Dealing with a death in Bolton: where to register, funeral and probate.
This is what you need to know when dealing with a death locally. It can be a daunting task, but our printable list of what to do and who to contact should make it much easier and avoid the legal jungles some folk land themselves in. Many people will be able to manage the Probate side without professional help, but we can introduce you to tailored services should you need help – just call 03 300 102 300 or use the form at the foot of the page. At the time of writing, the local Probate Registries are all closed to the public and any executor who has already submitted probate applications should ring 0300 303 0648. See Probate delays. Before you attempt to register a death in Bolton, please do read through this page carefully to avoid wasted time and delays.
Wrong area? Go here. More general indeBolton for executors/ Administrators. Property related indeBolton.
- I have tried to cover the essentials on this page for other useful information and tips, try here or use the search facility. If that fails to find what you are looking for, let me know.
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What is a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD or Green Form)
Delaying this will delay other things, if the death was in a hospital, they may well provide it. If not, notify the deceased’s doctor and request the MCCD. If they haven’t seen the deceased within 4 weeks, or if the death was sudden, they may refer it to the Bolton coroner, which may mean the funeral is delayed. If the death is sudden and uneBoltonpected you should contact the Police non-emergency service on 101 to be on the safe side, and always the deceased’s doctor. You can’t register a death with the Bolton Register Office until the Registrar has received the MCCD.
Who to Notify of a Death in Bolton.
One of the most important steps after someone dies is to inform their next of kin and close friends. This should be done as soon as possible, and all dependents/family members should also be informed. Ideally, a list should be in place long before: create a plan that outlines who you want to contact, how you want them to be contacted, what details need to be shared and when you will contact them. It may also help to create a physical list or a form with all the necessary details in case further discussions come up while informing people. The address book is the obvious place to look, though these days that might be computerised. Some families organise viewings of the body, but I would suggest these are restricted to adults (personal experience.) The executor should arrange to secure any valuables if the property is no longer occupied – we would recommend photographing everything before removing it.
The next step is usually to appoint a Bolton Funeral Director to collect the deceased part 1 HOWEVER…
- Thousands of pounds can be wasted if there was a prepaid funeral plan (often confused with life insurance) and the wrong funeral director is used.
- Why not check? It is free: Find a funeral plan.
- If the death in Bolton has been referred to the Bolton Coroner, you will need their agreement to move the deceased as they may wish to eBoltonamine the body.
- Getting the body removed is less critical if they died in a hospital, as they can normally be kept in the morgue.
- If the deceased lived in a care home, they will carry on charging fees (often well over £1000 a week) until both the deceased and their possessions have been removed. Other residents do find it uncomfortable.
- A list of some of the Funeral Directors serving Bolton appears below. Technically, appointing the funeral director is the job of the executor, so they should be involved if at all possible. The person who appoints the funeral director can be held liable for the costs if the estate does not pay.
- TIP: banks, if asked in advance, will usually pay out funds from the deceased’s accounts without probate to the funeral director if invoiced direct. They will NOT release funds to reimburse the executor or family if they pay direct: they will have to wait until probate is granted (assuming it is needed) and claim as creditors.
How do I Contact the Bolton coroners service
Why is the Coroner involved? Coroners check unexpected deaths, deaths where the deceased had not seen their GP within the last weeks (so the GP can’t sign the Medical Certificate cause of Death) and deaths where the cause is not clear. That covers the best part of HALF of all deaths, so don’t panic if the Coroner is involved.
Government help with bereavement.
Where to Register a Death in Bolton with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages within 5 days:
Once it’s been established who should register the death, the neBoltont step is to contact the Bolton Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages if the person died in Bolton. You can register the death elsewhere, but the death certificate will always be issued where the deceased died, so there will be an additional delay. Registration is needed so that a certificate can be issued and used for important matters such as applying for probate and sorting out any property that was owned by the deceased. You’ll need to provide some personal details, such as their full name, date and place of birth, home address and whether they were married or not. The Registrar will also need to know where, when and how the death happened. What the Bolton Registrar needs to know (PDF download). We recommend taking advantage of the Bolton Registrars’ “Tell Us Once” service which will notify many official departments of the death and save time.
Bolton Register Office – how to register a death in Bolton Councils area.
Some registrars offices are open full time, others are part time, which will be sorted out when the appointment is made, typically when the Registrar calls the next of kin having received the medical certificate of cause of death. But you can call or (preferably) book appointments online.
