Someone has died — what to do next
When someone close to you dies, the practical and legal side can feel overwhelming. This guided pathway asks a few gentle questions and helps you see what is likely to need sorting — from probate to claims — and where to start. It is a calm starting point, not advice on your particular situation.
How it works
The pathway asks, in plain and unhurried terms, about the person who died and the circumstances — whether there was a will, whether there is a business or property, whether anyone close may be left without enough, what they died of, and whether there is an inquest. There are no wrong answers, and you can take it at your own pace.
From your answers it shows the things most likely to matter, in order, and points you towards the right help — dealing with the estate through probate or intestacy, a possible inheritance claim, an asbestos or work-related illness claim, an Armed Forces matter, or support around an inquest. Most people find several of these apply at once.
Some of this can wait until you are ready; a few things are more time-sensitive, and the pathway flags those gently rather than alarming you. Nothing here is something you have to work out on your own.
The result is a guide to where to start, not a decision on your situation. When you feel ready, a single conversation can help you understand what to deal with first and how we can help with each part.
Questions about Someone has died — what to do next
Sometimes. Where the death was linked to asbestos, another work-related cause, an accident, or military service, the estate or dependants may be able to bring a claim. These often have time limits, so early advice helps.
It depends on what the person owned. Probate is often needed where there is property or significant assets, but may not be required for very small estates. Where there is a will, the executors apply; where there is none, the rules decide who can.
No. It helps you see what is likely to need attention and where to start, based on what you tell it. Your situation may have features that change the picture, so it is a starting point rather than advice.
A claim for reasonable provision from the estate must usually be brought within six months of the grant of probate or letters of administration. Because the window is short, anyone considering a claim should take advice quickly.
Yes. Nothing you enter into the pathway is stored unless you choose to submit the callback form, and anything you share with us is treated in confidence.
After registering the death and arranging the funeral, the main legal task is dealing with the estate — the person's money, property and possessions. Whether there is a will determines who has authority to do this and how the estate is shared.
When someone dies without a will, the intestacy rules decide who inherits and who can deal with the estate. These rules follow a fixed order of relatives and can leave unmarried partners and stepchildren with nothing, which sometimes leads to a claim.
An inquest is an inquiry by a coroner into a death that was sudden, unexplained, or connected to certain causes. You do not have to face one alone — you can be advised beforehand and represented at the hearing, and it is best to seek advice before it takes place.
Have a question that isn't covered here? Speak to one of our specialists directly.
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