source/domain-registers/death-and-bereavement.v1.yaml

register_version: life-course-domain-register.v1
pack_id: pack-8-mobility-later-life-and-death
domain: death-and-bereavement
title: Death and bereavement
status: population_complete
observed_at: "2026-08-08"
link_receipts: evaluation/link-receipts/pack-8-mobility-later-life-death-2026-08-08
acquisition:
  mode: linked_reference_only
  snapshots_acquired: false
  source_response_bodies_retained: false
  publication_allowed: false
  rights_policy: link_and_summarize_source_family_decisions_recorded
_source_defaults: &source_defaults
  access_method: public_html
  version_model: live_service_guidance
  update_cadence: check_before_each_use
  rights_basis: linked_reference_summary_only_source_family_decision_recorded
  observed_at: "2026-08-08"
  checksum: not_applicable_no_snapshot
_family_defaults: &family_defaults
  primary_jurisdictions: [England, Wales]
  specialist_review: required
route_sources:
  - <<: *source_defaults
    id: death-bereavement-scotland-handoff
    jurisdiction: Scotland
    title: Births, deaths and family in Scotland
    owner: Scottish Government
    authority_role: scotland_death_bereavement_handoff
    resource: https://www.mygov.scot/browse/birth-death-family
    coverage: Routes bereaved people to current Scottish registration, funeral, support and estate information.
    exclusions: Does not decide cause, investigation, informant status, succession, tax or individual entitlement.
  - <<: *source_defaults
    id: death-bereavement-wales-handoff
    jurisdiction: Wales
    title: Death and bereavement
    owner: UK Government
    authority_role: england_wales_after_death_handoff
    resource: https://www.gov.uk/when-someone-dies
    coverage: Routes people in Wales to current registration, notification, funeral, benefit and estate information.
    exclusions: Does not establish a local registrar route, decide cause, succession, tax or entitlement.
  - <<: *source_defaults
    id: death-bereavement-northern-ireland-handoff
    jurisdiction: Northern Ireland
    title: What to do when someone dies
    owner: Northern Ireland Executive
    authority_role: northern_ireland_after_death_handoff
    resource: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/births-deaths-baby-loss-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/death-and
    coverage: Routes bereaved people to current Northern Ireland registration, funeral, notification, benefit and estate information.
    exclusions: Does not decide cause, investigation, informant status, succession, tax or entitlement.
families:
  - <<: *family_defaults
    id: obtain-medical-certificate-of-cause-of-death
    title: Obtain a medical certificate of cause of death
    aliases: [MCCD after death, medical cause of death certificate, doctor death certificate]
    description: Follow the responsible medical examiner or practitioner process for certification and use the coroner or procurator-fiscal route when certification is not available.
    situations: [A death needs medical certification before registration unless it enters an investigation route.]
    user_needs: [Understand the certification handoff without the bundle determining cause of death or issuing a document.]
    dependency: registered-medical-practitioner-and-medical-examiner
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: obtain-medical-certificate-of-cause-of-death-primary
      title: Medical certificate of cause of death guidance
      owner: Department of Health and Social Care
      authority_role: england_wales_mccd_guidance
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/medical-certificate-of-cause-of-death-mccd-guidance-for-medical-practitioners
      coverage: Provides current England and Wales practitioner guidance for medical cause-of-death certification and referral boundaries.
      exclusions: Does not certify an individual death, apply Scottish or Northern Ireland procedure or replace investigation authorities.
  - <<: *family_defaults
    id: refer-death-to-coroner-or-procurator-fiscal
    title: Refer a death to a coroner or procurator fiscal
    aliases: [death reported to coroner, sudden death investigation, procurator fiscal death referral]
    description: Follow the territorial investigation authority and its instructions when a death cannot proceed through ordinary medical certification and registration.
    situations: [A death is sudden, unexplained, violent or otherwise within a statutory investigation boundary.]
    user_needs: [Keep England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland investigation authorities distinct.]
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: refer-death-to-coroner-or-procurator-fiscal-primary
      title: When a death is reported to a coroner
      owner: Ministry of Justice
      authority_role: england_wales_coroner_handoff
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/when-a-death-is-reported-to-a-coroner
      coverage: Explains the England and Wales coroner investigation and release handoff after a reportable death.
      exclusions: Does not decide whether a death is reportable, predict an investigation or establish Scottish or Northern Ireland procedure.
