We’re here when you need us
We understand that losing someone you love can be a very difficult and emotional time. Many of us don’t realise that as well as experiencing the emotions that follow a loved one’s death, there can be a lot of practical work to do, most of which may be unfamiliar to you. That’s why here at Smart, we’ve teamed up with the National Bereavement Service to offer help and support for you and your loved ones when it’s needed most.
The National Bereavement Service provides practical advice from arranging the funeral to dealing with legal issues. Many of these things can be challenging and stressful if you are unfamiliar with them. The National Bereavement Service also works with a variety of organisations and can signpost you to local and national services for bereavement counselling and other support you might need.
Every loss is different, and bereavement can be felt in many ways. Whatever you’re feeling, you may find it useful to talk to someone. The National Bereavement Service is free for everyone and available on 0800 024 8073 from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 2pm on Saturday (excluding bank holidays). Alternatively, visit their website www.theNBS.org
There are four key practical steps to take when you have lost a loved one: Notification, Funeral Planning, Finding the Will, and Probate. The National Bereavement Service guide you through each step below:
Step One: Notification
The first thing to do when a loved one has passed away is to register their death. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you should try to do this within five days of their passing. In Scotland, you can do it within eight days. If you can’t do it within this time frame, you should call the registrar to explain your situation.
For more information about how to register the death and to find your local register office, click here
Step Two: Funeral Planning
Now that the death has been registered, you can begin to think about planning the funeral. If the loss was sudden, you may not be aware of your loved one’s wishes. In this case all you can do is your best to plan the kind of service you believe your lost loved one would have wanted. A funeral director can help guide you, and is there to make the process as comfortable as possible for you.
Step Three: Finding the Will
In an ideal world, your lost loved one will have written a Will. Usually a Will is used to leave clear instructions about what a person’s wishes are when it comes to their funeral service, and what they would like to happen to their belongings. If they have children, it will often have information about who is to care for them and how their inheritance should be managed. Here’s what happens if your loved one has left a Will behind.
If your lost loved one has not written a Will, they have passed away intestate (which simply means they died without leaving a Will). In the UK, when a person dies intestate, the law sets out who can inherit their belongings. As well as this, the process of dealing with the person’s estate is the same as Probate – which we discuss in the next step. Find out more information of what happens if your loved one has died without a Will here.
Step four: Probate
Probate is the legal and financial way of dealing with the money, property, and possessions (also called assets) of a person who has died. It is a necessary step to prove that the Will (if they left one behind) is valid.
You might need to apply for a grant of probate before you can claim, transfer, sell or give away any of the person’s assets. If the person did not leave a Will behind you might need to apply for a grant of letters of administration, which is a similar process
To find out more about Probate, click here.
What else can The National Bereavement Service help with?
The National Bereavement Service is a not-for-profit organisation that provides practical support and guidance to every person needing help at the difficult time following a loved one’s death. Their free service includes:
- How to register the death
- Guidance on dealing with the coroner
- Finding a reputable funeral director
- Advice on overseas issues following a death
- Information on bereavement related benefits
- Advice on the ‘Tell Us Once’ service to notify central and local government agencies of the death
- Advice on Wills and their validity
- Advice on how to administer the estate, whether or not probate is needed and whether or not there is a Will
- Information on how to choose between DIY probate and using professional legal support and how to find this
- Signposting to trusted organisations that can help with any specific emotional needs
- Suppressing mail addressed to the deceased person
- Support with planning ahead for your own death or that of someone else:
- Writing a Will
- Lasting Power of Attorney
- Estate Planning
Call the National Bereavement Service free on 0800 024 8073 or visit www.theNBS.org for more information or to chat to an advisor online.
