there is a cost to the estate (which we will discuss with you) there are several benefits:
- It removes the stress at a time of grieving
- We are experienced in dealing with estates speedily and cost-effectively
- We provide the legal and tax expertise required in estate administration
- Unless the estate is simple, the administration can prove challenging
- We can deal with any disputes and conflicts on your behalf
We will, of course, explain the whole process to you and the anticipated timescales involved.
How we can help
If you need further help following a loved one’s death, speak with our expert wills and probate team as early as possible. Get in touch with Nansi Webb on 01562 820181; or email nansi.webb@mfgsolicitors.com.