What to Do When Someone Dies - A Practical Bereavement Guide for Leeds & West Yorkshire

Losing someone you love is one of the hardest moments in life. Even when death is expected, the practical tasks that follow can feel overwhelming. You may be unsure where to start, what needs doing straight away, or how to make the right decisions while coping with grief.

This guide brings together the key steps you need to take after someone dies. It covers what to do first, how to register a death, who to inform, how funerals work, and what happens with probate and estates. We’ve supported families across Leeds for many years, and with over 3,000 five-star reviews, Winston Solicitors is known for clear, compassionate advice when it matters most.

What you do in the first few hours depends on where the person died.

If the person died at home

• Call your GP or the NHS helpline to notify them.
• A doctor will need to confirm the death and issue the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.
• You can then contact a funeral director.

If the person died in hospital

• The hospital will issue the Medical Certificate for you.
• They will keep the person in their mortuary until funeral arrangements are made.

If the death was unexpected

A coroner may need to be involved. This is normal after sudden, unexplained or accidental deaths. The coroner will guide you and explain the next steps.

If the funeral wishes were clear

Check the person’s paperwork, Will, or funeral plan. Alternatively, think back to conversations you’ve had. Many people leave simple instructions without realising it.

A death must usually be registered within five days. You’ll need the Medical Certificate before you can do this.

How to register a death in Leeds

Call the Register Office on 0113 222 4408 to book an appointment. You can choose from One Stop Centres in:

• Armley
• Chapeltown
• Dewsbury Road
• Garforth
• Harehills
• Middleton
• Morley
• Otley
• Pudsey
• Rawdon
• Rothwell
• Wetherby

What to take to the appointment

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death

• The person’s full name, date of birth and address
• Their occupation (or former occupation)
• Details of any spouse or civil partner
• NHS number (if known)

The appointment usually lasts about half an hour.

It’s helpful to order multiple death certificates as they cost more later.

Tell Us Once – what the service does

You’ll receive a link or code for the Tell Us Once service. This notifies:

• DWP
• HMRC
• Passport Office
• DVLA
• Local council
• Blue Badge services
• State Pension

This saves you from contacting each organisation separately.

Once the death is registered, you’ll need to tell the organisations connected to the person. It’s easiest to use a checklist.

People to tell

• Family and close friends
• Employer or school
• GP, dentist and any care teams
• Carers, social workers or community nurses

Companies to notify

• Banks and building societies
• Mortgage providers or landlords
• Insurance companies
• Utility companies (gas, electric, water)
• Broadband and mobile providers
• Pension providers
• Credit card companies

Other practical notifications

• Cancel subscriptions, memberships and deliveries
• Stop TV licence, railcards, bus passes
• Close or memorialise online accounts or social media
• Return medical equipment if supplied by the NHS

We can help with a full checklist if needed.

Most people contact a funeral director soon after registering the death. Start by checking whether the person:

• Had a prepaid funeral plan
• Left instructions in their will
• Told family what they wanted
• Preferred burial or cremation
• Had religious or cultural wishes

Paying for the funeral

Even if bank accounts are frozen, the bank will usually pay the funeral invoice directly from the deceased’s funds. This avoids out-of-pocket costs.

Funeral directors will guide you on practical decisions like:

• Type of service
• Burial or cremation
• Venues and timings
• Transport
• Music and readings

Choose a director who makes you feel comfortable and supported.

It’s important not to rush this part. Before clearing property, consider:

• Is the home owned or rented?
• Is anyone else living there?
• Is probate needed before anything is moved or sold?
• Are there keys, documents or valuables that need securing?

Pets and dependants

Always check for:

• Pets
• Plants
• Leases
• Car or mobility equipment

If you find them, it may help to collect:

• ID documents
• Insurance papers
• Bank details
• Pension letters
• Will or funeral plan

When someone dies, all assets and debts transfer to their estate, rather than to you personally, unless it was something you held in joint names and then it transfers to the surviving joint owner.

Accessing money

• Banks will freeze sole accounts.
• Joint accounts usually continue for the surviving account holder.
• Small balances may be released without probate.

Paying bills and debts

Debts are paid from the estate, not from your own money if you are sorting it out. But you may have to pay for some things and reimburse yourself later when there is access to estate funds.

Keep records of payments and correspondence.

Money owed to the deceased

If someone owed the person money, this becomes part of the estate.

We can help you work out what should be claimed.

If you cannot find a will, the estate follows the intestacy rules. These decide:

• Who can apply for letters of administration (instead of probate which is where there is a Will)
• Who inherits
• How money and property are shared

If you’re unsure whether a Will exists, check:

• Their home
• Bank or solicitor
• Will storage companies
• Local Leeds solicitors or anywhere else they lived
• The Probate Registry
• The National Will Register

If no will is found, the next of kin usually applies for Letters of Administration. Who can do this is governed by the intestacy rules.

Probate is often required if the person owned:

• Property in their sole name
• Savings over the bank’s release limit, which varies by institution
• Investments or shares that need to be sold or transferred

If there is a will → Grant of Probate
If there is no will → Grant of Letters of Administration

At Winston Solicitors, we can quickly confirm whether probate is needed and handle the application for you.

1. Check for a will
   This decides whether you apply for Probate or Letters of Administration.
2. Value the estate
   Gather bank balances, property values and debts.
3. Complete inheritance tax forms
   Even if no tax is due, a form may need to be submitted.
4. Prepare the online application
   Executors or administrators can apply themselves or through a solicitor.
5. Submit documents to the Probate Registry
   This includes the Will (if any) and death certificate.
6. Wait for approval
   Current timescales are around 12-16 weeks.
7. Deal with the estate
   Collect assets, pay debts and distribute what remains as per the will or the intestacy rules.

We can complete the entire process for you if preferred.

You don’t need a solicitor for every step, but many families choose support when:

• There is no will
• There are family disagreements
• The estate includes property
• There are debts or business assets
• You’re unsure who should inherit
• You simply want someone to handle the paperwork
• You need help with inheritance tax

We can do as much or as little as you need.

Our Leeds-based Private Client Team helps families across West Yorkshire with:

• Registering a death
• Understanding what to do first
• Probate and intestacy
• Property and assets
• Funeral planning guidance
• Sorting finances and paperwork

We’ll guide you gently through the legal and practical tasks, allowing you space to grieve without feeling overwhelmed.

If you’ve lost someone and aren’t sure what to do next, our team is here to help. We offer clear, calm guidance and can take on as much of the process as you need.

Call 0113 320 5000 or leave us a message. We’re here for families across Leeds and West Yorkshire.