We recognise the many challenges you may face at this difficult time. The following information guides you on what to do after a bereavement.
Bereavement is a personal experience and can affect people in different ways. You can find information about understanding and managing grief from the following organisations:
- NHS advice on dealing with bereavement, grief and loss
- Cruse Bereavement Support to learn more about the grieving process
- National Bereavement Service for ways to manage grief
- The Good Grief Trust for support if you are newly bereaved
What to do when someone dies: step by step
The GOV UK website includes more information about
- arranging the funeral
- checking if you can get bereavement benefits
- checking if you need to apply for probate
Death overseas
Where a death occurs abroad or on a foreign ship or aircraft, you should register the death according to the country's local regulations and get a death certificate. Depending upon the circumstances of the death, this may have to be reported to a coroner (or equivalent) in the same way as if the death occurred in England or Wales.
You can arrange a burial or cremation in the country where the person died. You may also be able to bring the body back to England or Wales. Most funeral directors can advise you on the practicalities and likely cost. You can also ask for advice from the British consulate, embassy or high commission in the country where the person died.
For more information please see what to do when someone dies abroad.
How to contact us
If you have any questions about what to do when someone dies please contact us.