My parent has died — what do I do next?
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First, the practical steps in order: get the medical certificate, register the death within five days and arrange the funeral. Then, if you're the executor or next of kin, you'll find the Will, value the estate, deal with any inheritance tax and apply for probate where needed. It's a lot — taking it one step at a time makes it manageable.
The steps, in order
The first practical steps
- Obtain the medical certificate of cause of death.
- Register the death within five days (England & Wales) and get several certified copies of the certificate.
- Arrange the funeral — the Will may state wishes.
Then the estate
- Find the Will and identify the executors. No Will? The intestacy rules apply and the next of kin become administrators.
- Value the estate, deal with inheritance tax and apply for probate if it's needed.
- Collect in the assets, pay debts, then distribute to the beneficiaries.
How ClearLegacy helps
Our free, plain-English guides and the probate calculator walk executors through each step — what probate costs, how long it takes and what an executor must do. And many people, after dealing with a parent's estate, decide to make their own Will so their family is spared the uncertainty.
When his mother dies, Sam registers the death within five days, orders several certified copies and arranges the funeral. As named executor he then values her estate, finds no inheritance tax is due and applies for probate — handling it step by step with the guides.
Who pays for the funeral and probate?
You do not normally have to fund these costs yourself. They are debts of your parent's estate and come out of it before anything is shared out. The difficulty is timing, because most accounts are frozen until a grant is issued.
- The funeral. Many banks will pay a funeral director's invoice straight from your parent's account on sight of the death certificate, even before probate. Some funeral plans or life policies also pay out directly.
- The probate fee. Applying for a grant costs £526 if the estate is worth more than £5,000. There is no fee for estates of £5,000 or less.
- Inheritance tax. Most estates pay none. Each person has a nil-rate band of £325,000 plus a residence nil-rate band of £175,000 when a home passes to children or grandchildren. If your parent was widowed, any allowances unused on the first death can usually be added, so up to £1m can pass free of tax. Where tax is due, some must normally be paid before the grant. Banks can often pay it straight to HMRC.
If you do pay something yourself, keep the receipt. The executor can reimburse you from the estate once funds are released.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do when a parent dies in the UK?
Get the medical certificate, register the death within five days and arrange the funeral. Then, as executor or next of kin, find the Will, value the estate, deal with inheritance tax and apply for probate if needed.
Do I need probate when a parent dies?
Often yes, if there's property in their sole name or significant assets institutions won't release without a grant. Small estates or jointly owned assets passing by survivorship may not need it.
- Complete the questionnaireA few guided questions about you, your family and your wishes.
- Review and confirmYou review and confirm your answers before anything is finalised.
- Receive your documentsYour Will and supporting paperwork are produced, ready to print.
- Sign correctlyClear instructions on signing and witnessing so the Will is legally valid.
- Protect your familyYour wishes are recorded and your loved ones are spared the intestacy default.
Sources
- GOV.UK — What to do when someone dies: step by step
- GOV.UK — Applying for probate
- Citizens Advice — Dealing with the estate of someone who has died
- Reviewed by
- ClearLegacy editorial team
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
- Next review
- December 2026
- Jurisdiction
- England & Wales
Dealing with an estate? Start here.
ClearLegacy's free guides and probate calculator help executors handle the estate, step by step.
Probate help for executors