Executor Checklist UK: Your First 14 Days After a Death (West Sussex Guide)

Executor checklist UK – in the first two weeks after a death, small, practical steps make everything else easier. This guide sets out exactly what to do in days 1–14, so you can stay organised, avoid delays, and prepare for probate with confidence in Horsham, Haywards Heath and across West Sussex.

Quick help: if you need tailored advice now, Contact us for an initial conversation.

Why the first 14 days matter

The earliest tasks are about legal formalities, security, and communication. Get these right and the rest of the administration flows far more smoothly. In practice that means: registering the death and getting enough certificates, securing the home and insurance cover, creating a clean paper trail, letting key organisations know (ideally in one go), and getting a simple “snapshot” of the estate to decide if probate is required. GOV.UK has clear overviews for registering a death, using Tell Us Once, and applying for probate – we link to those below. (GOV.UK)

1) Confirm the death & collect the medical certificate

If the person died at home, contact the GP; if they died in hospital or a care setting, staff will explain next steps. You’ll need the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death before you can register the death. In England and Wales you normally register the death within 5 days of receiving the medical documentation (8 days in Scotland). (GOV.UK)

Tip: If you anticipate a coroner referral, ask the hospital/GP what that means for timing – it can extend the registration window.

2) Register the death (order more certificates than you think)

Book an appointment at the local register office and order multiple official copies of the death certificate. Several institutions still ask to see an original, and ordering extras later can add delay. GOV.UK’s step-by-step explains the process and where to register, including if the person died elsewhere in the UK or abroad. (GOV.UK)

Local note: In West Sussex, your register-office website will confirm any local booking requirements and how to collect certificates.

3) Secure the property & check the insurance position

If the home will be empty, change the routine: timer lights, a trusted keyholder, regular visits. Notify the home insurer that the property may be unoccupied; most policies require specific precautions when a home is empty (for example, maintaining minimum heating or periodic inspections). The Association of British Insurers guidance explains why keeping your insurer informed matters for cover validity. (ABI)

Practical extras: Redirect post and reduce marketing mail to the address (see step 8 for links). Royal Mail offers a bereavement redirection route. (Royal Mail Help)

4) Gather key documents & start a clean file

Create a simple file (paper or digital) with:

• ID for the deceased, death certificates (several), any Will or codicils, details of executors
• Bank/building society/investment statements, pension letters, life insurance policies
• Property title documents or Land Registry details, mortgage/tenancy agreements, utilities/council tax/insurance
• Vehicle logbook, premium bonds, shares/ISAs, business papers if relevant

GOV.UK’s probate pages set out the information you’ll need to estimate the estate value and decide if probate is required. (GOV.UK)

5) Tell government and local authorities in one go (Tell Us Once)

Use Tell Us Once to notify most government departments together (DWP, HMRC, Passport Office, DVLA and your local council). You’ll get a reference code at the register office; some councils also allow you to start online. It’s free and saves repeating the same information multiple times. (GOV.UK)

Good to know: Many banks/building societies also support the Death Notification Service, letting you notify several financial institutions at once. Check the current participant list before you start. (deathnotificationservice.co.uk)

6) Check the Will & who the executors are

Locate the original Will and confirm the named executors. If there is no Will, the estate is intestate and close family usually apply as administrators instead. Keep the original Will safe; you’ll need it for probate applications.

Ownership note: If there’s property owned jointly, the way it was held matters. Joint tenants pass the share to the survivor automatically; tenants in common do not – the deceased’s share passes under the Will or intestacy, and probate is often required to deal with it. GOV.UK and HM Land Registry explain the difference. (GOV.UK)

7) Make a simple estate snapshot (assets, debts, income)

List:

• Assets: bank accounts, investments, property(ies), vehicles, valuables
• Regular income: state/private pensions, benefits
• Liabilities: utilities, loans, credit cards, care fees, tax

This snapshot helps you decide whether probate is needed and which IHT or probate forms may apply. GOV.UK’s probate pages give a clear “before you apply” checklist. (GOV.UK)

8) Stop risk: subscriptions, direct debits, cards & post

Cancel recurring subscriptions and direct debits that should stop, and let key providers (mobile, broadband, utilities) know the situation. To reduce unwanted mail:

• Use Royal Mail’s bereavement pages to set up redirection if needed. (Royal Mail Help)
• Register with the Mailing Preference Service and The Bereavement Register to cut marketing post – Citizens Advice links to both. (Citizens Advice)

These steps prevent account misuse, overspending, and distressing letters.

