Start with your situation
Create a private case, identify roles and jurisdiction, and check for urgent household cash-flow or support needs before other steps.
The Journey Bereavement · England and Wales
A clearer way through what comes next
Tell us your role and where the estate is being handled. You can save and update details as you learn more.
Describe it in your own words
What roles do you have in the estate?
Start in your own words and review before saving.
Begin with the part you recognise.
Tell us your role and where the estate is being handled. You can save and update details as you learn more.
The answer clearly states the problem—disconnected guidance, provider rules and legal forms—and the intended user outcome: a personalised, source-linked journey that clarifies authority, urgent finances, probate, actions, evidence, deadlines and when to seek professional help. It also identifies the risks the product should reduce without promising legal outcomes.See the whole journey. Act on the next step.
Build the picture
Gather and amend facts about authority, the will, family circumstances, assets, debts, ownership and provider contacts. Show unknowns and uncertainty.
See what needs attention
Create a prioritised action plan with deadlines, evidence needs, urgent-finance considerations and source-linked guidance.
Check the estate and provider requirements
Show probate indicators and questions to resolve using will, authority, ownership, estate complexity and institution-specific rules. Track provider requirements and replies.
RESOLUTION MECHANISM
Turn the record into an outcome.
01Issue02Facts03Action04Resolution
verify in response to evidenceVerified evidence advances the record
0%Approved connections
Connected services
Run only actions explicitly allowed for this product. Unconfigured or unapproved requests are blocked.RESOLUTION MECHANISM
Turn the record into an outcome.
01Issue02Facts03Action04Resolution
connect in response to recordSaved records visibly join the working system
0%Private account
My account
Manage saved journeys, documents and account controls in one place.Your private records
Saved journeys
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Private files
Documents and evidence
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Personal profile
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Roles and permissions
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Download your data
Export your records and activity history as a portable JSON file.
Delete product data
Permanently remove your saved records, activity history and uploaded files from this product.
RESOLUTION MECHANISM
Turn the record into an outcome.
01Issue02Facts03Action04Resolution
verify in response to evidenceVerified evidence advances the record
0%Private casework
Cases
Build the procedure, attach its evidence, test it with the intended user and record approval before completion.Your private records
Working cases and completed outcomes
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RESOLUTION MECHANISM
Turn the record into an outcome.
01Issue02Facts03Action04Resolution
advance in response to actionCompleted actions advance the live operating state
0%Actions and deadlines
Timeline
Keep each next action, owner and due date visible.Your private timeline
Tasks and deadlines
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RESOLUTION MECHANISM
Turn the record into an outcome.
01Issue02Facts03Action04Resolution
connect in response to recordSaved records visibly join the working system
0%Controlled practical guidance
Guidance
Each route is linked to the sources checked for this release. Warning points identify legally reserved or regulated actions; those functions remain blocked until suitable review or authorisation has passed. Optional specialist assurance does not delay the safe site.01First establish your role and jurisdiction
Record whether you are an executor named in a will, a potential administrator where there is no will, a surviving partner, beneficiary or helper. The England and Wales route must not be applied to Scotland or Northern Ireland. A helper must not act as though they have authority over estate assets.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
02Protect immediate household cash flow
Before using a notification service, list income likely to stop, essential payments, money held jointly, accessible personal funds and urgent support. Do not delay required notifications or use the deceased person's money without authority. Tell Us Once stops the deceased person's State Pension and benefits; it does not automatically claim replacement support for survivors.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
03Know what Tell Us Once does—and what it does not
Use the registrar's reference within the stated period where the service applies. Obtain permission before supplying another person's details. Banks, mortgages, insurers, utilities, landlords, most private or workplace pensions and other contracts still need separate contact.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
04Check probate institution by institution
There is no single small-estate figure that works for every bank or provider. Ask each organisation what evidence it requires. Probate may not be needed for some savings or assets passing automatically to a surviving joint owner, but the will, ownership structure, property and provider rules can change the answer.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
05Will, no will and authority to apply
If there is a valid will, the named executors are normally the people who can apply. Without a will, the closest eligible relative may apply as administrator. Disputes about the will, who may apply, capacity, beneficiaries or ownership must be routed for legal advice before distribution or irreversible action.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
06Value the estate before applying
Build an inventory of assets, joint assets, debts, funeral costs, gifts, trusts and overseas assets. Even where no Inheritance Tax is due, the probate application needs estate values. Where full details are required, the relevant inheritance-tax reporting must happen before probate can proceed.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
07Settle liabilities before distribution
Check bills, personal taxes, benefit overpayments and estate income. Protect against unknown creditors and do not distribute until liabilities and the applicable creditor-notice period have been addressed; an executor or administrator can become personally exposed if assets are distributed too early.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
08Treat every private pension as a separate case
Contact every private or workplace scheme. Defined contribution, defined benefit and annuity arrangements differ; nomination forms may guide rather than bind trustees, scheme rules control available benefits and tax can depend on the arrangement and circumstances. Do not assume the pension follows the will or forms part of probate.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
09Check inherited ISA allowances separately
A surviving spouse or civil partner may have an additional permitted ISA subscription linked to the deceased's ISA. Record each provider and confirm its process rather than treating the ISA as an ordinary account transfer.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
10Stop and obtain specialist advice where needed
Route to a solicitor, tax adviser, accountant, notary or pension specialist where authority is disputed, the will is unclear, trusts or overseas assets are involved, the estate may be insolvent, tax reporting is uncertain, property ownership is complex or a form requires a witnessed, certified or notarised act.
Warning: any function performing a legally reserved or regulated action remains unavailable until suitable qualified review or regulatory authorisation has passed.
Published guidance is visible here. Authoring controls appear only for approved editors.
RESOLUTION MECHANISM
Turn the record into an outcome.
01Issue02Facts03Action04Resolution
rebalance in response to selectionThe chosen option changes the decision field
0%Private search
Search
Search across the records saved to your account.Enter at least two characters to search.
RESOLUTION MECHANISM
Turn the record into an outcome.
01Issue02Facts03Action04Resolution
advance in response to actionCompleted actions advance the live operating state
0%Private reminders
Notifications
Create in-app reminders and, once a provider is approved, send a tested account email.Your reminders
Scheduled and completed
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RESOLUTION MECHANISM
Turn the record into an outcome.
01Issue02Facts03Action04Resolution
connect in response to recordSaved records visibly join the working system
0%Operations
Administration
A factual view of records, activity and service usage, with scope controlled by the signed-in role.Sign in to load your operational summary.
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Your account
Usage statement
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Provider cost and calculated charge for the signed-in account.
Permission-led connection
Connect My Life
Let this app suggest useful changes elsewhere without surrendering control. Every purpose and field is explicit, revocable and private to your account.Your control
Active permissions
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The receiving Journey must accept the suggestion
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