What to Do When Someone Dies in a Care Home

When someone dies, grief and paperwork arrive together, and it's hard to think straight. This guide sets out what actually happens after a death in a care home in England, so you know what to expect and don't have to work it out alone.

What happens immediately after someone dies in a care home?

If the death was expected — for example, following a long illness or a period of end-of-life care — there's usually no need to call 999 or the police. Staff at the home will:

• Contact a doctor to confirm the death and, in due course, provide the medical certificate of cause of death
• Notify you and anyone else on the emergency contact list
• Give you time to sit with your loved one, if you'd like to
• Help with immediate practicalities and answer your questions

Your first real decision is usually choosing a funeral director, who will bring your loved one into their care. You don't need to arrange the funeral itself straight away — that can follow once you've had time to think, and once you have the paperwork from registering the death.

What if the death was unexpected, or referred to a coroner?

Occasionally a death is referred to a coroner — for example if it was sudden, the cause is unclear, or no doctor had seen the person recently enough to sign the certificate. This is a routine legal check, not a sign that anything went wrong. It can delay the paperwork by days or weeks, and it means the death can't be registered until the coroner has finished. The doctor, registrar or coroner's office will explain what's happening and roughly how long it might take.

How do I register the death?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you must register the death within 5 days, unless a coroner is involved. In Scotland the rules and timescale differ slightly — the local registrar will explain what applies. You'll usually book an appointment with the register office for the area where the person died, and you'll need the medical certificate of cause of death to bring with you.

At the appointment, the registrar records details such as the date and place of death, and the person's full name, date of birth and occupation. You'll receive:

• A death certificate (you may want several copies — banks, pensions and insurers each usually need their own)
• A certificate for burial or cremation, which you give to the funeral director

You can find your nearest register office and check current requirements on GOV.UK.

What is Tell Us Once, and how does it work?

When you register the death, the registrar will usually offer you the Tell Us Once service. It's free, and it notifies most government departments in one go — HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions, the DVLA, the Passport Office and the local council among them. It saves you having to ring round and repeat the same details to each one separately.

Tell Us Once doesn't cover everything. You'll still need to contact, yourself:

• Banks and building societies
• Insurance companies (life, home, car)
• Private and workplace pensions
• Utility providers, landlords or mortgage lenders
• Any care funding or benefits paid directly rather than through the DWP

Ask each organisation what they need — usually a copy of the death certificate and, later, probate documents if the estate needs to go through that process.

Do I need probate to deal with the estate?

Sorting out someone's money, property and possessions is called administering the estate. Depending on what they owned — and how it was held — you may need to apply for probate (called "confirmation" in Scotland). Probate is the legal authority to access accounts, sell property and distribute the estate according to the will.

If there's a will, it names the executors who apply for probate and carry this out. If there's no will, the rules of intestacy set out who's entitled to deal with the estate and who inherits. Whether probate is needed at all often depends on the value and type of assets involved — some smaller estates, or those held jointly, don't require it.

For anything complex — a business, property abroad, disputes between family members — a solicitor who specialises in probate can help. Citizens Advice also offers free guidance if you're unsure where to start.

What about the care home fees, contract and belongings?

You can arrange to collect belongings whenever you feel ready. There's no need to rush — staff will keep them safe until you're able to come in.

Check the care home's contract for what happens to fees after a death. Most contracts set out a short, clearly stated notice period rather than charging indefinitely — if anything looks unclear or unreasonable, it's fair to ask the manager to explain it in writing.

If the person was receiving council-funded care, NHS Continuing Healthcare, or benefits such as Attendance Allowance, these will need to stop. Tell Us Once covers state benefits and pensions; the care home or local authority can advise on anything funded locally.

Where can I get support with grief?

Grief doesn't follow a timetable. It's common to feel numb, exhausted, tearful, or oddly practical, sometimes all in the same day, for a long time afterwards. Your GP can help if grief is affecting your sleep, health or ability to cope. Bereavement charities such as Cruse Bereavement Support and Marie Curie offer a listening ear and practical guidance, and Age UK has information specifically for those bereaved after caring for an older relative. You don't need to be struggling to reach out — support is there whenever you want it.