After a death, many organisations need to be told. Some are government and council services; others are private companies such as banks, energy suppliers and phone providers. These are handled separately, and there is no need to contact everyone at once.
Government and council notifications
In England, Scotland and Wales, the free Tell Us Once service can report a death to several government departments and the local council in one go. This can include HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions (including the State Pension), the passport and driving licence offices, and council services such as council tax. The registrar usually gives you a reference when you register the death.
Northern Ireland has a separate process. nidirect explains which organisations to contact and how.
Companies you may need to tell
Government services do not tell private companies. You may need to contact:
- Banks and building societies, credit card providers and loan or mortgage lenders
- Private or workplace pension providers (these are separate from the State Pension)
- Insurance companies, such as life, home, car and travel insurance
- Energy and water suppliers
- Phone, mobile and broadband providers
- TV, streaming and other subscriptions, memberships and clubs
Making a list
A simple list can make this feel more manageable. Recent bank statements often show regular payments and direct debits. Post, emails, paperwork kept at home and any address book or diary can also help. Note each company, any account or reference number, and when you contacted it.
Getting help from Legacy Trail
If you already know which companies you need to tell, Legacy Trail's free notification service can notify them for you, so you don't have to contact each one separately. You'll usually need a copy of the death certificate.
Legacy Trail also offers an optional paid service to help find accounts you may not know about, and then notify them. This is separate from the free service. Check Legacy Trail's own site for what it covers and costs.