Bereavement Glossary | Help & support | YBS
HELP and SUPPORT with bereavement
We’re here to support you during this difficult time.
This leaflet explains how to register the death with the government and what to do next.
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
Government advice on bereavement
Glossary of terms
Administrator
A person who has Letters of Administration. It means they can manage the estate of someone who has died, if they didn't have a will.
Beneficiary
A person who inherits either:Certificate of confirmation
The Scottish version of a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
Death Certificate
The legal record of someone's death.
Executor
A person named in a will, who can manage the estate of someone who has died. They can also apply for a Grant of Probate.
Grant of Probate
It's a formal document given by the Probate Registry. It confirms the executor's authority to manage the estate of the person who has died.
Grant of Representation
This is a general term which includes Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration or Certificate of Confirmation.
Informant
The person who tells YBS that someone has died but doesn't have the legal documents or authorisation to manage their estate yet.
Land Registry
The Land Registry is a government department. They're responsible for maintaining a database which shows who owns land and property in England and Wales.
In Scotland it's known as Registers of Scotland. In Northern Ireland, it's known as Land Registers of Northern Ireland.
Letters of Administration
A formal document you need if someone dies without a will. It lets someone manage the estate of the person who has died.
Personal Representative(s)
A person who's allowed to apply for a Grant of Representation and manage the estate of someone who has died.
If there's a savings account to close
Once we’ve seen the death certificate, you'll be asked to fill in one of the forms below to close the account.
For balances under £30,000 you'll need to complete this form.
For balances over £30,000 you'll need to complete this form and include a copy of the grant of representation.