Register a Death in Brent and Get on With the Paperwork
This page explains what you need to know when registering a death in Brent. It can feel daunting, but a clear list of what to do and who to contact should make things easier and help avoid common legal and practical mistakes.
Many people can manage the first steps without professional help. If you need support with probate or the legal side of dealing with an estate, please contact us here or use the form at the foot of the page.
If the death is sudden or unexpected, contact the police non-emergency service on 101 to be on the safe side, and also contact the deceased’s doctor. You may also find this page useful: Probate delays.
Wrong area? Go here.
- I have tried to cover the essentials on this page. For more useful information and tips, try here or use the search facility. If that fails to find what you need, please let me know.
Download our handy guide: What the Registrar Needs to Know.
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Please read the whole page, as things may not need to be done in the precise order suggested, depending on the situation.
To avoid confusion, we use the word executor to include administrator, as their roles are broadly similar.
A Medical Certificate of Cause of Death
Delays in obtaining the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, often called the MCCD, can delay other steps. If the death was in hospital, the hospital may provide it. If not, notify the deceased’s doctor and request the MCCD.
If the doctor has not seen the deceased within the required period, or if the death was sudden, the matter may be referred to the coroner. This may delay the funeral.
- Barnet & Brent Coroner’s Court, 29 Wood Street, Barnet, EN5 4BE. Email: ad*******@****************co.uk. Telephone: 020 8447 7680.
Inform Next of Kin and Other Family Members
One of the most important steps after someone dies is to inform their next of kin and close family members. This should be done as soon as reasonably possible.
Ideally, people should have a plan in place beforehand, setting out who should be contacted, how they should be contacted, and what information should be shared. The address book is the obvious place to look, although these days that may be digital.
The executor should arrange to secure any valuables if the property is no longer occupied. We recommend photographing items before removing anything.
You should also check with the insurance company, as insurers often have specific requirements for empty properties. If these are not followed, claims may not be paid, leaving the executor potentially personally exposed. See also: vacant property insurance.
It may be prudent to change the locks, as other people may have keys. However, this should be handled carefully and explained to appropriate beneficiaries to avoid unnecessary upset or suspicion.
Appoint a Brent Funeral Director to Collect the Deceased
Thousands of pounds can be wasted if there was a prepaid funeral plan and the wrong funeral director is used. We are trying to add a list of local funeral directors at the foot of the page.
This is less urgent if the person died in hospital, as they can usually be kept in the mortuary.
If the Brent coroner is involved, you will need their agreement before moving the deceased, as they may wish to examine the body. Speak to one of the coroner’s officers if the coroner becomes involved.
If the deceased lived in a care home, fees may continue until both the deceased and their possessions have been removed. These fees can often be substantial.
Technically, appointing the funeral director is the executor’s responsibility, so the executor should be involved if possible. The person who appoints the funeral director may be liable for the costs if the estate does not pay.
Some families organise viewings of the body, but I suggest these are restricted to adults.
Tip: banks will often pay money directly from the deceased’s account to the funeral director if they are invoiced directly. They will not normally release funds to reimburse the executor or family if they have already paid the funeral director themselves.
Government help with bereavement
Register a Death in Brent Within 5 Days
Who can register the death | What the Registrar needs to know
Please note: the 5 days is not 5 working days. It is a strict 5 days. Call the registrar if this is a problem, as failing to register the death within the required time can be a criminal offence unless the coroner is delaying matters.
Once it has been established who should be notified of the death, the next step is to contact the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Brent, where the person died.
You can register the death elsewhere, but the death certificate will always be issued where the deceased died, so there may be an additional delay.
Registration is needed so that a death certificate can be issued. This will be needed for important matters such as applying for probate and dealing with any property or financial affairs.
You will need to provide personal details, such as the deceased’s full name, date and place of birth, home address, and marital status. The registrar will also need to know where, when and how the death happened.
We recommend using the registrar’s Tell Us Once service, which notifies many official departments of the death and can save time.
Contact Details for Brent Register Office
The registrar can usually book an appointment to register a death once they have received the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death or the relevant paperwork from the coroner’s office or GP.
