What to do when someone dies

You need to let the Local Taxes Division know whenever the Council Tax payer or a member of their household dies.

The Wolverhampton Bereavement Centre can help with registering the death, arranging the funeral, and many of the practical things that need to be done. They can tell the Council Tax office and many other organisations for you.

You can also inform us via our online form, or you can contact the Local Taxes Division direct, please see opening hours, contact details and addresses.

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 first group of items can be dealt with at the Bereavement Centre. Include a note of explanation and the date of death with each of the documents.

• Pension/order books, payable orders, or girocheques to the Benefits Agency office or other office which issued the payment. A Social Security advisor is permanently situated at the Bereavement Centre and can deal with this for you. Expert advice is also available on all Social Security benefits, funeral payments etc.
• Library books and tickets.
• Passport to the Passport Office - address labels are available from the Bereavement Centre.
• Driving licence and registration documents of a car to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Envelopes are available from the Bereavement Centre.
• Centro bus/travel pass.

You should also return:

• 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

The following organisations 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.
• Wolverhampton Homes if the person who has died was living in a Council house.
• The Local Taxes Division (in person or via the online form) and/or Business Rates office (in person or via the online form).
• The Council 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.

You should also tell: 

• 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).