A-Z Death in Sudbury

Dealing with Registering a death in Sudbury and then:

This is what you need to know when dealing with a death in the Sudbury area.  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, though our free Guide to Probate may help, but we can introduce you to tailored and economical services should you need professional help – just call 03 300 102 300 or use the form at the foot of the page. At the time of writing, most probate registries are closed to the public and any executor who has already submitted probate applications and wishes for an update should see Probate delays before ringing the Probate Registry. If it is probate forms you are after, you can download them here or call 0300 123 1072 (not us!)If you are appointed as Executor, but don’t wish to do it, there are two main options and it is a decision which needs to be taken quickly, as once you have held yourself out as executor by performing some of the executors’ duties, your only option is then to delegate as you can no longer resign.

• Renounce or take Powers Reserved     – give up all rights to act or reserve the right to return as executor.
• Delegate the work to a professional.

[print-me target=”body”/]PRINT PAGEIf you can’t find what you need on this page, try here or use the search facility. Wrong area? Where to Register a Death in other areas.

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 coroner, which may mean the funeral is delayed. If the death is sudden and unexpected 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 local death until the Sudbury Registrar has received the MCCD from the doctor or hospital.Should they become relevant, the Coroners Court and offices are at Beacon House, Whitehouse Road, Ipswich, IP1 5PB 0345 607 2040 9 am to 4 pm weekdays.

Who to Notify of a Death in the Sudbury area:

A vital step after someone dies is to inform their next of kin. 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.

Register a Death in Sudbury Registrars Office within 5 days:Once it’s been established who should register the death at Sudbury Register Office, the next step is to contact the Sudbury Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages if the person died in the area and make an appointment. 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 (This will not be the case in some other Shropshire Registrars – ask when you call them). 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 Sudbury Registrar will also need to know where, when and how the death happened. What the Registrar needs to know (PDF download).NB – the 5 days is NOT 5 working days, but a strict 5 days. Call the Sudbury Registrar if this is a problem as it is a criminal offence unless the Coroner is delaying things. The Registrar may agree to a further extension of up to 9 days if the Medical Certificate has been issued – talk to the Registrars staff as soon as you can

Register a death by appointment ONLY in Sudbury Registrar, which is at:

The Sudbury Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages is at The Town Hall, Old Market Place, Sudbury, CO10 1TL.        Don’t forget that we strongly recommend taking advantage of the Sudbury Registrars’ “Tell Us Once” service which will notify many official departments of the death and save time. This is an online service for which the registrar will give you an access code.Phone number of the Sudbury Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages is  0345 607 2080     Su****************@*********ov.uk.Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 am to 4 pm (Closed until 12pm on the third Wednesday of every month) Open for pre-booked appointments only..In case of emergency ONLY outside of office hours, please phone  01473 264033 (typically for religious reasons where burial must take place urgently – it is NOT a general enquiry line.)

Please do use the Tell Us Once Service.

The next step is usually to appoint a Sudbury undertaker to collect the deceased part 1 HOWEVER…

1) Thousands of pounds can be wasted if there was a prepaid funeral plan and the wrong funeral director is used.                       Find a funeral plan.2) If the death in Sudbury has been referred to the local Coroner, and around 43% of deaths are, you will need their agreement to move the deceased as they may wish to examine the body. The role of the Coroner is to investigate and record the causes and circumstances of all sudden deaths. This is where the cause of death is unknown, the death is violent or unnatural and any death that occurred whilst the deceased was in lawful custody.  Sudbury Coroner at The Coroners Court and offices, Beacon House, Whitehouse Road, Sudbury, IP1 5PB.  Open Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm but closed on Bank Holidays.  BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.   Contact the Sudbury Coroner Court and office: 0345 607 2040 option 33)  Getting the body removed is less critical if they died in hospital, as they can normally be kept in the morgue.4) If the deceased lived in a care home, they will carry on charging fees (often 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 in Sudbury, appears below, and others are welcome to add their details. there can be no funeral until you have registered the death in Sudbury.5) 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.6) TIP: banks, if asked in advance, will pay out funds 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.Who is going to conduct the funeral?  Or maybe you will have a Wake/ Memorial / Celebration of Life Later on?For many people, it will be the Minister or other religious leader who conducts the service, or maybe the funeral director.  The eulogy – potted life story – can be a key element in that, and some families are happy to pay a little more for a professional funeral celebrant who will generally have a meeting with the family beforehand and then draft up a really good presentation for the family and, being accustomed to public speaking, deliver it at the funeral.   Some of them also organise the wake or celebration of life.  This may be immediately after the funeral, or often sometimes ahead when family have time to organise a get-together which everyone can attend.  Sometimes that will include the spreading of the ashes.If you are a minister or celebrant wishing to offer your services in Sudbury, please use the comment form below so I can add your details.

Government help with bereavement.

Find the Will, if there is one.

How to find a Will

The executor/s appointed in the Will are responsible for everything and should authorise and record anyone wishing to take anything with no intrinsic value as a keepsake, 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 next 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 lead to quite unnecessary legal action.

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) having 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 to relatively inexpensive advice.

Personal DANGER for executors/ administrators:

we strongly suggest contacting us to find a competent and relatively inexpensive probate professional if:

1. The person responsible does not have the necessary administrative skills.
2. Inheritance Tax may be payable OR
3. 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!
4. If there are Trusts involved (whether in the Will or not) 0r overseas assets.
5. 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?
6. If the deceased’s home has previously been transferred to anyone else but they carried on living in it.
7. 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 Sudbury. Part 2.

