Losing someone close to you can leave you facing a list of tasks when you feel least able to tackle one. You may need to contact banks, find paperwork, deal with household bills and work out what happens to a home. This is sometimes called “death admin” or even “Sadmin”. In England and Wales, some of those tasks also form part of administering the estate: dealing with the money, property, possessions and debts of the person who has died.
Cheryl Styles is a Legal Executive in the Wills and Probate team at NBB Waldrons. She began her legal career in 2010 and has experience in probate, estate administration and Court of Protection matters. Cheryl understands that, for someone dealing with a bereavement, a question about a bank account or a bill is rarely just an administrative question. Often, the first thing a person needs is time to explain what has happened and understand what to do next.
Why can death admin feel so difficult?
A single death can mean separate conversations with a bank, pension provider, insurer, mortgage lender and utility company. Each may have its own process and ask for different evidence. Meanwhile, the person dealing with the estate may be trying to establish whether there is a Will, who is authorised to act and whether a grant of probate is needed.
These frustrations have been documented beyond individual families’ experiences. The Guardian has reported on bereaved people receiving bills and letters addressed to relatives after notifying companies of their deaths. The Financial Conduct Authority has also identified ways banks and building societies could improve their bereavement processes.
A form or automated service can make a straightforward notification quicker. But when accounts cannot be found, a property needs attention or a family member receives an unexpected demand for payment, the next step may need a proper conversation.
What should you do first after someone dies?
There is no need to solve the entire estate at once. These steps can help you begin:
- Follow the guidance on registering the death. If the death has been referred to a coroner, the process may differ. GOV.UK sets out what to do after a death.
- Locate the Will, if there is one. It should name the executor or executors. If there is no Will, different rules determine who can apply to administer the estate.
- Use Tell Us Once where available. This government service lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go. The registrar will explain how to use it. It does not generally notify banks, insurers, private pension providers or utility companies, so those organisations may still need to be contacted separately. Read the government’s Tell Us Once guidance.
- Make a list of the estate’s assets, debts and regular payments. Statements, letters and emails may help identify accounts and organisations to contact. Keep a record of whom you speak to and what they ask you to provide.
- Check whether probate is needed before making plans for assets. The answer depends on what the person owned and how it was held. Banks and other organisations have their own requirements for releasing assets. GOV.UK explains when a grant may be needed, and our guide looks more closely at whether you need probate.
When does death admin call for more help?
Some questions are particularly hard to answer through a standard online process:
- There is no Will, or you cannot find one. You may need to establish who has the right to apply for a grant of letters of administration.
- There is a property or several financial accounts. You may need help valuing the estate, finding out what each organisation requires and understanding when assets can be dealt with.
- A bill or debt arrives in the deceased person’s name. Debts are generally dealt with from the estate before it is distributed. Relatives do not automatically become responsible simply because of their relationship to the person who died, although joint debts and other circumstances need to be checked. Citizens Advice explains the position.
- Digital accounts or possessions matter to the family. Photos, online subscriptions and other digital assets can be easy to overlook. Read our article on digital assets and Wills.
- You are unsure what you can do as an executor. Taking advice early can help you understand your responsibilities before paying debts or distributing anything to beneficiaries.
If you are looking for a fuller explanation of the process, our probate and estate administration page can discuss the level of help you need. You may want guidance on one decision or support with administering the estate more widely.
The value of speaking to someone
Recent reporting has raised concerns about how difficult it can be to reach a person through automated customer service. Citizens Advice has called for access to human help when people are trying to resolve problems with essential services. For a bereaved family, being able to explain the circumstances in their own words can be especially important.
Cheryl Styles, Wills and Probate Legal Executive, says: “After someone dies, even a small administrative task can feel enormous. People deserve clear answers, the chance to ask questions and help that moves at a pace they can manage.”
You can also read our earlier article on bereavement in the digital age for more on notifying organisations and dealing with the estate.
If you are dealing with the estate of someone who has died and would like to talk through what comes next, contact Cheryl or the NBB Waldrons Wills and Probate team. We have offices in Merry Hill, Dudley, Kingswinford, Worcester, Walsall, Cheltenham, Birmingham and London. Call 0333 016 1100 or email lawyers@nbbwaldrons.co.uk.