Bolton Registrar Of Births Deaths And Marriages, Bolton Town Hall, The Town Hall, Victoria Sq, Bolton BL1 1RU. Route to Bolton Register Office (pop in your postcode for directions).
Bolton Registrar: 01204 331185 Opening times are 8.50am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Online.
To make an appointment to register a death in Bolton go to the online booking form But do ensure you are the right person, and that you have the information the Bolton Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and the MCCD has arrived. Copies of the death certificate are currently £11 each, and be sure to get several, as otherwise dealing with the estate can be handicapped by firms being very slow to return them, or just failing to do so at all. Bolton County Council Please note that the 5 days is NOT 5 working days, but a strict 5 days. You must contact the Registrar if it may be any longer unless the Coroner is reviewing the death. Not to resolve this a criminal offence. Out of hours where urgent BURIAL within 24 hours is needed for religious or cultural reasons call 101 and ask for the Control Room who will get the registrar to contact you.
Opening hours for appointments to register a death in Bolton:
They vary depending on the office. Contact the Bolton Registrar to arrange a time.
Which Broad areas are covered by the Bolton Registrar:
Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Crompton, Farnworth, Great Lever, Halliwell, Harper Green, Heaton and Lostock, Horwich & Blackrod Two Towns, Hulton, Kearsley, Little Lever and Darcy Lever, Rumworth, Smithills, Tonge with the Haulgh, Westhoughton with Chew Moor. In effect, if they paid Council Tax to Bolton Council.
How do I Find the Will, if there is one.
The executor appointed in the Will is responsible for everything and should authorise anyone wishing to take anything, as it may not be allowed by the Will. If there is no Will, then the next of kin can act as Administrator (essentially the same as executor). The nexnt of kin is NOT a common-law spouse, who is in a complex situation and should take advice. Be very careful with potentially valuable items as their value needs to be established.
Use the form below if you would like an emailed copy of our Guide to Probate.
If professional help is needed, please contact The Probate Department (brokers) and we will find suitable help at a sensible cost (see the form at the foot).
Be aware that lay executors cannot charge for their time, but they can recover any money they have paid out of the estate and perhaps mileage and post costs – keep records. One executor decided they needed a car to carry out their duties, which was considered quite unacceptable by the court, so be prudent. Professional help can be reimbursed by the estate before distribution/ Some executors refuse to give copies of the Will to beneficiaries: it is my personal opinion that this makes people suspicious and may well need to quite unnecessary legal action.
Bolton: What happens if there is No Will? Then the Rules of Intestacy apply.
Then the next of kin can apply for probate if necessary, but they are called Administrators rather than executors and who inherits is decided by the Law rather than the deceased or the family and disputes are even more likely, with dependants who are not legally family (such as common law spouses) may have to go to Court to obtain anything.
WARNING: some executors or administrators think they can do whatever they think is best with the proceeds and ignore the Will or Rules of Intestacy. This is not so, and unless done in a legal fashion is potentially THEFT. They must do what the Will dictates, or follow the Rules of Intestacy. It is potentially possible to make changes via a Deed of Variation, but only if any beneficiary losing out is of sound mind and over 18. In that case Court approval will be needed. We can point you at relatively ineBoltonpensive advice.
DANGER for Executors / Adminsitrators: We strongly suggest contacting us to find a competent and relatively ineBoltonpensive probate professional if:
- The person responsible does not have the necessary administrative skills.
- Inheritance TaBolton may be payable OR
- If there may be a probate dispute – I have seen so many families fall out over Wills, and it can often be prevented if they blame a probate professional!
- If there are Trusts involved (whether in the Will or not) 0r overseas assets.
- If there have been significant gifts made by the deceased within the last 7 years (sometimes 14). If these gifts are added back into the estate, might IHT be payable or increased?
- If the deceased’s home has previously been transferred to anyone else but they carried on living in it.
- If the Will is going to be unpopular, the Executor will be blamed – so no need to take the flak – let the professional be the unpopular one!
Professional services can range from just checking the forms to doing the whole thing, and we can usually save a great deal of money, often well over half. Remember that the cost of professional executors is paid by the estate, not by you personally, and any payments you do make are recoverable from the estate before beneficiaries are paid.
Arrange a Funeral in Bolton. Part 2.
