What to do After Bereavement 

Finding the help you need

We're here to make sure you have all the support you need when it comes to managing the finances of the deceased.
 

Registering the death 

The first step you'll need to take is to register the death. This must be done within 5 days in England and Wales, or 8 days in Scotland. 
 

After you've registered the death, you'll be given a death certificate. We'll need to see the death certificate so we can help you manage the accounts and finances of the deceased. 

Get in touch 


To let us know about a death or to get help with understanding what to do next, please get in touch using one of the contact methods below.

Write to us

Write to us at:
Bereavement Team Customer Service Centre,
Accord Mortgages,
Yorkshire House,
Yorkshire Drive,
Bradford,
BD5 8LJ

Give us a call

If you'd like to talk with a member of our team, you can call us between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

0345 166 9229*

Useful contacts


HM Revenue & Customs

Visit your local Tax Office, or go to www.hmrc.gov.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau

Visit your local office, or go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care

Call 0844 477 9400*, or go to www.cruse.org.uk

General Register Office for England & Wales

Smedley Hydro, Trafalgar Road, Southport, Merseyside PR8 2HH
Tel: 0845 603 7788*, www.gro.gov.uk

 

 

General Register Office for Scotland

Ladywell House, Ladywell Road, Edinburgh EH12 7TF
Tel: 0131 334 0380*, www.nrscotland.gov.uk

Probate and Inheritance Tax helpline

Ladywell House, Ladywell Road, Edinburgh EH12 7TF
Call 0845 30 20 900* or go to www.justice.gov.uk/courts/probate

The Bereavement Register

www.thebereavementregister.org.uk

Government advice on bereavement

www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages/death

Glossary of terms

 

Administrator

A person who obtains the Grant of Letters of Administration. This entitles them to deal with the estate if no will was made.
 

Beneficiary

A person who inherits either:
  • Under the terms of a will, or
  • By the rules of intestacy (if no will was made)

Confirmation

This is the Scottish equivalent to a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
 

Death Certificate

This is a certified copy of the entry in the death register. The registrar will provide you with as many copies as you ask for. You’ll just need to pay a fee.

This can help to save time if you need to register the death with lots of places at once.
 

Executor

The person named in a will. This is who deals with the estate and obtains a Grant of Probate.
 

Grant of Letters of Administration

This is used to appoint an Administrator who can then deal with the estate if no will was made.
 

Grant of Probate

A formal court document. It is issued by the Probate Service. It confirms the appointment of the Executor named in the will.
 

Grant of Representation

This is a term used to cover both the:
  • Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration
  • Confirmations (in Scotland)

Letters of Administration

A formal court document issued by the Probate Service to appoint an Administrator. This is often the next of kin to the deceased.
This is issued where:
  • There is no will. or 
  • The Executor appointed in the will is unable or unwilling to act

Personal Representative(s)

This is the term used for small estate claims when a statutory declaration or Small Estates Indemnity form is to be used.