Brent Register Office
Brent Civic Centre
Engineers Way
Wembley
HA9 0FJ
Telephone: 020 8937 1010
Opening hours: 8.30am-5pm, 9am-4pm on Saturdays, and 9am-1pm on Sundays.
Brent Register Office covers areas including Wembley, Willesden, Harlesden, Queensbury, Kingsbury, Welsh Harp, Dollis Hill, Cricklewood, Willesden Green, Brondesbury Park, Queen’s Park, Kensal Green, Tokyngton, Preston, Alperton, Barnhill, Mapesbury, Kenton, Kilburn, Northwick Park, Roundwood and Sudbury.
Do use the Tell Us Once service where possible.
Videos about what to do after a death and the Tell Us Once service.
Arrange the Funeral in Brent
Now it is time to arrange the funeral. This is typically done by the family, although officially it is the executor’s responsibility. Most people appoint a professional funeral director to help.
You will need to decide on the type of service, whether there will be a burial or cremation, any special requests, and who should be invited. You may also wish to place notices in newspapers or online if there will be a public service.
Keep records of necessary costs, as these may be claimed back from the estate later.
If you are not sure whether the deceased left funeral wishes, check the Will if there is one.
Featured Funeral Director
Find the Will, if There Is One
The executor appointed in the Will is responsible for dealing with the estate and should authorise any removal of belongings, as the Will may give specific instructions.
If there is no Will, then the next of kin may be able to act as administrator. A common-law partner is not automatically treated as next of kin for inheritance purposes and may need legal advice.
Be careful with potentially valuable items, as their value may need to be established for estate or inheritance tax purposes.
If professional help is needed, please contact The Probate Department and we will try to find suitable help at a sensible cost.
Solicitors often store Wills, sometimes in the hope that they will also be instructed to deal with the probate. This does not mean they must automatically be used. Even if solicitors are named as executors, they can often be asked to stand down if they have not started work.
We do not charge you anything to help you compare probate options and potentially save money.
Lay executors cannot usually charge for their time, but they can recover proper expenses paid out on behalf of the estate, such as postage, mileage and other reasonable costs. Keep careful records.
Some executors refuse to give beneficiaries copies of the Will. In my opinion, this often creates unnecessary suspicion and may lead to avoidable legal action.
We strongly suggest contacting us to find a competent and reasonably priced probate professional if:
- The person responsible does not have the necessary administrative skills.
- Inheritance Tax may be payable.
- There may be a probate dispute.
- There are trusts involved, either in the Will or elsewhere.
- There are overseas assets.
- Significant gifts were made by the deceased within the last 7 years, or sometimes longer.
- The deceased’s home was previously transferred to someone else but they continued living in it.
- The Will may be unpopular and the executor is likely to be blamed.
No Will? The Rules of Intestacy apply
If there is no Will, the next of kin may be able to apply for probate if necessary, but they are called administrators rather than executors. Who inherits is decided by law rather than by the deceased or the family.
Disputes are more likely where there is no Will, especially if there are dependants who are not legally recognised as family, such as unmarried partners.
Warning: executors and administrators cannot simply do what they think is best with the estate. They must follow the Will or the Rules of Intestacy. Ignoring those rules can be very serious and may amount to theft.
In some cases, changes may be possible through a Deed of Variation, but only if any beneficiary losing out is over 18 and has mental capacity. If a minor or someone lacking capacity is affected, court approval may be needed.
The Executor Should Secure the Deceased’s Property and Possessions
After the funeral, the executor should continue dealing with the deceased’s property and possessions.
- If the property is no longer occupied, the buildings and contents insurance should be reviewed. Contact the insurer, as claims on empty properties may not be paid unless the policy requirements are followed. See more on insurance for empty properties.
- Consider changing the locks, as no one may know who has keys. If the property is rented, speak to the landlord first.
- Secure valuables if this has not already been done. Photograph items before removing them.
- Identify assets left in the Will and any trusts that may need to be administered.