9) Funeral arrangements and who pays

Funeral costs are a priority estate expense. Most banks will release funds directly to the funeral director once you provide the death certificate and an invoice (even before probate is granted). Keep receipts for the estate accounts. If the Will contains funeral wishes, follow them where practicable.

10) Probate: do you need it (and when to apply)

You may not need probate for small balances or assets held jointly as joint tenants. You usually do need it for property in the deceased’s sole name or for significant investments. When probate is required, you can apply online or by post; the current application fee is £300 for estates over £5,000 (no fee if the estate is £5,000 or under). Extra copies of the grant cost £16 each. (GOV.UK)

Not sure whether probate is needed? We offer “Grant-only” assistance (you do the legwork; we prepare the application) and Full Estate Administration (we handle the process end-to-end). Link to your services/fees page.

11) Communicating with family & beneficiaries

Share a simple plan and set expectations (valuations first, then probate application, typical timescales, and when you’ll provide updates). Most disputes arise from uncertainty; regular updates and transparency about costs, asset values and timelines go a long way to keeping everyone aligned.

12) When professional help is worth it

Seeking advice early tends to save time and cost in estates involving:

• A property sale or transfer, multiple bank accounts or shareholdings
• Inheritance Tax considerations or lifetime gifts
• Business interests, foreign assets or trusts
• Potential disputes among beneficiaries
• Insolvent estates (debts exceed assets)

We can tailor support to your needs – from light-touch guidance to full administration – and coordinate with our Conveyancing team if a property is being sold.

13) Red flags that need urgent advice

• Missing, damaged or contested Wills
• A home held as tenants in common with unclear shares
• Overseas assets or a foreign domicile
• Large gifts in the last 7 years (possible IHT implications)
• Unregistered title or title defects
• An insolvent estate (special rules apply)

If any of these apply, please contact us before making payments or distributing assets.

14) Your next 30–90 days: what’s coming up

• Valuations (property, chattels) and bank date-of-death statements
• Completing any required IHT forms and paying tax due (if applicable)
• Submitting the probate application (online/post) and ordering extra copies of the grant (useful when dealing with multiple institutions) (GOV.UK)
• Property decisions – sale, transfer, securing and insuring during marketing
• Setting up an executor account to keep estate money separate and produce clean accounts
• Preparing estate accounts and, when ready, distribution to beneficiaries

Contact Mancini Legal Solicitors Horsham & Haywards Heath

• Call us: 01403 337337
• Email us: [email protected]
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FAQs

Do I need probate for a jointly owned home?
If the property was owned as joint tenants, the share passes to the survivor automatically; you typically won’t need probate just to update ownership. If it was tenants in common, probate is usually required to deal with the deceased’s share. (GOV.UK)

How long does probate take?
Simple estates can complete in a few months; chains, IHT and third-party delays can extend timelines. Having valuations, statements and documents ready speeds things up. (See the GOV.UK “apply for probate” steps for current process details.) (GOV.UK)

How much is the probate application fee?
For estates over £5,000, the application fee is £300; there’s no fee for estates at £5,000 or below. Extra copies of the grant cost £16 each. (GOV.UK)

Can I notify multiple banks at once?
Yes. Many institutions accept the Death Notification Service, which lets you notify several banks/building societies together. Check the list of participating firms before you start. (deathnotificationservice.co.uk)

How do I reduce post to the deceased’s address?
Royal Mail offers redirection in bereavement scenarios, and you can reduce marketing mail via the Mailing Preference Service and The Bereavement Register. Citizens Advice links to both services. (Royal Mail Help)

Helpful resources

• Register a death (GOV.UK) – how, where and what you’ll need. (GOV.UK)
• Tell Us Once (GOV.UK) – notify government departments in one go. (GOV.UK)
• Apply for probate (GOV.UK) – do you need it and how to apply. (GOV.UK)
• Probate fees (GOV.UK) – current application fee and cost of extra copies. (GOV.UK)
• Joint tenants vs tenants in common (GOV.UK/HMLR) – what happens to property shares. (GOV.UK)
• Royal Mail: Redirection in special circumstances (bereavement). (Royal Mail Help)
• Reduce marketing post – Citizens Advice guidance (MPS and Bereavement Register). (Citizens Advice)

Next steps

If you’re acting as an executor and would like a West Sussex-specific plan, we can help – from Grant-only through to Full Estate Administration. Speak to our Probate & Wills team in Horsham or Haywards Heath, or Contact us now and mention “Executor Checklist”.