AfterLoss Wiki

A practical knowledge base for the things you need to do when someone dies in the UK. Plain English, actual forms, actual costs, actual deadlines.

This is part of AfterLoss, a guide to bereavement administration.

Where to start

If someone has just died and you don't know where to begin, What to do when someone dies is the orientation hub — it walks through the first 48 hours, first week, first month, and first three months and links out to everything else.

If you're an executor working through the estate, start with Do I need probate?.

If you're trying to understand inheritance tax, start with Inheritance tax.

What's here today

The wiki covers probate, registration, notifications, the financial admin of an estate, arranging a funeral, and property unwinding across the UK with England-and-Wales-specific detail where the law diverges. We're expanding the Scottish and Northern Irish coverage through 2026.

• Probate: Do I need probate? · How to apply for probate · How to get a copy of a will · Inheritance tax · Intestacy rules · Debt after death
• Around the death: How to register a death · Death certificate · Tell Us Once · Redirecting post · Stopping benefits
• Financial admin: Notifying banks · Council tax · Closing utilities · Life insurance · Pensions
• Funerals: Funeral costs · Arranging a funeral · Funeral Expenses Payment · Prepaid funeral plans · Publishing a death notice
• Property and partners: Mortgage · Cars · Personal belongings · Unmarried partners
• Care and work: Bereavement leave at work · When someone dies in a care home · Care home fees · Power of attorney

How this is maintained

Every page is reviewed against authoritative UK government sources every three months. The "Last verified" date at the foot of each page tells you when the facts were last checked.

If you spot something out of date or wrong, email steve@afterloss.uk.