Not sure on next steps after my mother's death

Brighty

Ask the coroner if they have already registered the death for you, i'm pretty sure they did with my dad, his death involved the coroner and an inquest though.
If you do need to register it yourself, it doesn't have to be local to your mum, you can register her death at your local office, it just means you won't get death cert on the day, it will all be done by post
https://www.gov.uk/register-a-death/y/england_wales/at_home_hospital/no

Obviously you need to go to the house to secure it and remove what you want, also take all paperwork. After that, the whole probate thing can be done from home. You can use the probate office near you or swear the oath at a local solicitors.
To apply for probate, you will need the original will, so ring the solicitor to get them to send that to you. You may well have to send them proof of ID and address first, also copy of death cert, before they'll release it to you.

Brighty

TonyMMM

Brighty wrote: »

Ask the coroner if they have already registered the death for you, i'm pretty sure they did with my dad, his death involved the coroner and an inquest though.

No - the coroner would not register the death in this case (and can't).

in cases like yours that go to inquest, the coroner will issue paperwork that allows the funeral to proceed and often also issue an interim death certificate which can be used to start to deal with an estate.

The actual registration can't be done until after the inquest is complete which may be months (or occasionally years) after the death. At that point the registrar is sent the details from the coroner and completes the death registration with no need for the family to be involved - by then the family may not have any need for certificates so never ask for any.

Brighty

TonyMMM wrote: »

No - the coroner would not register the death in this case (and can't).

in cases like yours that go to inquest, the coroner will issue paperwork that allows the funeral to proceed and often also issue an interim death certificate which can be used to start to deal with an estate.

The actual registration can't be done until after the inquest is complete which may be months (or occasionally years) after the death. At that point the registrar is sent the details from the coroner and completes the death registration with no need for the family to be involved - by then the family may not have any need for certificates so never ask for any.

Thanks for that, that explains why i didn't need to register dads, we got an interim cert, inquest was soon after and an open/shut case (a quick 10min job in lunchbreak to keep the press away, we didn't even go), we then got a form in the post soon after to apply for copies of full cert.

Ignore me then op, you do need to register it

Brighty

Faith177

When you go to register the death you will need to take a few documents with you but the office you book your appointment with will go through this with you but may be worth heading to your mums as soon as you can to find her documents.

If I remember rightly from when my mum passed last year it was her driving licence, passport, the documents from the coroner and a few other bits

I would recommend getting at least the minimum of 5 copies of the certificate as they are cheaper to pay for at your appointment than afterwards. i think I got 10 for my mum

Linton

You must tell the banks, the insurance company and utilities asap. They all have standard procedures for bereavements and from my experience are very helpful. In the case of house insurance the cover will be charged to you as executor. If the house is unoccupied expect a significant rise in charges. Also, and this is a real pain, it seems that unoccupied house insurance requires that the house be inspected internally once a week.

Diamond_Orchid

Thanks all, I was panicking for nothing it seems. Phew.

I am waiting for a call back from the registers in the county she lived in to book an appointment, but now I have seem your post I think I will do it locally. So much easier, even if I have to wait a little longer for the certificates.

How many certificate copies do you generally need? Utility companies, BT and bank accounts, but I don't think she had any others. Would 6 be enough in general? Water, electricity, council, BT, probably a couple of bank accounts.

Do they send the certificate back or keep it in their records?

Thanks for all the help

Diamond_Orchid

Just rang my local registry office and she said it could take a good couple of weeks to get everything over. I think it would be easier to go to mum's county to register it as at least we get the certificate there and then and can get the ball rolling.

Faith177

Diamond_Orchid wrote: »

Just rang my local registry office and she said it could take a good couple of weeks to get everything over. I think it would be easier to go to mum's county to register it as at least we get the certificate there and then and can get the ball rolling.

That's what I did with my mum she was living in Scotland but passed away staying with my aunt in Nottingham and I live in Essex was so much easier to do it all in Nottingham

I would suggest getting 10 copies the price doubles after your appointment so better to get a few now and not need them than pay double

Linton

Diamond_Orchid wrote: »

Thanks all, I was panicking for nothing it seems. Phew.

I am waiting for a call back from the registers in the county she lived in to book an appointment, but now I have seem your post I think I will do it locally. So much easier, even if I have to wait a little longer for the certificates.

How many certificate copies do you generally need? Utility companies, BT and bank accounts, but I don't think she had any others. Would 6 be enough in general? Water, electricity, council, BT, probably a couple of bank accounts.

Do they send the certificate back or keep it in their records?

Thanks for all the help

I bought 10 and still have 9. Most people are happy with emailed scans of the death certificate, or just a sight of it, if they need it at all. They dont keep them. So I think 6 should be ample, but they only cost £4 each when you register so its no great loss having extras.

Have you seen the "Tell us once" service which deals with all government/LA notifications?

Dont forget non-state pensions - the pension companies need to know quickly, otherwise you will have extra hassle with repayments.

TonyMMM

How many certificates you need depends on the complexity of your mother's affairs but utility companies and local authority will not generally require sight of a death certificate.... a phone call will be enough.

Just get enough to send to any financial organisations you know she had accounts with - some may keep them but most will send them back, or often just take their own photocopy if you can take it in to a branch in person.

You will also need them for any life insurances or other legal purposes, such as the probate application (if required).