Documents and information needed when someone dies

By John Hayward
This article is published on: 20th August 2017

Here you can check the lists of all the documents and information needed after someone dies. They will help you notify the required people and organisations immediately after the death and assist you in the longer term probate process.

Documents and information to get as soon as possible

You will need to gather together the certain documents and information as quickly as possible after a death, so you can start funeral arrangements and register the death. You’ll need to know:

full name and surname of the deceased
date and place of death and usual address
marital status (single, married, widowed or divorced)
date and place of birth
occupation of the deceased (if the deceased was a wife or widow, the full names and occupation of her husband or deceased husband will be required)
if the deceased was a child, the full names and occupation of the father will be required, or where the parents are not married the full names and occupation of the mother will be required
maiden surname if the deceased was a woman who was married
the name and address of the deceased’s GP

You’ll also need to gather together the following documents:

medical certificate of the cause of death (signed by a doctor) for registering the death
birth certificate
marriage/civil partnership certificates
NHS number/NHS medical card
organ donor card

Documents needed to notify benefits/tax credits offices

correspondence confirming payment to the deceased of benefits , tax credits (HM Revenue & Customs) and/or State Pension (Department for Work and Pensions)
Child Benefit number (if relevant)

Documents relating to a partner or relative

proof of your relationship to the deceased (for example, marriage/civil partnership or birth certificate, child’s birth certificate naming both parents)
your social security card/National Insurance number if you will be claiming/changing benefits

Documents/information needed by the person sorting out the deceased’s affairs

The personal representative is the person formally responsible for sorting out the deceased person’s estate, paying any taxes and debts and distributing the estate. They will need the following documents (where relevant):

sealed copies of the grant of representation (probate/letters of administration)

Documents relating to the death

the will, if there is one
death certificate (often needed when requesting access to funds; it’s best to order at least two extra certified copies when registering the death)

Savings/investments related

bank and building society account statements
investment statements/share certificates
personal or company pension account statements

Insurance

life insurance documents (including mortgage cover)
general insurance policies (for example, home, car, travel, medical)

State pension/benefits

relevant correspondence or statements from Jobs & Benefits Offices (for benefits) and/or the Pension Service

Amounts owing by the deceased

mortgage statement
credit card statements
utility/ rates bills in the deceased’s name
rental agreements/statements (private or local authority)
other outstanding bills
leases, hire purchase agreements or similar (for example for equipment, car or furniture)
educational loan statements
any other loan statements

Amounts owed to the deceased

outstanding invoices if the deceased ran a business
written/verbal evidence of other money owed to the deceased

Property

property deeds or leases (main home and any other at home or abroad)
property keys

Other possessions

existing valuations of property such as jewellery, paintings and similar (though an up-to-date market valuation will be required)
any existing inventories of proper

Employment or self-employment

PAYE form P60 and latest payslips if the deceased was employed
recent tax returns and tax calculation statements (if relevant)

Business related

company registration documents, accounts, tax and VAT returns if they had a business