Practical help whensomeone dies

We acknowledge the grant we havereceived from the Addenbrooke’s

Hospital Palliative Care TeamDevelopment Fund, ACT

We are also very grateful to G. & G. Ridgeon

for their co-sponsorship

Cambridge and District Citizens Advice Bureau

66 Devonshire RoadCambridge CB1 2BL

www.cambridgecab.org.uk

© Cambridge and District Citizens Advice BureauRegistered Charity No.1056102

Registered Company No. 03191085Authorised and regulated by the

Financial Conduct Authority FRN 617537

June 2019

Contents

Before someone dies 3

Checklist before someone dies 4

Wills 5

Arrangements for pets 5

Handing over information 6

Arranging access to money 8

Arrangements for your home 8

Information about your home 9

Setting up Power of Attorney 10

Talking about the funeral 11

Help with looking after someone who is ill 12

After someone has died 13

Checklist after someone has died 14

Informing people 15

Registering the death 16

Registry Office checklist 18

Arranging the funeral 20

Choosing a funeral director 21

Paying for the funeral 24

Telling organisations about the death 25

Who to tell 26

Handling the estate 27-28

Managing your money on your own 29

Managing your housing 29

Bereavement counselling 30

Notes 32

Before someone diesWhen someone we love diesor is terminally ill, it can feeloverwhelming.

There are a lot of practical things that need to be sorted out, and it can be hard to knowwhere to begin.

This booklet gives you step-by-step guidance on what you should do.

It is designed for you to use on your own. Draw on it, tick things off,and make it your own.

This booklet is intended for people over pension age in Cambridge. If you are under pension age and in need of advice, get in touch withCambridge Citizens Advice on 03448 487 979.

This booklet was published in June 2019, and the information in it is correct at that time. This may change over time. In particular, prices and telephone numbers are subject to change.

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If you are able to make arrangements together beforeyour partner dies, START AT PAGE 3.

If your partner has already died, GO TO PAGE 13.

It is important to make a will before you die. Having a will makes it a lot easier forthe people you leave behind to handle your affairs. It also means you can makechoices about where your money and special things go after you die.

If you live with someone but are not married, it is especially important that youmake a will. Without a will, unmarried partners cannot inherit. Citizens Advice areseeing a big increase in enquiries by people who have been left dealing withestates of people who died without a will.

If you don’t make a will, the law decides where your money should go, and thismight not line up with what you would want.

You don’t have to use a solicitor to make your will, but if your will is going to becomplicated it is a good idea to use one.

Arrangements for petsIf you have a pet, you might want to make arrangements to ensure they will belooked after when you die.

You could ask friends and family if they would be willing to take care of your pet,and if they agree you could write this into your will.

If you do not have anyone who can take care of your pet for you, you can contactthe Cinnamon Trust 01736 757 900, or register your pet with the Blue Cross‘Pets into Care’ scheme 0300 777 1910. If you have a dog, the Dog’s Trust havea scheme that can take care of your dog. You can contact them on 020 7837 0006.

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For more information on making wills, you can look on our websitehttps://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/death-and-wills/wills/or contact Cambridge Citizens Advice.

� I have made a will. You can find it

� I have made arrangements for my pets. You can find information aboutthese arrangements

� I have made a list of all financial information and bills. You can find it

� I have made sure my partner will have access to money after I die.The account information is

� I have sorted out information about my home. You can find the tenancy/deeds/mortgage details

� I have made a list of information about my home. You can find it

� I have made instructions for the sort of funeral I would like. You can find the details

� I have a prepaid funeral plan. You can find the details

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CHECKLIST before someone dies Wills

Before you die, you should make sure your partner hasthe information they will need. You should make a list forthem of:

• All your bank/building society accounts �

• Details for all the household billsGas �Electricity �Water �Telephone �Council tax �TV licence �

• Details of your credit cards �

• Details of all insurance policies �

• Details of any pensions �

• Details of any benefits you get �

• Birth certificate �

• Any divorce papers �

• Driving licence �

If you use the internet, especially if you have social mediaor email accounts, or if you keep photos and files in Cloudstorage, you might want to give your partner your log indetails and passwords for your accounts. You might alsowant to tell them the passcode for your phone, and thepasswords for any home computers.

