Checking for important paperwork

Depending on whether the deceased had documented their wishes, you may find the following paperwork:

Funeral wishes

These are details that the deceased has recorded, for instance whether they wished to be buried or cremated, as well as specific requests about the venue, flowers, readings and music.

These may be found:

• In a Will
• As part of a pre-paid funeral plan
• In an advance funeral wishes statement

Executors and payment of the funeral

If there is a Will, details of the executor/s will be included. They should be contacted in the first few days as probate may required. Over 1 in 8 of the identities of deceased people is stolen, so it's crucial to start the probate process as soon as possible.

In most cases one of the executors will be a professional. If there is not a professional named then the executors will normally appoint a professional.

Click here to find out why you might want professional help.

The other reason for early contact is that the funeral costs can legally be covered by the deceased's estate unless a pre-paid funeral plan has been taken out.

Organ donation

Donation of organs for transplant is not usually possible following a death out of hospital, but donation of tissues might be.

If you believe that this was the wish of the deceased, the next of kin can give their permission. Or alternatively you can call 0845 6060400 and see if the deceased's name is on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Please tell the doctor and funeral director as soon as possible, as it may be necessary to move the deceased to a hospital rather than a funeral home.

Body donation for medical research or teaching

If you find paperwork to confirm that the deceased wished to donate their body for medical research or teaching, you should contact a Medical School as soon as possible. They will provide advice and information on what happens next.

To find the nearest Medical School you can call the Human Tissue Authority on 0207 211 3400. Or visit www.hta.gov.uk.

Other important paperwork

• Birth certificate
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate(s)
• Death certificates of (a) previous spouse(s)
• Divorce papers showing surnames by which the deceased was known formerly
• Documents relating to state pension or benefits including the National Insurance number
• NHS Medical card - this can be given to the registrar of deaths
• Pension certificates
• Insurance policies
• Bank and building society accounts

These will all be helpful later on, particularly if you need to apply for probate, so please keep them all in a safe place.