Funeral Paperwork

The paperwork you'll have to put together will fall loosely into two categories: the wishes of the person who has died and their estate.

Organ and Tissue Donation

It is important to pass on the wishes of the person who has died as soon after death as possible. If a person dies in hospital, a member of hospital staff may ask you about organ or tissue donation. If you are unsure of the deceased person's wishes then you may need to search amongst their paperwork for confirmation (for example, if they wished to donate their whole body to medical teaching.) A person can put their name on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Transplants involve the donation of organs from one person to another person and are the best possible treatment for most people with organ failure.

Many people like to have a donor card, to remind themselves of their donation wishes. This can help to start a conversation with family and friends about the decision to join a register.

It is important to let your family and friends know if you have joined the Organ Donation Register. If you are unsure whether a person wished to donate organs or tissue, the Organ Donor Co-ordinator at your local hospital may be able to assist.

The estate

If you need to apply for probate, or contact any business or organisation about the death, you will need to put the following paperwork together:

  • The will*
  • Birth, marriage or civil partnership certificates, and death certificates of any spouses.
  • Change of name deeds
  • Divorce papers
  • National Insurance details
  • Benefits paperwork (including pensions)
  • Insurance policies
  • Bank and building society accounts; Premium Bonds
  • Death in service benefits (in, for example, the Civil Service or Police Force)
  • NHS medical card

*If you can't find the will, try contacting the bank or solicitor of the person who has died. The will may have been deposited with the Probate Service for safe keeping.If you need any further guidance, the gov.uk website contains a bereavement guide detailing the steps you must follow after a death.  If you can't find the will try contacting the bank or solicitor of the person who has died. The will may have been deposited with the Probate Service for safe keeping.

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