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Handing over information

Information about your homeCouples will often have divided up jobs in the home. This can mean that whensomeone’s partner dies, the surviving partner can have difficulty managing thingsin the home.

Spend some time thinking about who does what jobs in the house, and write a list for your partner explaining how to do all your jobs.

Arranging access to moneyMake sure you have made a list of all your accounts and sources of income, andput it somewhere your partner will be able to find it.

If money is held in an account that is in your name only, your partner will havedifficulty accessing the money when you die.

It is a good idea to move money into a joint account, because this means that yourpartner will be able to access money both during your lifetime and after you die.

Arrangements for your homeIf you own your home, you should tell your partner where to find the deed ifthe property is not registered with Land Registry. You should also give them detailsabout the mortgage, if you have one.

If you own your home, you might own it as joint tenants or as tenants incommon. The rules for how the ownership of the home passes are differentdepending on what type of ownership you have. If you are not sure or want moreinformation, you will need to find the transfer documents and ask for help froma solicitor.

If you rent your home, you should tell yourpartner where to find your tenancy agreement.

If you rent your home in your joint names,your partner should be able to stay on in yourhome without any problems.

If you are the sole named person on your tenancy, you should check whetheryour partner will be able to stay on in the property. The rules around this arecomplicated, and you should contact Citizens Advice for help.

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Here are some examples of things you might want to include:

• Where the stopcock is

• Where the relays are

• How to read the gas and electric meters

• How to use the dishwasher, washing machine, and tumble dryer

• How to set and unset the alarm

• How to use the thermostat and heating system

• Where to find warranties

• The phone numbers for tradespeople you have used

• If you rent your home, contact details for your landlord

• How to use the lawnmower

• Details of any maintenance contracts

• Codes to any key safes

You may need toask for help from

a solicitor

Some people like to make plans for their funeral. Some things you might want tothink about are:

Funerals can become very expensive. You should make sure that you choose afuneral which is going to be affordable for your family.

You might want to explore buying a pre-paid funeral plan. With these plans, youpay a set amount of money in advance, sometimes spread out as instalmentpayments, and this covers the cost of your funeral. If you decide to get a pre-paidplan, you should make sure you use a provider who is registered with the FuneralPlanning Authority Tel 0345 601 9619.

You might want to arrange things so someone else can make decisions on yourbehalf as you get more ill.

If you still have mental capacity, you can set up an ordinary power of attorney ora lasting power of attorney.

An ordinary power of attorney will enable people to make financial decisions foryou, but only for as long as you continue to have mental capacity.

A lasting power of attorney will allow people to make decisions about yourfinances and about your health and well-being and will be effective after you losemental capacity.

Once someone has lost mental capacity and cannot set up a power of attorneythemselves, anyone who wants to make decisions on their behalf will need toapply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as their Deputy. For generalinformation on becoming a Deputy and help accessing the forms, speak toCitizens Advice.

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• Whether you would like to be buried or cremated. If you want moreinformation about this, you can contact Cambridge BereavementServices on 01223 458000. They offer free tours of their facilities to helpyou decide.

• What sort of service you would like.

• If you want to be buried, where you would like to be. You can pre-purchase a burial plot if you want to. Contact Cambridge BereavementServices on 01223 458000 for advice on this. If you want to becremated, where you would like your ashes to be placed.

• What music you would like at the service.

• What readings you would like.

• Who you would like to speak at the funeral.

You can make the power of attorney application online on the gov.ukwebsite https://www.lastingpowerofattorney.service.gov.uk/home

Using the online service can help you to avoid common mistakes. If youdo not have access to the internet, you can request a Lasting Power ofAttorney pack over the phone by calling 0300 456 0300.

Setting up Power of Attorney Talking about the funeral

After someone has died

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There is a benefit called Attendance Allowance which is intended to help withthe extra costs someone has when they are ill. Only people over 65 can claimAttendance Allowance.

