As an illustration of the amount of work an Executor will be expected to do, we have assembled the following checklist. The list is not exhaustive and can only be used as a general guide. You may need to personalise the list as you think fit.

General

To make the task of completing the many forms and documents easier, it will be useful to have the following items and information available about the person who has died:

• National Insurance number
• NHS number
• Date and place of birth
• Date of marriage or civil partnership
• Tax reference number

Within the First 5 Days of Death

• Notify the family doctor.
• Register the death at the local register office . Complete a Certificate of Registration of Death (form BD8) given to you, if applicable (ie if the deceased was receiving a state pension or benefits).
• Find the will. Contact Wincham Executor & Trustee Company Ltd if they were chosen as one of the co-Executors.
• Begin funeral arrangements.
• If the deceased was receiving any benefits or tax credits, advise the offices that were making the payments.
• Contact the Executor, if this isn’t you, to enable the process of Probate to begin.

Who Else to Contact

• Relatives and friends.
• Employer.
• Solicitor and/or accountant.

  
  Government organisations:

• The relevant Tax office.
• National Insurance Contributions Office (to cancel payments, if the deceased was self employed).
  Child benefit office (within 8 weeks).
• Local Authority, if the deceased paid council tax, had a parking permit, was issued with a Blue Badge for disabled parking, received social services help or attended day care.
• UK Identity and Passport Service to return and cancel a passport.
• DVLA to return any driving licence, cancel car tax or return car registration documents/change of ownership.

  
  Financial organisations:

• Insurance companies – house/contents, car, travel, medical etc.
• Insurance companies, if the deceased was the first named on an insurance policy, make contact as soon as possible to ensure you are still covered.
• Rental companies, if the deceased had items that were rented.
• Hire Purchase companies, if the deceased had hire purchase agreements.
• Loan companies, if the deceased had loan agreements.
• Pension providers and/or life insurance companies.
• Banks and Building Societies.
  Mortgage provider.
• Credit card providers/store cards

  Utilities and household:

• Landlord or local authority if the deceased rented a property.
• Any private organisation or agency providing home help.
• Utility companies if accounts were held in the name of the deceased.
• Royal Mail if mail is to be re-directed.
• TV and/or internet companies with which the deceased had subscriptions.

  General:

• Bereavement Register and Deceased Preference Service to remove the name of the deceased from mailing lists and databases.
• Clubs, trade unions and other associations with seasonal membership for cancellation and refunds.
• Church or regular place of worship.
• Social groups the deceased belonged to.
• Dentist.
• Creditors, ie anyone to whom the deceased owed money.
• Debtors, ie anyone who owed the deceased money.

  
  Benefits and financial help:
  You may be able to claim benefits and one-off payments if you lived with or were dependent on the deceased. Time limits apply so contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus office as soon as possible.

  New Will
  This is not necessary if you have had your Wills prepared by Wincham Executor & Trustee Company Ltd and have kept them up to date.
  And finally. Emotions will be running high, particularly with close family members, so it is vitally important to keep everyone informed about progress as it happens. In large families this responsibility alone can be very time consuming.