What factors should you consider when someone dies?

The death of a family member or loved one can be a huge shock and with it there are many things you will need to take care of. In this article we look at some of the factors that you need to consider when someone dies.

Register the death

One of the first things you need to do is to obtain a copy of the medical certificate so that you can register the death.

If the death has been expected and the cause is clear, then a GP will be able to issue you the relevant medical certificate. When registering the death you will need to bring certain documents with you, such as the deceased’s passport and Birth Certificate.

Handling Probate

Probate is an important part of managing a person’s affairs after they die. Probate is where the executor helps to administer the deceased person’s estate by organising their money, assets and possessions and distributing them as inheritance to the beneficiaries.

If they have left a will then this will name the executor who is responsible for these affairs. Probate can normally take around a year to complete but may be longer in more complicated circumstIf the value of the estate is above this threshold, then you will normally pay a tax rate of 40%.

There are ways to avoid paying too much IHT such as leaving property to your children and grandchildren as well as leaving assets to your spouse.

Funeral arrangements

You should also start to make the necessary funeral arrangements with your chosen funeral director. When organising a funeral you should consider the style of coffin, place of burial as well as flowers, readings and even travel arrangements.

Notify the relevant people

You will need to notify the passport office to cancel their passport, HMRC for tax, department for work and pensions to stop their state pension and any benefits as well as the DVLA to cancel their drivers licence.

Another consideration when someone dies is that you need to make sure that all open accounts whether that is a bank account, store cards or social media accounts are closed down. If there is a will then the deceased person may have left instructions on how they want these affairs handled.

Contact Us

If you would like more information about creating a will, you can speak to one of the team here or call us direct on 020 3778 0973 or email info@thestanlee.com