Attendance Allowance is not means tested. Your savings and income will not haveany affect on your entitlement to Attendance Allowance.

There are special rules for claiming Attendance Allowance if someone is notexpected to live more than 6 months. The claim will be decided more quickly, andyou won’t need to fill out lots of formsto claim it.

If the person who is ill has not beentold they are terminally ill, someoneelse can claim Attendance Allowancefor them. You don’t need to tell theperson who is ill the details of theclaim, but it is a good idea to let themknow that you are making a claim. You will need to ask the person’s doctor tocomplete a DS1500 form. To apply, call the DWP on 0800 731 0122 and let themknow you are claiming under the Special Rules.

If you are receiving Attendance Allowance, the person who cares for you canreceive Carer’s Allowance. They will need to be providing more than 35 hourscare per week, and should not have employment earning them more than £123per week.

If you are struggling to manage looking after someone, you can ask for help fromthe Council. Everyone has the right to have an assessment of their care needs.In Cambridgeshire, you should call 0345 045 5202 to request an assessment.

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Everyone has the rightto have an assessment

of their care needs

Help with looking after someone who is ill

If the person died in hospital

• If someone dies in hospital, the hospital will inform the person who is listed asnext of kin. Hospitals will not always treat unmarried partners as close relatives.

• The doctor who was treating the person who has died will issue the medicalcertificate of cause of death, and a family member will need to collect it fromthe hospital.

• This person is then responsible for telling other family members about the death.

• They should also check that the hospital has told the GP of the person who died.

If the person died somewhere other than in hospital

• If a person dies at home or somewhere else, you will need to tell their GP. TheGP will have to come and visit the person who has died to issue a medicalcertificate of cause of death. If you already know whether the person whohas died is to be cremated you should tell the GP.

• You will need to tell the person’s friends and family. If the person who has diedleft a will and you know who they named as their executor it is important youtell that person.

• If the person who has died was part of a church or other religious group, youcan tell people at the place there.

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• I have informed the relevant people �

• I have a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death �

• I have registered the death �

• I have got copies of the death certificate �

• I have made arrangements for the funeral �

• I have checked how I am going to pay for the funeral �

• I have told all the relevant agencies about the death �

• I have looked for a will �

• I have checked who should beexecutor/administrator and that they are handling the estate �

• I have asked for help managing my money on my own �

Whether the person dies at home or in hospital, you will need to get amedical certificate of cause of death.

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CHECKLISTafter someone has died

Informing people

The Registry Office is at

Castle LodgeShire HallCambridge CB3 0APTheir phone number is 0345 045 1363

There is a pay-and-display car park and disabled parking at Shire Hall.

The appointment with the Registrar will take about half an hour.

You will have a talk with the Registrar, and they will then show you a draft formfor you to check. It is very important to check it carefully because it costsbetween £75 and £90 to make any changes to the Register and is verycomplicated.

You will be able to buy extra copies of the death certificate for £11 each. Youshould expect to buy at least five copies. You will need these for sending toorganisations that need evidence of the death. If you need more copies later onthey will be more expensive.

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You need to register the death within five days of the person dying. Sometimesit is not possible to meet this target, especially if a Coroner has had to be informedof the death.

If the person died in Cambridgeshire, you should register the death with theCambridgeshire Registry Office. If the person died somewhere else, you needto register the death in the County where they died.

You will need to book an appointment with the Registry Office to register thedeath. It generally takes 24-48 hours to get an appointment to register a death.

If a Coroner has been informed of the death, you will need to wait 48 hours afterthe referral to the Coroner before you can register the death.

The death needs to be registeredby the husband or wife of theperson who has died, or a closerelative, or a person who waspresent at the death.

If you and your partner were notmarried, you might not be able toregister the death if there are other relatives. If you are not sure who shouldregister the death, you should call Cambridge Registry Office on 0345 045 1363for advice.

You need to register thedeath in the County where

the person died

The Registrar will give you

• the death certificate (£11 per copy)

• a certificate for burial or cremation

• a certificate of registration of death for social security

• a ‘Tell Us Once’ number to use to inform government services of the death.