Now it’s time to arrange a funeral in Sudbury. 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. Remember that the Funeral Director can’t fully organise the funeral until the family register a death in Sudbury.If you are not sure if the deceased left any funeral wishes, they are sometimes in the Will.There is a list of local funeral directors, cemeteries and crematoria below the enquiry form. Do use the form to let me know if I have missed any.

The Executor should Secure the Deceased’s Property and Possessions after a death in Sudbury.

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.

• Especially 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 almost certainly, no one knows for certain 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 tax issues, but if the Tell Us Once Service was used, they will be aware.
• If Inheritance Tax is a possibility, we would strongly recommend that you contact us so we can find you a suitable adviser as things can get very complex and are urgent. For example, and gifts made within the last 7 years may be pulled back into the estate before tax is calculated.
• Unclaimed assets – many people have privatisation shares and other accounts which they have forgotten about so it is wise to check for unclaimed assets.
• To protect against unknown debts (which the executors could end up paying personally), it is prudent to advertise in both the Gazette and a local paper. Perhaps the Suffolk Free Press 01787 886908.
• BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU THROW AWAY!

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 tax 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. See also below.

Paying IHT      Is Probate Needed?

Are you entitled to Bereaved Parents Benefit? May apply to unmarried couples too – check.

Applying for Probate in Sudbury 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 0300 123 1072. Whilst our site helps with DIY Probate, there are three 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. Forgive the repetition!

1. If you are not good with administration or form filling. Some people are so badly affected by a death in Taunton (Cornwall), that they are unable to cope.
2. If Inheritance Tax might be payable: it is more complex and with very tight time limits.
3. If there is any possibility of arguments over the estate – that way the probate adviser is the unpopular one, not you!

In terms of professional fees for a full estate administration service, giving the work without thought to a Hight Street Solicitor or Probate Company can be expensive. We have consistent access to firms charging no more than 1.5% plus VAT and third-party costs, and often less. Some firms add that much as a bonus on top of their full hourly rates!!   Call us or use the contact form and save money. In 2022, average house price in Sudbury was £317,574   according to Rightmove. Potential savings on a £250,000 estate could be £4,500, on a £500,000 estate could be more than £9,000. Double that on £1m, four times that on £2m etc.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 executor’s 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 and the deceased’s local paper to ensure that there is protection against unknown creditors. Where there is a business, advertising in the Trade Press may be appropriate as well.
• 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 bank statements) etc.

Sudbury Probate: Estate Administration

Once you have the Grant or Letters of administration (and you will need more copies than you expect) 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 to 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 six years.

Cemeteries and Crematoria in Sudbury.

Waveney Memorial Park and Crematorium, Warren’s Lane, Benacre Road, Ellough, Suffolk, NR34 7XE. 01502 477200.

• Sudbury Cemetery and Green Burial Site 4 Newton Rd, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2RN 01787 372331 or by emailing in**@************ov.uk .
• West Suffolk Cemetery and Crematorium Risby Bury St Edmunds IP28 6RR  01284 755118.
• All Saints ChurchyardSt Gregory ChurchyardSt Peter ChurchyardSt. Augustine of CanterburySudbury Baptist ChurchSudbury Blackfriars PriorySudbury Cemetery

Bereavement Support

Cruse 0808 808 1677Marie Curie 0800 090 2309Mind 0300 123 3393The Bereavement Register helps to reduce the amount of direct mail sent to the address of a person who has died.

Sudbury Funeral Directors and the surrounding area.

Please note that the Funeral Director cannot arrange the funeral until the death certificate has been released by the Sudbury Registrar.If you are one of the funeral directors in Sudbury, or close by,  please add your name and address and phone number as a comment at the foot of the page, which will then be available to the public, once approved. All we ask for is some useful local information to add to the page.

• J Edwards Independent Funeral Directors  28 North Street Sudbury CO10 1RB.

• Hunnaball of Sudbury, Family Funeral Group – New House, 62a North Street, Sudbury, CO10 1RE

• Brown Fenn & Parker Funeral Directors Dignity 37 North Street SudburyCO10 1RD.

• Harvey Darke Funeral Service – Queens House, King Street, Sudbury Suffolk CO10 2EB.

• East of England Co-op Funeral Directors 16 Cornard Road Sudbury Suffolk CO10 2XA.
• H & A W Palmer Funeral Directors Little St. Mary’s, Long Melford, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9LQ.

• W A Deacon Funeral Services  3 Norman Way, Lavenham, Sudbury CO10 9PY.

Estate Planning: making, reviewing or updating Wills and Powers of Attorney – and ongoing service as Tax, 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 you, both personally or during the course of the probate and estate administration. Click the link.Celebrants: please add your name and address and phone number ONLY as a comment at the foot of the page.

• Heather Bartsch 07977 061517

• Ruth Salibury-Higgs  07714 337437

Property to sell?

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.Estate Agents & Valuers: please add your name and address and phone number ONLY as a comment at the foot of the page.Auctioneers & Valuers:Flowers: House Clearance:Locksmiths:always change locks on unoccupied buildings – you never know who has a key and check the buildings insurance remains valid.Some Towns and Villages are probably Covered by the Sudbury Registrar: – please let me know if they are NOT in Shropshire. 

Other Register Offices in Suffolk where you could register the death:

Bury St Edmunds          Ipswich           Lowestoft            Stowmarket             Sudbury                  Woodbridge

Sudbury: looking for professional help or Just a Free DIY Guide to Probate?

or assistance with Probate in Sudbury, please call us on 03 300 102 300 or use the form below, and we will find you some economical help. (PAGE CONTINUES BELOW.) 

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