First steps
Has the death been registered?
Has the funeral been arranged?
The will and estate
Is there a will?
Is the will valid?
Who are the executors?
If there is no will, who are the administrators?
Documents and details
We recommend collecting these key documents.
The death certificate
The deceased's national insurance number
Date of birth and date of death
The will
Last tax return, if applicable
Names and addresses of executors or administrators
Statements and policies
We recommend collecting and organising the deceased's documents before starting the probate process.
The most recent bank statement for each account
The most recent savings and NS&I statements
Premium Bonds
Share certificates
Pension policy documents
Life assurance policy documents
Utility bills, phone bills and other bills
Credit and debit cards