Guides &amp; Resources

Who to notify when someone dies: a complete UK list

This guide is a complete list of who needs to be told when someone dies in the UK, split into the government bodies you can notify in one go and the private-sector accounts you have to contact one by one. It is written for the person taking on the practical tasks and trying to make sure nothing is missed.

Next of kin in the UK: what it means and what you're responsible for when someone dies

This guide explains what next of kin means, who counts, what you can and cannot do, and where your real responsibilities begin once someone has died.

The 7 year rule for inheritance tax: how gifts before death are treated

This guide explains how the 7 year rule actually works in practice, where the common mistakes are, and what changed in the 2025 Autumn Budget.

Bereavement Support Payment UK: who qualifies, how much, and how to claim

Bereavement Support Payment is a tax-free benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions for people whose spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner has died. It replaced three older bereavement benefits in April 2017: Widowed Parent's Allowance, Bereavement Allowance, and Bereavement Payment. The rates are unchanged for 2026/27.

5 min read

Death in service benefit UK: how it works and how to claim

This guide explains how death in service benefit works, who decides where the money goes, how to claim after a death, and what employers and HR teams can do to make claims faster.

The residence nil rate band: how it works and what it could save you

The rules are more complicated than that headline suggests. The RNRB applies only in certain circumstances, tapers away for larger estates, and has several edge cases that catch families out. This guide explains how it works, who qualifies, and what practical steps matter when an estate involves a family home.

9 min read

What to do when someone dies in the UK: a step-by-step guide

This guide explains what to do in the first days, weeks and months after a death in the UK. It is written for the person taking on the practical tasks: a spouse, an adult child, an executor, a close friend. It assumes you are in England or Wales, with notes on the differences for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

10 min read

What happens to energy and water bills when someone dies in a property they owned?

When someone dies and leaves behind a property they owned, one of the many practical questions families face is: what happens to the gas, electricity and water bills?

5 min read

How much does a funeral cost in the UK?

The average cost of a simple attended funeral in the UK is now £3,828. That figure covers the core elements: funeral director services, a basic coffin, and the cremation or burial fee.

Bereavement leave UK: what employees and employers need to know

This guide covers the current statutory position, what most employers offer in practice, the specific rights that exist for parents who lose a child, what to do if your employer's policy falls short, and what is changing under the Employment Rights Act 2025.

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Do you need probate? UK bank thresholds and when a grant is required

This guide explains when probate is required in England and Wales, when it is not, and the bank thresholds that often decide the question. It is written for the person trying to work out whether they can deal with an estate directly or whether they first need to apply for a grant. If you are new to the term, our guide on what is probate covers the basics.

How to apply for probate in the UK: a step-by-step guide

This guide covers how to apply for probate in England and Wales: what you need to have in place first, how to apply online or by post, what it costs, how long it takes, and what to do with the grant once it arrives. It is written for the person handling the estate, usually an executor named in the will or the next of kin where there is no will.

Who to notify when someone dies: a complete UK list

Funeral Planning

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How to write a eulogy

This guide focuses on what actually makes a eulogy land when delivered, and on the practical decisions that get you from blank page to finished draft. It is written for the person who has never done this before, may not speak in public often, and is grieving.

9 min read

How long after death is a funeral in the UK?

This guide explains what drives the timeline, what can delay a funeral, and what the realistic upper limit is if you need longer.

Celebration of Life Ideas: How to Plan a Service That Feels Like Them

This guide covers practical ideas for music, venues, themes, order of service, and the smaller personal touches that make a difference.

Managing the Estate

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What does an executor of a will do? A UK guide to the role, duties and liability

8 min read

Capital gains tax on inherited property in the UK

You don't pay capital gains tax when you inherit a property. You may pay it if you later sell for more than the property was worth on the day the person died. That date-of-death figure, the probate value, becomes your starting point. Capital gains tax is charged only on the increase between the probate value and the sale price, after allowable costs and your tax-free allowance.

8 min read

Deed of variation: how to change who inherits from an estate in the UK

This guide explains how a deed of variation works, why families use one, who has to agree, and what it cannot do.