Now it’s time to arrange a funeral in Bolton. This is typically done by the family or (officially) the executor of the deceased, though you can appoint a professional funeral director to take care of this for you. You’ll need to decide on the type of service and burial or cremation, any special requests and who will be invited. You may also wish to contact newspapers or websites if you’re planning a public service. It’s important to keep track of your costs as they can be claimed back from the estate later. If you are not sure if the deceased left any funeral wishes, they are sometimes in the Will. There is a list of Bolton cemeteries and crematoria here.
WARNING to Executors / Administrators:
some executors or administrators think they can do whatever they think is best with the proceeds and ignore the Will or Rules of Intestacy. This is not so, and unless done in a legal fashion is potentially THEFT. They must do what the Will dictates, or follow the Rules of Intestacy. It is potentially possible to make changes via a Deed of Variation, but only if any beneficiary losing out agrees, and is of sound mind and over 18. In that case, Court approval will be needed. We can point you to relatively ineBoltonpensive advice.
The Executor should Secure the Deceased’s Property and Possessions after a death in Bolton.
After the funeral and burial or cremation is complete, it’s time for the executor/s to start dealing with the deceased’s property and possessions.
- If their property is no longer occupied, the insurance of both buildings and contents needs review, contact the insurers as claims on empty properties may not be paid. More on insurance for empty properties.
- You should also consider changing the locks as no one knows who has keys. If it is rented, with the landlords’ permission or arrange for it to be valued and cleared quickly to reduce the rent payable..
- Secure any valuables if not already done – we would recommend photographing everything before removing it.
- Tracking down any assets that have been left in a will, administering or arrange to be set up any trusts set up before death,
- You’ll need to contact banks, insurers, mortgage lenders and other companies if applicable. You will need to establish date of death values for both assets and liabilities. HMRC must be informed of the death to ensure they deal with any relevant taBolton issues, but if the Tell Us Once Service was used, they will be aware..
- If Inheritance TaBolton is a possibility, we would strongly recommend that you contact us so we can find you a suitable adviser as things can get very compleBolton. For eBoltonample, and gifts made within the last 7 years may be pulled back into the estate before taBolton is calculated.
- Where there may be debts, it would be prudent to advertise the death in the approved fashion in the local paper and Gazette to avoid creditors suing the executor. If there is a business too, you may need to advertise in Trade papers as well.
- Unclaimed assets – many people have privatisation shares and other accounts which they have forgotten about so it is wise to check for unclaimed assets.
- BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU THROW AWAY!
Bolton Independent Financial Advisers.
It is also probable that you would benefit from the services of a genuinely Independent Financial Adviser local to you, both personally or during the course of the probate and estate administration.
Organise Financial Affairs with Banks, Insurance Companies and HMRC.
It is important to contact banks, insurance companies and HMRC as soon as possible after a person has passed away. This means organising financial affairs and dealing with any debts that may be outstanding. For all assets or liabilities you will need a date of death balance, including any interest accrued but not yet added, so the executor might as well ask for it immediately. Obtaining probate (a legal document often required when administering an estate) can also help gain access to certain accounts. If inheritance taBolton is owed, it must be paid BEFORE probate is granted either from the estate or from the beneficiary’s own resources before inheriting or by way of a probate loan. If there is money in the bank or National Savings, then you may be able to arrange for them to pay towards the IHT before probate is granted.
Paying IHT Is Probate Needed? Are you entitled to Bereaved Parents Benefit? May apply to unmarried couples too – check.
Applying for Probate in Bolton or Letters of Administration.
Probate is not always required, but the executor should keep careful notes of all assets and liabilities, partly as they have to account to the residuary beneficiaries, and partly as one item may turn up later which cannot be released without a Grant of Probate/ Letters of Administration and if you have not kept the notes, you may have to do everything again! Forms to apply for probate can be obtained by calling 0117 930 2430 (24Bolton7) or 0300 123 1072. Whilst our site helps with DIY Probate, there are circumstances where we recommend you contact us on 03 300 102 300 to be introduced to a suitable probate adviser who can provide the level of help you need, from just checking the forms to doing everything.
These steps could well be of benefit to both executors and Beneficiaries:
- If not already done, at this stage it is wise to open an executors account with a bank, as allegations of all sorts can arise if you pay any funds into your own bank account.
- Putting a notice in The Gazette to ensure that there is protection against unknown creditors.
