Working out who to notify after someone dies can feel overwhelming, especially when grief affects your memory and concentration. There’s often a significant amount of administration involved, and it’s easy to worry about missing something important. This page explains how to notify government organisations and businesses efficiently, and provides a downloadable checklist to help you keep track of everything that needs to be done.
Government Organisations
Tell Us Once is a government service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. This free service saves you from having to contact multiple departments separately.
What Tell Us Once Covers
When you use Tell Us Once, the following organisations will be notified automatically:
- HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
- Department for Work and Pensions (including benefits and pensions)
- DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)
- UK Passport Office
- Local council (for council tax, housing benefit, blue badge)
How to Use Tell Us Once
When you register the death, the registrar will:
- Let you know if the service is available in your area
- Give you the phone number
- Give you a unique reference number to use the Tell Us Once service online or by phone
Important: You must use Tell Us Once within 28 days of registering the death.
Other Organisations:
Beyond government departments, there are often dozens of businesses and organisations that need to be informed when someone dies.
We recommend Life Ledger as a comprehensive way to notify businesses that someone has passed away. This service helps you identify and contact the relevant companies efficiently.
Your Funeral Checklist
We’ve compiled a detailed to-do list to assist you through this difficult time. The checklist can be downloaded and printed, making it easier to keep track of what’s been done.
The second part contains a comprehensive list of organisations to notify, with space to record dates and reference numbers.