The period after a funeral can be challenging. Immediately after, there’s a mix of relief and exhaustion competing with ongoing feelings associated with loss.
Guide to administration following a loss
The death of someone triggers an administration task for those left behind to manage. In some cases, the person who’s died left a Will or Letter of Wishes that a solicitor or executor manages on their behalf which tackles the allocation of assets and responsibilities. For others, there’s no plan to follow or an understanding of where to start. Here are some useful recommendations.
Tell Us Once
A service designed to notify all central and local Government agencies of a death, Tell Us Once will update records and prevent mail or correspondence being issued in the name of the deceased from these agencies. Using the National Insurance number of the person who’s died, it includes:
- His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for tax
- Drive and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for driving licence and V5 vehicle ownership
- Passport office
- Councils for local tax and Blue Badge
- State or Armed Forces pension
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for benefits or entitlements
Visit Tell Us Once.
Life Ledger
This is the private sector equivalent designed to reach bereavement departments across a range of businesses. To trigger account closures and remove details from future mailings. It includes:
- Utilities: gas, electricity, water
- Telecom companies
- Insurers: house, life, accident, holiday, car, breakdown
- Broadband providers
- Financial institutions: mortgage, savings, investments, insurers, premium bonds, bank accounts, credit card
- Retail: store cards, reward or points accounts
Visit the Life Ledger website.
Both services are free. They can be activated by phone or online where you create an account and provide key details of the person who’s died along with those authorised to oversee the administration.
Having copies of the Certificate of Death along with account details, references and other details, will help speed up the process of closure or transfer.
Estate Administration
A person’s estate includes their money, property, assets and possessions. Following a death, instructions for the estate is provided in a Will. Executors are the named or appointed individuals responsible to settling the estate. Where no will exists, next of kin can apply to the Court to be appointed.
In England, executors require the official legal authority (a Grant of Probate) to proceed with the estate administration. As members of the SAIF (National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors) we offer a free referral service to establish if probate is required, and if this is the case, can offer a fixed fee to oversee the estate administration*.
The legal profession and Government websites in Scotland and England provide up to date advice on estate administration.
*William Purves receives a 20% referral fee
Digital Legacy
We all have a digital legacy to an extent. This is one of the hardest areas to manage when someone dies because of the increasingly tight regulations around passwords and security generally.
- Email accounts
- Online accounts from banks or financial services to supermarkets or other retailers.
- Social media accounts: Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), Messenger, Pintrest, LinkedIn or older accounts such as Yahoo
- Subscription accounts such as Spotify, Apple, Google Drive
- Streaming channels such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney +, Sky
- Gaming accounts: Xbox or PlayStation
Other
There are other organisations that may need to be contacted in order to close or remove details from databases and/or future mailings.
- Streaming channels
- Hospital appointments already made or anticipated
- GPs and dentists
- Hairdresser, podiatrist, physio or other service where future appointments may have been made
- Social clubs or libraries
- Place of worship
- Charities or organisations where donations were made
- Subscriptions to magazines or other information providers
We also recommend contacting the Post Office to explore mail redirection. Not only is this essential for families who move or sell homes, redirected mail identifies irregular post that could point to activities missed or unknown.
Legacies and memorials
During the arranging process, you may have discussed memorial options depending on your choice of burial and cremation. Decisions about memorialising a loved one are often set aside until after the funeral. We can advise on many options to create a lasting legacy. Whether that’s practically speaking by a stone, marker, bench, jewellery or other keepsake to other alternatives like a legacy, prize or bursary. These decisions are not considered during the arranging process but our team meet families months, sometimes years, after to explore creative ways to celebrate their loved ones.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Tell Us Once and Life Ledger services?
Tell Us Once is a service aimed at notifying central and local Government agencies of a death so that they can centrally update records. Both services are free and can be activated online by opening an account.
Our Guide to After the Funeral and Guide to Digital Death offers more detail about what’s included and other elements to consider when organising the administration after a funeral.
Should I ask for additional copies of the death certificate?
It’s useful to have extra copies of the “Certified Extract” or “Certified Copy of an Entry” as some institutions only accept originals, Registrars will charge a fee for these copies.
Who is the best person to organise the administration?
In some cases, the person who’s died will have left explicit instructions with a family member, friend or executor tasking them with specific authority to manage their affairs after death. In the absence of this, there is no hard or fast rule and families sometimes allocate this to one person or share the burden of responsibility among many members.
How long should we keep the ashes?
There’s no right or wrong answer for how long to keep a loved one. It’s a very personal thing and we can explore options and advice to support you. It’s possible to use our Ashes Library (Edinburgh and Lothians only) and we can offer a range of memorial keepsake solutions.
Can you help with a later celebration of life after the funeral?
We’re here to assist with any funeral, memorial or celebration of life which can take place at any time as suits you and your loved ones.