  - id: register-a-death
    title: Register a death
    aliases: [death registration, make registrar appointment, obtain death certificate]
    description: Use the jurisdiction-specific registrar route after certification or investigation authority release.
    situations: [An informant needs to register a death with the responsible territorial authority.]
    user_needs: [Find the correct registrar, evidence, timing and certificate route without importing another nation's rule.]
    primary_jurisdictions: [England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland]
    specialist_review: required
    preserve_existing: true
  - id: notify-organisations-after-a-death
    title: Notify organisations after a death
    aliases: [Tell Us Once, tell government about death, close public records after death]
    description: Use the available public notification service and separately contact bodies outside its published scope.
    situations: [A bereaved person needs to tell public authorities and other organisations that someone died.]
    user_needs: [Distinguish Tell Us Once coverage from Northern Ireland and private-organisation notifications.]
    primary_jurisdictions: [England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland]
    specialist_review: required
    preserve_existing: true
  - <<: *family_defaults
    id: arrange-funeral
    title: Arrange a funeral
    aliases: [organise funeral, choose funeral director, funeral costs and wishes]
    description: Confirm release and registration documents, identify wishes and responsibilities and arrange the service, transport, payment and support through suitable providers.
    situations: [A family, executor or other responsible person needs to arrange a funeral after a death.]
    user_needs: [Coordinate public documents and private providers without recommending a funeral or supplier.]
    dependency: funeral-director-or-other-funeral-provider
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: arrange-funeral-primary
      title: Arrange the funeral
      owner: UK Government
      authority_role: england_wales_funeral_guidance
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/arrange-the-funeral
      coverage: Explains England and Wales sequencing, documents, funeral-director, cost and payment boundaries.
      exclusions: Does not establish Scottish or Northern Ireland procedure, recommend a provider or decide responsibility and payment.
  - <<: *family_defaults
    id: arrange-burial-or-cremation
    title: Arrange burial or cremation
    aliases: [book crematorium, arrange cemetery burial, burial or cremation forms]
    description: Select the lawful burial or cremation route, obtain the required authority and forms and coordinate the cemetery, crematorium or other responsible body.
    situations: [A funeral arrangement requires burial, cremation or another lawful committal route.]
    user_needs: [Find the territorial and local authorization process without choosing the disposition or provider.]
    dependency: cemetery-crematorium-or-burial-authority
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: arrange-burial-or-cremation-primary
      title: Arrange the funeral
      owner: UK Government
      authority_role: england_wales_burial_cremation_handoff
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/arrange-the-funeral
      coverage: Introduces England and Wales burial, cremation and funeral-document handoffs.
      exclusions: Does not establish local availability, Scottish or Northern Ireland requirements, costs or personal wishes.
  - <<: *family_defaults
    primary_jurisdictions: [England, Scotland, Wales]
    id: claim-bereavement-support
    title: Claim bereavement support
    aliases: [bereavement support payment, help after partner dies, funeral benefit support]
    description: Identify the applicable bereavement benefit or local support route, make the claim with required relationship and contribution information and use challenge steps where needed.
    situations: [A bereaved spouse, civil partner or family needs financial or practical support after a death.]
    user_needs: [Find current support without the bundle deciding relationship, contribution or entitlement.]
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: claim-bereavement-support-primary
      title: Bereavement Support Payment
      owner: Department for Work and Pensions
      authority_role: great_britain_bereavement_support_payment
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment
      coverage: Explains Great Britain conditions, claim timing, payments and interaction handoffs for Bereavement Support Payment.
      exclusions: Does not cover Northern Ireland, calculate entitlement or decide relationship, contribution or appeal questions.
  - <<: *family_defaults
    id: locate-or-prove-will
    title: Locate or prove a will
    aliases: [find deceased will, search probate will, prove latest valid will]
    description: Search personal, solicitor, storage and probate sources, preserve competing documents and obtain legal advice where validity, interpretation or family rights are disputed.
    situations: [Those dealing with an estate need to establish whether a will exists and which instrument governs.]
    user_needs: [Separate finding a public probate record from legally proving a will.]
    dependency: regulated-probate-or-succession-adviser
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: locate-or-prove-will-primary
      title: Search probate records for documents and wills
      owner: HM Courts and Tribunals Service
      authority_role: england_wales_probate_record_search
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate
      coverage: Provides the England and Wales public search and document-order route for probate records and wills.
      exclusions: Does not locate every unproved will, establish Scottish or Northern Ireland procedure or decide validity and interpretation.
  - id: administer-an-estate
    title: Administer an estate
    aliases: [probate estate administration, Scottish confirmation, deal with assets after death]
    description: Identify the jurisdiction and authority, value the estate, obtain probate, confirmation or letters where required and administer assets, debts, tax and distribution.
    situations: [An executor, administrator or family needs authority to deal with a deceased person's estate.]
    user_needs: [Keep England and Wales probate, Scottish confirmation and Northern Ireland probate routes distinct.]
    primary_jurisdictions: [England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland]
    specialist_review: required
    preserve_existing: true
  - <<: *family_defaults
    primary_jurisdictions: [England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland]
    id: pay-inheritance-tax
    title: Pay Inheritance Tax
    aliases: [IHT after death, estate tax return, inheritance tax payment]
    description: Value the relevant estate and transfers, determine the reporting and payment route with HMRC and obtain advice before relying on exemptions, reliefs or deadlines.
