Organisation
None of it is urgent. But all of it has to be done, and a list beats memory.
In the weeks after a death a long series of letters awaits the relatives. Almost none of it is urgent — but none of it settles itself.
Here is the list, ordered by importance rather than alphabetically.
Enclose a copy of the death certificate with every letter. Most organisations require it and it saves a second exchange.
Not everything is cancelled. The tenancy passes to the heirs, with its own right of termination. Some insurance contracts continue for the benefit of the surviving spouse.
When in doubt, write without cancelling: ask first what happens on death. A hasty cancellation sometimes forfeits an entitlement.
We give every family a list with addresses, deadlines and a tick box. Many people leave it on the kitchen table for weeks and work through it at their own pace.
Questions & answers
For most cancellations, no. The exceptions are notification of the death (two days) and certain benefit claims, where filing late can cost months of pension.
Many organisations accept a copy; the bank, the pension fund and the employer generally require an original. Which is why five copies is a sensible starting point.
The heirs, or someone they authorise. For the bank, the certificate of inheritance is needed as soon as the account is to be used.
Every platform has its own procedure. Some turn the profile into a memorial page, others delete it. This can wait months without consequence.