In the first hours and days after someone dies, the practical tasks can feel impossible and obvious at the same time. There is no rush, and no single right order. This is a gentle guide for the things that usually need doing, whenever you're ready.

In the first few hours

If the death was expected, you can usually contact the GP or district nurse rather than emergency services. They will help with the formal confirmation and the paperwork that follows. Take a moment. There is no hurry.

Telling people

You don't have to tell everyone at once. Start with the closest family and the people who need to know for practical reasons. It's okay to ask someone else to make the wider calls. Many families find a short list helpful, so no one is forgotten in the fog of those first days.

The certificate and registration

You'll need a medical certificate of cause of death, which the GP or hospital can provide. This allows you to register the death, usually within five days. The registrar will give you copies you'll need for banks, pensions, and insurance — order a few extra, they're cheaper now than later.

Letting organisations know

A "Tell Us Once" service, where available, lets you report a death to several government departments at once. Then work through the list: the bank, pension provider, utility companies, subscriptions, and any care services that should stop. A checklist helps, and Caregura can hold the contact list so nothing gets missed.

Be gentle with yourself

Paperwork can wait a little. Funerals can be planned over days, not hours. If friends offer help, let them — with meals, with calls, with sitting beside you. Grief is heavy enough without carrying the admin alone.