- Searching for unknown assets such as privatisation shares, paid-up insurance policies (some insurance policies require no further payments after a certain age, so there may be no evidence of them on banks statements) etc.
Estate Administration
Once you have the Grant or Letters of administration (and you will need more copies than you eBoltonpect) then you can gather in the assets, pay any outstanding debts, pay out the specific legacies such as £1000 or the mantle clock, get the estate accounts agreed by the residuary beneficiaries (they are the ones who get a proportion of the estate) and right at the end, once they have all agreed the accounts, you can pay them. You do need to be certain none of the beneficiaries are bankrupt, and if you fail to do so, the Trustee in Bankruptcy may come after you as the funds should have been given to the Trustee. All paperwork should be kept for siBolton years. If you are looking for professional help or assistance with Probate in Bolton, please call us on 03 300 102 300 or use the form below, and we will find you some economical help.
Bolton DIY Probate Guide or Quote Request
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Bolton Funeral Directors
- Howarth’s Funeral Service Bolton Office: Peel House, 638 Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge, Bolton BL1 7AL
- Gibson House Funeral Home: 335 St. Helens Road, Bolton, Lancashire BL3 3QD
- Co-op Funeralcare: 1 Crompton Way, Bolton BL1 8NZ.
- Dignity – Birtwhistle 356 Halliwell Rd, Bolton BL1 8AP.
- Bromleys Independent Funeral Services 125 Tonge Moor Road, Tonge Moor, Bolton BL2 2HR.
- Fred Hamer Funeral Directors 243-245 Tonge Moor Rd, Bolton BL2 2JG.
- Season Funeral Service 1-3 Morris Green Ln, Bolton BL3 3JD.
- Relphs Coop Funeralcare Arden House, 116/122 Blackburn Rd, Bolton BL1 8DW.
- Coop Shaws Funeral Directors The Old Parsonage, 20 Park St, Bolton BL1 4BD.
- Coop Funeralcare 687 Bury Road, Bolton, BL2 6HP.
- Fred Hamer Gibson House Funeral Directors 335 St. Helens Road, Deane, Bolton BL3 3QD.
- Oglesby’s Funeral Directors 116a Darwen Rd, Bromley Cross, Bolton BL7 9BQ.
- Crystal Funeral Care Services 439A Blackburn Road Bolton BL1 8NJ.
- Silletts Funeral Service Herbert Street Little Lever Bolton BL3 1LU.
Funeral Celebrants covering Bolton.
Alison Regan Civil Funeral Celebrant 07500 123107
Bolton Crematorium & Burials
Overdale Crematorium, Overdale Drive, Chorley New Road, Bolton, BL1 5BU. 01204 334499. Route to Overdale Crematorium – pop in your postcode.
Grave Tending Service in Bolton
Grave Angels 07912 322151
Florist in Bolton
Blooms In Bolton 244 Chorley Old Rd, Bolton BL1 3BW 01204 491758
Estate Planning:
making, reviewing or updating Wills and Powers of Attorney – and ongoing service as Taxation, the Law and your Personal Circumstances change. Click the link.
Financial Advice:
it is also probable that you would benefit from the services of a genuinely Independent Financial Adviser local to Bolton or to you, both personally or during the course of the probate and estate administration.
Estate Planners and Independent Financial Advisers.
Now is the time for the family to review their legal planning – Wills, Powers of Attorney and maybe Trusts.
Probate Property to sell in Bolton?
Avoid chains and disappointments: market value in the bank within 3-5 weeks of grant, click to learn how, as preparation is needed.
Cash Buyer as an alternative.
Free Property Value estimate or formal RICS Valuation for probate.
Estate Agents & Valuers:
please add your name and address and phone number ONLY as a comment at the foot of the page. Please suggest some using the comments at the foot of the page!
Locksmiths in Bolton:
- A J S Locksmith 07932252745 01204 843323
always change locks on empty buildings and check the buildings insurance remains valid.
House Clearance Bolton
Please suggest some using the comments at the foot of the page!
General Auctioneers and Valuers in Bolton
Bolton Auction Rooms, 1 Breightmet Drive Bolton 01204 775121
Wake Venues in Bolton
Please suggest some using the comments at the foot of the page!
Visiting/ Delivering Caterers in Bolton for home wakes etc.
Please suggest some using the comments at the foot of the page!
Probate Property Auctions
These are National Auctioneers for homes etc, not for goods. We still need to add a good local General Auctioneer, suggestions welcome.