Death certificates

ccm34

Hi all

My father passed away recently. I registered his death last week and was aware I needed several copies of the death certificate to provide to various banks / pension providers and utility companies with whom he had accounts. I was told I could only be provided with two given they need to save stock of the paper certificates, and that they would unlikely be able to provide copies if I phoned subsequently to order them.

I have explained this to a number of organisations, some of whom, for instance utility companies, are accepting a photograph. In terms of the banks / building societies, Halifax have accepted a photo using a document upload, but others do require an original paper copy. Kent Reliance have said I can obtain a 'certified' electronic copy, but I cannot find any such service available.

I realise in these uncertain times there will be disruption and everything will take longer. It is difficult enough being confined at home in the circumstances and sorting my father's affairs is giving me something to do / provide a distraction so I am keen to progress things if possible.

Has anyone encountered similar / has any advice as to how to proceed?

(I have just telephoned HMRC inheritance tax helpline who were spectacularly unhelpful regarding questions I had regarding my probate / IHT responsibilities- so I'm anticipating this whole process is going to prove challenging)

Many thanks

Brynsam

Go back to Kent Reliance and ask them to explain exactly what they have in mind and how to go about it. Point out there is nothing on their website to this effect: https://www.kentreliance.co.uk/bereavement. If they know what they're talking about, that shouldn't do much to increase their workload. If they don't, perhaps they shouldn't be suggesting it. 

Primrose

My condolences.  This is a particularly difficult time to have suffered a bereavement given the lockdown of many institutional offices and services.  I can,t offer you any advice except perhaps to contact your MP and ask him/her to urge the Government to instruct financial institutions to relax their bureaucratic processes to a practical level in the current crisis which could go in for months.   Those dealing with bereavements are in a particularly difficult situation at the moment.  

xylophone

questions I had regarding my probate / IHT responsibilities-

Do you wish to list the questions? Other posters might be able to help.

Savvy_Sue

Are you able to get out yourself? And can you get to any of the banks which need to see a copy?

I ask because when I did this - not under lockdown, of course - I just took a certificate in, it was copied and certified on the spot. 

I believe the banks are still open, albeit with restricted hours, and in your position I would consider combining an essential grocery shop with an essential visit to to a bank, and do them on the same trip. 

SaintAlf

My condolences...unfortunately my father also passed away at the weekend.  I spoke with the register office yesterday, they said it was the first interview they had conducted over the telephone.  I requested 5 certificates and there was no issue.  I specifically asked about electronic certificates as we use those kind of things for contracts etc at work.  They told me they are not available (yet).  Although I requested 5, which are being posted, the council allows more to be purchased at the same price.  Is that an option?  Of course it means £11 each time.

mitre66

I registered my mum's death this morning and was told no death certificates were being issued currently (this is in Oxford). 

Just makes everything so much harder.

ccm34

Thanks everyone for your replies. Unfortunately there aren't branches nearby or they are online accounts. I've explained the situation to all of them and just asked that they contact me if their own procedures change over the coming days / weeks.

I did contact the MP who has agreed that this will cause issues for an increasing number and will raise it.

I have asked Sutton register office, but they will not provide further copies in the post. It sounds promising that an electronic solution may be on the cards, and it looks as though I was lucky to be provided with two.

Thank you for the offer of potential help with probate / IHT questions. I've found answers to some online, would it make sense to put the others in a separate thread?

Thank you again all.

badger09

It would probably make sense to start a fresh thread as you can use a title more appropriate to your questions, so people won't skip past. Many of us have recently completed the Probate process, with anything from very simple estates, to more complicate ones involving IHT. We're all willing to help.

wizzywilc

I bought about ten copies of the certificate when I registered a death nearly 2 years ago. I thought I would need them as I had approaching 20 different financial organisations to deal with. In the event I only ever used about 4 of them as banks etc were very good at returning them to me very quickly by post. Of course at the moment everything will take longer, but much depends on how important it is for you to deal with things as quickly as possible, and how many institutions you are dealing with.  

lisyloo

What is the actual issue?
normally they are returned promptly so it seems obvious to me that you start with the most urgent and the others have to wait until they are returned.