    situations: [Those administering an estate need to understand whether Inheritance Tax reporting or payment applies.]
    user_needs: [Reach HMRC and professional advice without a tax calculation or deadline decision from the bundle.]
    dependency: regulated-probate-tax-or-accounting-adviser
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: pay-inheritance-tax-primary
      title: Inheritance Tax
      owner: HM Revenue and Customs
      authority_role: uk_inheritance_tax_guidance
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax
      coverage: Routes estate representatives to current UK Inheritance Tax thresholds, reporting, payment and relief information.
      exclusions: Does not value an estate, calculate tax, establish succession authority or provide tax advice.
  - <<: *family_defaults
    id: settle-estate-debts
    title: Settle estate debts
    aliases: [debts after someone dies, insolvent estate, pay deceased bills]
    description: Identify estate liabilities and priority, preserve creditor and asset evidence and obtain insolvency or probate advice before payment or distribution where funds may be insufficient.
    situations: [An estate has bills, loans, secured debts, tax or possible liabilities to resolve.]
    user_needs: [Avoid treating relatives as automatically liable or distributing an uncertain estate.]
    dependency: regulated-probate-insolvency-or-debt-adviser
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: settle-estate-debts-primary
      title: Settling debts and taxes
      owner: HM Courts and Tribunals Service
      authority_role: england_wales_estate_debt_guidance
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/probate-estate/settling-debts-and-taxes
      coverage: Explains England and Wales estate debt, creditor-notice, tax and distribution boundaries.
      exclusions: Does not establish Scottish or Northern Ireland priority rules, determine liability, administer an insolvent estate or give legal advice.
  - <<: *family_defaults
    id: update-property-records-after-death
    title: Update property records after death
    aliases: [change Land Registry after death, remove deceased owner, inherit registered property]
    description: Establish the surviving-owner or estate authority and submit the applicable land-registration evidence and forms after obtaining advice for trusts, disputes or unregistered land.
    situations: [Registered property ownership or contact records need updating after an owner dies.]
    user_needs: [Connect estate authority to the correct land registry without deciding beneficial ownership.]
    dependency: regulated-conveyancer-or-probate-adviser
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: update-property-records-after-death-primary
      title: Update property records when someone dies
      owner: HM Land Registry
      authority_role: england_wales_property_record_after_death
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/update-property-records-someone-dies
      coverage: Routes England and Wales users through sole-owner and joint-owner registered-property updates after death.
      exclusions: Does not apply Scottish or Northern Ireland land registration, decide ownership, deal with disputes or administer the estate.
  - <<: *family_defaults
    primary_jurisdictions: [England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland]
    id: notify-private-organisations-after-death
    title: Notify private organisations after death
    aliases: [close bank accounts after death, tell utilities someone died, notify insurer landlord employer]
    description: Build a controlled list of banks, insurers, landlords, employers, utilities and subscriptions outside public notification coverage and follow each bereavement route without sharing unnecessary data.
    situations: [A bereaved person or estate representative must notify private organisations and settle or transfer accounts.]
    user_needs: [Distinguish authority to notify from authority to close, transfer, claim or distribute.]
    dependency: banks-insurers-landlords-employers-and-service-providers
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: notify-private-organisations-after-death-primary
      title: Organisations you need to contact and Tell Us Once
      owner: Cabinet Office
      authority_role: uk_after_death_notification_scope
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once
      coverage: Identifies public notification scope and prompts separate contact with banks, mortgage, pension, insurer and other organisations.
      exclusions: Does not contact organisations, establish estate authority, close accounts or apply Northern Ireland Tell Us Once coverage.
  - <<: *family_defaults
    primary_jurisdictions: [England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland]
    id: arrange-repatriation-after-death
    title: Arrange repatriation after death
    aliases: [bring body home from abroad, death overseas repatriation, return remains to UK]
    description: Contact local authorities, insurer, consular post and qualified funeral providers, obtain destination and transport documents and coordinate registration and funeral routes.
    situations: [A person has died abroad and family are considering local arrangements or repatriation.]
    user_needs: [Coordinate foreign, consular, insurance and UK territorial processes without recommending a provider.]
    dependency: insurer-consular-post-and-qualified-funeral-provider
    source:
      <<: *source_defaults
      id: arrange-repatriation-after-death-primary
      title: What to do when someone dies abroad
      owner: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
      authority_role: uk_death_abroad_handoff
      resource: https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/death-abroad
      coverage: Routes bereaved people through local registration, consular contact, repatriation and UK notification considerations after a death abroad.
      exclusions: Does not arrange transport, pay costs, establish foreign law or replace insurers, funeral providers and registrars.