Settling the affairs of the deceased

If you have recently had a bereavement in your family, firstly, we would like to express our condolences at this particularly difficult time.

What to do when someone dies

Our Bereavement Service can help with registering the death, arranging the funeral and many of the practical things that have to be done, and can tell you about other sources of help.

You can also get help from a funeral director, the family doctor, a solicitor, welfare officers and personnel departments at workplaces, your minister of religion, a social services department or a Citizens Advice Bureau. A health visitor or district nurse who attended the deceased person may be able to help. If the person died in hospital, ask the sister or hospital chaplain.

Some of the main things to be done, other than registering the death and arranging the funeral, are listed below. This is not a complete list covering everyone's individual circumstances.

Things to send back

The following items of the deceased should be returned. Include a note of explanation and the date of death with each of the documents. The items marked * can be dealt with at the Bereavement Centre.

* Any pension or benefit cheques to the office which issued the payment. The Bereavement Centre can arrange an appointment with the Department for Work and Pensions where necessary to deal with benefits, pensions and help with funeral costs etc.
* Library books and tickets.
* Passport to the Passport Office - address labels are available from the Bereavement Centre.
* Driving licence to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Longview Road, Swansea SA6 7JL - envelopes are available from the Bereavement Centre.
* The registration documents of a car, for the change of ownership to be recorded - envelopes are available from the Bereavement Centre.
* Centro bus/travel pass.
A season ticket. Claim any refund due.
Any National Insurance papers to the relevant office.
Membership cards of clubs and associations. Claim any refund due.
Any NHS equipment such as wheelchairs, hearing aids and artificial limbs.

People to tell

You should tell the following about the death. The organisations marked * can be contacted via the Bereavement Centre.

* The Social Services Department of the Council if the person was getting meals-on-wheels, home help, or day-centre care or had an appliance or piece of equipment issued by the Department.
* The Inland Revenue - there may be a refund of Income Tax due.
* The Council Housing Department (now Wolverhampton Homes) if the person who has died was living in a Council house.
* The Council Tax office (in person or via the online form) and/ or Business Rates office (in person or via the online form).
* The Council Housing Benefit section (council tenants or private) if the person who has died was getting Housing Benefit and/ or Council Tax Benefit.
* Any hospital the person was attending.
* The water suppliers, if the deceased person was responsible for the water rates.
The landlord if the person who has died was living in rented accommodation.
The family doctor to cancel any home nursing.
Any employer or trade union.
The deceased person's bank(s) or building society(s).
The teacher, employer or college of a child or young person, if a parent, brother, sister, grandparent or close friend has died.
A car insurance company (if you are insured to drive the car under the deceased person's name, you will cease to be legally insured).
The deceased person's gas, electricity and telephone suppliers.
The Post Office so that they can redirect the deceased person's mail to the person who will be responsible for the estate.
Any company or personal pension provider.
It may be appropriate to contact a minister of religion or representative of your faith community.
Any home/ contents insurance company (to ensure cover continues where necessary).

Contact details

If you want more details about our services, click on the relevant links or contact us using our online form or by:

e-mail: bereavement.services@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Phone: 01902 554992
Minicom: 01902 555770
Fax: 01902 554987

Write or visit:

Bereavement Services
Civic Centre
St Peter's Square
Wolverhampton
WV1 1SD

Map: Google maps