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You can cut this page out and bring it to the Registry Office with you.

Registering the death

It will be helpful if you can bring the following information.

• The person’s full name at the time they died.

• Their marital status.

• Any names the person used to use, including their name before marriage.

• The person’s date and place of birth. If they were born in the UK you will needto know the town. If they were born abroad you just need to know what country.

• Their last address.

• What job they used to do.

• Their husband or wife’s name, date of birth and what job they do or used to do.

• If they were getting a state pension or any other state benefit.

• Their NHS number or card.

• The date and place they died.

You will need to take the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death with you (unlessthe death has been reported to the Coroner).

It will also be helpful if you could bring the person’s passport, birth certificate,marriage certificate, or utility bills in their name.

You will also need to bring your own passport, driver’s licence, or a utility bill inyour name.

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What to bring

• Medical certificate of cause of death �

• Passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, or utility bill of the person who has died �

• Your own passport, driver’s licence, or a utility bill in your name �

What you need to know

• The person’s full name �

• Any names they used to use �

• Their date of birth �

• Their place of birth �

• Their last address �

• What job they used to do �

• Their husband or wife’s name, date of birth and job �

• Pension or other state benefits �

• Their NHS number �

• Date and place of death �

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Registry Office checklist

You do not have to use a funeral director, but most people choose to use one.

If you decide to use a funeral director you should choose one who is a memberof one of the trade associations: National Association of Funeral Directors –NAFD, or the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors – SAIF.

If you want to arrange the funeral on your own, the Natural Death Centrecan give you advice. You can contact them on 01962 712 690. CambridgeBereavement Services can also give you information and support. You can callthem on 01223 458000.

Remember that the person who has died may have expressed wishes for theirfuneral, or may have a pre-paid funeral plan in place. You should look throughtheir papers to check this.

Funerals can be very expensive,and you should be careful notto spend more than you canafford.

On the next page, there isan example of some of thelocal funeral directors’ costs for simple funerals. Simple funerals do not giveyou any choice on the time or date of the funeral. They do not give you any choiceon the type of coffin and do not include a funeral procession.

It is a good idea to talk to a few different funeral directors to get an idea of costsand to make sure they are able to offer a funeral that will be right for you andyour family.

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Arranging the funeralBurial or cremation

The person who has died might have expressed a wish as to whether they wouldlike to be buried or cremated. They might also have made arrangements for this.You should check whether there is anything which sets this out.

If not, you will need to decide whether they should be buried or cremated. If youare having difficulty deciding, you can contact Cambridge BereavementServices on 01223 458000. They can explain the options to you and can, if youwant, arrange a tour of their facilities so you can decide which option is best foryour family.

In Cambridge City, burial is run byCambridge Bereavement Services,who can be contacted on 01223458000. If a person lived outside ofCambridge City, they can still be buriedin the City cemeteries, but they will haveto pay more. In South Cambridgeshire, burial is run by each parish. You shouldcontact your vicar if you want the person who has died to be buried in SouthCambridgeshire.

Burial can be very expensive. In Cambridge City, exclusive right of burial costs£958 for a city resident. This gives 5 years exclusive use of the grave. After that,the family can continue to pay for exclusive use of the grave, up to a maximum of50 years. The total cost for 50 years exclusive right to the grave would be £1822.This is in addition to the interment costs of at least £820. The total cost for 50years use of the grave and interment would be £2642.

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Decide which optionis best for your family

Choosing a funeral director

Down to Earth can giveadvice on paying for funerals.Call them on 020 8983 5055.

Some people prefer to remember their loved ones at a time and place of theirown choosing, without the stress of having to arrange a full funeral. CooperativeFuneral Care offer this for £1,395, as do Simplicity Funerals, for £995.

Funeral directors can offer to supply flowers and other services, such as theprovision of a chaplain or priest, but you will need to pay extra for this.

You may find it is better value for money for you to supply your own flowers andother extra features.