- Contact banks, insurers, mortgage lenders and other organisations as needed. You will need date-of-death values for assets and liabilities.
- HMRC may need to be informed of the death. If the Tell Us Once service was used, HMRC should be notified through that route.
- If Inheritance Tax may be payable, seek suitable advice, as gifts made within the previous 7 years may need to be considered.
- Where there may be debts, it may be prudent to place statutory notices in The Gazette and a local newspaper.
- Search for unclaimed assets, such as old shares, forgotten accounts or paid-up insurance policies.
- Be very careful about what you throw away.
Price Challenge: Reliable Professional Probate Help at a Substantially Lower Cost
Call Steve or use the probate enquiry form here. We are often asked how much probate costs, and the answer is nearly always less when we source quotes for you. There is no cost and no obligation.
The firms we ask to quote are properly regulated. Past experience and customer feedback indicate that they do a good job as quickly as possible, and their probate fees are very competitive.
We do not look for extreme low fees, as reliability matters. The expected minimum saving is 30%, and it is often far more. If you already have a good price, we will tell you.
Since 6 December 2018, solicitors offering probate services have been required to display prices and service information. In practice, comparisons are still not always easy without help.
How Much Does a Solicitor Charge for Probate in Brent?
Many people still think probate solicitors have a monopoly, but they are not always probate specialists. Probate solicitors’ fees can be high, especially where they charge both hourly rates and percentage-based responsibility allowances.
It is sensible to obtain alternative probate lawyer quotes, as executors have a duty to protect the interests of the beneficiaries.
If you want to make your own probate application, there is lots of helpful content on the site, but please remember that it is general guidance only.
Independent Financial Advisers
You may benefit from the services of a genuinely independent financial adviser local to you, either personally or during the probate and estate administration process.
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 death. For all assets and liabilities, you will need a date-of-death balance, including any interest accrued but not yet added.
Probate may be needed to gain access to certain accounts or assets. If Inheritance Tax is due, it must usually be paid before probate is granted. This may be paid from the estate, by the beneficiaries, or in some cases through a probate loan.
Applying for Probate or Letters of Administration
Probate is not always required, but the executor should keep careful notes of all assets and liabilities. This is partly because they must account to the residuary beneficiaries, and partly because an asset may later appear that cannot be released without a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
Forms to apply for probate can be obtained by calling 0300 123 1072. This is not our number.
Although this site helps with DIY probate, we recommend contacting us to be introduced to a suitable probate adviser if:
- You are not confident with administration or form-filling.
- Inheritance Tax might be payable.
- There is any possibility of an argument over the estate.
These steps may benefit both executors and beneficiaries:
- Open an executor’s account with a bank, as allegations can arise if estate money is paid into a personal account.
- Place a notice in The Gazette to help protect against unknown creditors.
- Search for unknown assets, such as old shares, forgotten accounts and insurance policies.
Estate Administration
Once you have the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, you can gather in the assets, pay outstanding debts, pay specific legacies, prepare estate accounts, obtain agreement from the residuary beneficiaries, and then make final distributions.
All paperwork should be kept for at least six years.
If you need professional support, please contact The Probate Department.
There is a list of local crematoria and cemeteries below this form.
Probate Quotes Information / Enquiry Form
Cemeteries and Crematoria Local to Brent
Local cemeteries include Alperton Cemetery, Carpenders Park Cemetery, Paddington Old Cemetery and Willesden New Cemetery.
Cemeteries Service
Environmental Services
Brent Council
Brent Civic Centre
Engineers Way
HA9 0FJ
Telephone: 020 8937 1234
Funeral Directors in Brent
- Co-op Funeralcare, 173 Church Lane, Kingsbury, London NW9 8JS. Telephone: 020 8131 3967.
Please use the comments function to add local funeral directors.
Brent Probate Property Auctions
These are national auctioneers for homes and property, not for household goods. We still need to add a good local general auctioneer. Suggestions are welcome.
Free Property Value Estimate or Formal RICS Valuation for Probate
Brent Locksmiths
- Lockout Locksmiths. Telephone: 020 7101 3450.