If you are going through a bereavement, this page is here to help you navigate through the essential tasks, guide you through the process of managing necessary paperwork and help guide you to put those affairs in order, as well as offering you and your family support as you work through these steps during a challenging period.

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Bereavement 

Bereavement is a deeply personal experience, and everyone processes it differently. Losing someone close to you – whether a partner, family member, or friend – can be emotionally overwhelming. Despite this profound loss, there are often legal and practical matters that need to be addressed, which can feel overwhelming in such a difficult time. 

Stages of Bereavement

The grieving process is often described in stages, which can include denial, anger, depression, and acceptance. Individuals may move back and forth between them as they navigate their feelings.

Impact on Individuals

Bereavement can lead to a wide range of emotions including sadness, confusion, guilt, and even relief. Each person’s experience is unique and influenced by factors such as the relationship with the deceased and personal ways of coping. 

Support Systems

When a loved one dies, coping can be challenging. Accept your emotions, allowing yourself to grieve without judgment. Talk about your feelings with trusted friends. Preserve memories by creating a memory box or by engaging in activities that remind you of them.

Lastly, get the support you need from family, friends, or professionals to help navigate this difficult time. Remember, healing takes time and it’s okay to seek help.

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Mental Health Services

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Step-by-Step Checklist

Pronouncing the death

If someone dies at home in the UK, you can call NHS 111 to arrange a healthcare professional to visit and confirm the death. If the death was unexpected, you should call 999.

Register the death

• Register the death within 5 days   
• the death has been reported to a coroner
• the death happened outside the UK
• you're registering a stillbirth
• someone is missing and you think they're dead

Tell the government about the death

The ‘Tell Us Once’ service allows you to inform the death to multiple government organisations at once.

• Use the Tell Us Once service to tell government
• If you cannot use Tell Us Once, tell government yourself

Notify loved ones

Create a list of immediate family and close friends to inform about the death, using phone calls or messages for personal notifications.

Inform employer

Contact the deceased’s employer to notify them of the death and inquire about any outstanding money owed or life insurance benefits.

Check if the deceased made any arrangements for after their death

Check if the deceased made any arrangements for after their death, such as pre-paid funeral plans or specific wishes documented.

Find end-of-life paperwork

Locate important documents such as wills, trusts, and other end-of-life planning paperwork that may guide further actions.

• Estimate the value of the estate to find out if you need to pay Inheritance Tax
• Find out how to report the value of the estate
• Pay Inheritance Tax if it’s due

Plan memorial service

Discuss with family members about memorial service preferences and make necessary arrangements based on what the deceased would have wanted.

• Arrange the funeral
• Get help paying for a funeral
• Get help paying for a child's funeral 

You may want to collect donations for your chosen charity during the funeral in memory of your loved one. Giving a gift in memory is a special way to honour a loved one while providing hope to people living with kidney disease. To organise a collection in memory, call the NKF office on 01909 544999 or email [email protected] with your chosen address, we can provide collection envelopes to share with family and friends. Learn more about leaving a legacy here.

Secure property/valuables

Ensure that the deceased’s home and valuables are secure while decisions are being made regarding their estate.

• Check if you need to apply for probate
• Apply for probate
• Deal with the estate
• Update property records

Bereavement benefits

You may be entitled to bereavement benefits:

• If your partner has died
• Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave if your child has died or you’ve had a stillbirth
• Guardian's Allowance if you're bringing up a child whose parents have died

Dealing with your own benefits, pension and taxes

• Manage your tax, pensions and benefits if your partner has died
• Check how benefits are affected if a child dies

Bereavement Leave

You may be entitled to some bereavement leave if you are employed when one a loved one dies.

• Bereavement leave from work

Check if you need to apply to stay in the UK (if you have the right to live in the UK depends on your relationship with someone who died you might need to apply for a new visa)

• You're in the UK as the partner of a British Citizen or someone with indefinite leave to remain
• Your partner who died served as a member of HM Forces
• Contact UKVI to check the rules for other visas 

Find bereavement support services

Many organisations can help and support you through bereavement, check out the below links: 

• Find bereavement help and support
• Find bereavement services from your local council

Forward Mail/Email Accounts

Set up mail forwarding to prevent overflowing mailboxes and check emails for important information regarding accounts and bills.

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Once you have come more to terms with a loss of a loved one…
Social activities

Once you have come more to terms with a loss of a loved one you may look to some social activities so you are not on your own as much. Below are some suggestions of things you may consider.

Support group

You may be able to find some local groups where people with similar interests meet up regularly. These may be a book club, local coffee mornings, local exercise clubs or sports clubs.

Volunteer

Volunteering can help you regain a sense of purpose as well as meet new people and make new friends. You could try your local charity shop to see if they need any volunteers to help out a few hours a week. Volunteering is rewarding and gives you a sense of purpose.

Learn a new skill

It’s never too late to learn you could check out courses at your local college to learn something new or to refresh you on skills you already have. Colleges will offer a wide range of courses to suit all ages.

Take a holiday

You may be able to take a holiday to take you away for a bit from your home which will still a lot of reminders of someone you have lost. Or you could go to a holiday destination you and your loved one went together to remind you of the good times and the memories you made. A long holiday may be too much to do but you could check the local bus companies who do smaller trips away like for a weekend or four days. This will also give you opportunities to make new friends.

Spend time with family or a friend

You may have family close by and spending time with them and keeping busy with them can help fill your days. You may have more time to spend with your grandchildren or just a family member. You may want to connect to a friend who is also alone, you could go shopping, have a coffee, or go for a walk.

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Summary

Although may want some time on your own to grieve which is perfectly normal, it’s important not to become too isolated and some of the things above you may consider taking up.