Examples of costs

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Make sure you ask the funeral director for a written estimate of all costs involved.Alternatively, you can choose to have what is called a Direct Cremation. Thismeans that the person who has died will be cremated without any funeral takingplace at the time.

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COOPERATIVE FUNERAL CARESimple funeral £1,895 not inc. third party costs — collection (includingout of hours) and care of body including dressing, visiting within businesshours, transport of body to crematorium or graveyard, funeral directorpresent at funeral.

EAST OF ENGLAND COOPERATIVE FUNERAL SERVICESSimple funeral £1,995 not inc. third party costs — collection (includingout of hours) and care of body, visiting by arrangement within businesshours, funeral arrangements and documentation handled for you,transport of body to crematorium or graveyard, charity collectionshandled for you, flowers taken to crematorium/graveyard.

DIGNITY FUNERALSSimple funeral £1,995, not inc. third party costs — collection, care,visiting in business hours, transport to graveyard/crematorium, managingdocuments and third party payments, provision of pallbearers.

Burial withoutpaying for grave

£820

£2815

Burial + cost of exclusiveright of burial (City resident)

£1778

£3773

Cremation(before 09:30or after 16:15)

£602

£2597

Self-organised

Simple funeral

• If the person who has died was claiming any benefits (including the StatePension), you will need to tell the benefits agencies they have died. CambridgeRegistry Office is part of the ‘Tell Us Once’ service. When you register thedeath, you will be given a reference number, which you should keep, and aphone number to call. The ‘Tell Us Once’ service updates government agenciesand some public sector pension schemes about the death.

• You might also want to use the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 731 0469.They will cancel benefit payments to the person who has died, but they will alsocheck whether you are entitled to any extra help.

• If someone was getting Carer’s Allowance for looking after the person who hasdied, this will continue for eight weeks.

• If the person who has died was getting any occupational pensions, you shouldcontact their pension provider.

• If they had a car, you will needto contact the DVLA and thecompany who provide their carinsurance.

• You will need to tell their bankthat they have died. Somebanks will prefer you to makean appointment to come into the branch to inform them. If the person whohas died was the sole named person on the account, the account will normallybe frozen and you will not have any access to the money in it. Any direct debitsor standing orders which come out of this account will be stopped, but you canstill pay money into the account. Sometimes the bank will allow money to bereleased to pay funeral costs. If you are in this position and are struggling,come and speak to Citizens Advice.

• If there was equipment from the NHS or care agencies loaned to the personwho has died, you should arrange to return it.

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If the person who has died left money behind, the funeral costs should be coveredout of this money. Funeral costs come ahead of other debts owed by the estate.If you are arranging the funeral but are not the executor, you should speak to theexecutor about using money from the estate to pay for the funeral.

You should also check if the person who has died had paid for a pre-paidfuneral plan.

If the person who has died did not have a funeral plan and did not leave enoughmoney to cover the cost of the funeral, you may be able to access other sourcesof help.

If the person arranging the funeral gets anincome-based benefit, they might be ableto get help from the government towardsthe funeral costs. (If you aren’t sure if youget an income-based benefit, speak toCitizens Advice.) You can contact thegovernment’s Bereavement Service forhelp applying for this on 0800 7310469. If you are planning to use a funeral director, you should make sure youchoose one who accepts Funeral Expenses Payments.

If there is no money in the estate at all and no will, it might be necessary to contactthe council on 01223 458 000 to ask for a Public Health Funeral. Cambridge doesallow family to attend Public Health Funerals and to use the crematorium chapelfor a memorial service, but Public Health Funerals should not be used unlessnecessary.

If you are not able to get help from the Social Fund and are struggling to affordthe funeral, contact Citizens Advice to discuss whether there is any other supportyou might be eligible for.

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The ‘Tell Us Once’ service updatesgovernment agencies and somepublic sector pension schemes

about the death

Funeral costs comeahead of other debtsowed by the estate

Paying for the funeral Telling organisations about the death

Handling the estate Continued on next page

The first thing you need to do is check whether there is a will.

