When someone has died, you need information you can rely on. This page explains how we write our guides, where our facts come from, and what to do if you spot something wrong.
Where our facts come from
We check every guide against official sources first:
- GOV.UK, for registering a death, probate, Inheritance Tax, benefits and Tell Us Once
- the NHS, for the medical examiner and what happens in hospital
- the Ministry of Justice and the Chief Coroner, for coroners and inquests
- the Financial Conduct Authority, for funeral plans
- the Competition and Markets Authority, for funeral directors' price lists
- national charities such as Cruse Bereavement Support, Marie Curie and Samaritans, for support and helplines
Where the rules are different in Scotland or Northern Ireland, we say so.
How we keep guides up to date
Each guide shows the date it was last reviewed. We review every guide at least once a year, and straight away when a law, fee or benefit changes. Figures such as fees and benefit amounts are checked against the official source on the review date.
Our guides are general information, not legal or financial advice. For advice about a particular situation, speak to a solicitor, an adviser or the organisation concerned.
How we list businesses
Our directory is built from public sources and kept up to date with official registers, including the Care Quality Commission, the Food Standards Agency's hygiene ratings, Companies House, NHS organisation data and GOV.UK's register office finder. We remove businesses when an official register shows they have closed.
Businesses can claim their free listing to correct their details. Some businesses pay to be shown more prominently, and those listings are clearly labelled. Payment never changes what our guides say.
Tell us about a mistake
If something on our site is wrong or out of date, please tell us through our contact page. We check every report and correct mistakes as quickly as we can.