Documents and information needed when someone dies

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 needed)
• if the deceased was a child, the full names and occupation of the father will be needed, or where the parents are not married the full names and occupation of the mother will be needed
• maiden surname if the deceased was a woman who was married
• the name and address of the deceased's GP
• details of any pension apart from a state pension that the deceased may have held
• the deceased's religion

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 for benefits/tax credits offices

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

Documents for 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)

Death-related documents

• the will, if there is one
• death certificate (often needed when asking for 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 and 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 unpaid 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

• unpaid 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 belongings

• existing valuations of property such as jewellery, paintings and similar (though an up-to-date market valuation will be required)
• any existing inventories of property/belongings
• safety box deposit information

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

Other documents and information

The following documents and information will be needed by the personal representative or close relative in order to contact relatives and friends or to return documents to relevant organisations:

• address book/information listing close friends and relatives who will need to be told
• passport
• vehicle registration documents if the deceased owned a car
• driving licence/parking permits/travel cards/Blue Badge for disabled parking
• membership cards or documents/correspondence showing membership of clubs, associations, Trade Unions and similar