If there is a will

If you are the person who has been appointed as executor in the will, you willneed to handle everything.

You will need to work out the value of the estate.

• This means counting the value of everything that was owned by the personwho has died, including their house.

• You will need to list the value of any gifts given in the seven years before theperson died.

• You should then take away the value of any debts owed by the person who hasdied. These debts should include the cost of the funeral.

It might be necessary to pay inheritance tax. For advice, call the GovernmentInheritance Tax and Probate helpline on 0300 123 1072.

If the estate was very small or was all owned in joint names, it might not benecessary to get a grant of probate. Check with the bank of the person who hasdied to find out whether they will need a grant of probate to unfreeze theiraccount.

Otherwise, you will need to apply for probate. You can ask a solicitor to help youto do this, but they will charge you a fee. You can ask for advice from theGovernment Inheritance Tax and Probate helpline 0300 123 1072.

Once you have probate, you should pay off any debts owed by the person whohas died. After that, you can distribute the estate according to the instructions inthe will.

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Who to tell These are just some examples – there may be others

• Benefit agencies �

• Pension providers �

• DVLA �

• Car insurers �

• Home insurers �

• Phone provider (if account was in the name of the person who has died) �

• TV licensing (if account was in the name of the person who has died) �

• Mortgage provider/Landlord �

• Credit card providers �

• Organisations of which the person who has died was a member �

If you use the internet, you can use the online Death Notification Service tonotify multiple banks and financial institutions in a single contact. You shouldcheck that the service covers all the institutions you need to inform.https://www.deathnotificationservice.co.uk/

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If there is no will

When someone dies without a will, sorting out the estate can be more difficult. It can be a good idea to use a solicitor when someone has died without a will.

If you do decide to handle the estate yourself (become the Administrator), youwill need to be the husband, wife or civil partner, or a close relative of the personwho has died. An unmarried partner cannot usually be the administrator of anestate.

To apply for probate, you will need copies of the Death Certificate, BirthCertificate, and Marriage Certificate of the person who has died.

You will then need to work out the value of the estate.

• This means counting the value of everything that was owned by the person whohas died. This includes their house.

• You will need to list the value of any gifts given away in the seven years beforethe person died.

• You should then take away the value of any debts owed by the person who hasdied. These debts should include the cost of the funeral.

It might be necessary to pay inheritance tax. For guidance on this, you can callthe Government Inheritance Tax and Probate helpline on 0300 123 1072.

You can then apply for probate with the help of the Government InheritanceTax and Probate helpline on 0300 123 1072.

Once you have probate, you can pay off the debts owed by the person whohas died.

Who can inherit when there is no will follows very strict rules. If you need guidanceon who should inherit, you can contact Citizens Advice.

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FREE HELPLINES FOR PROBATE

Government Inheritance Tax and Probate helpline 0300 123 1072

Co-op legal services Free Initial Consultation 0333 060 8081

Managing your money on your ownAfter a partner dies, people can find that their household income changes a lot.

You might become eligible for state benefits which you weren’t in a position toclaim before.

If you are now living alone you might be eligible for a discount on your Council Tax.

If you are worried about changes to your income after a partner dies or wouldlike any help, you should speak to Citizens Advice.

Sometimes, a partner will find themselves responsible for the household budgetfor the first time in a long while. If you are worried about managing your budget,you should get in touch with Citizens Advice for advice on managing your money.

If you have any concerns about being able to stay in your home after your partnerhas died, you should get help as soon as you can. Come and speak to CitizensAdvice, and if you rent your home, bring the tenancy agreement with you.

Handling the estate

Managing your housing

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Losing someone you love is always hard, and sometimes you might find you wantsome support to help you deal with the emotions you are feeling.

CRUSE offers bereavement support for anyone who wants it. You can contacttheir Cambridge helpline on 01223 633536 to talk to someone locally.

The phoneline is open every weekday morning. They can offer one-to-one supportin person, and they also run support groups and coffee mornings.

If you are struggling with the emotions you are feeling, you can talk to your GPabout getting further help.

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Bereavement counselling

Notes

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