The list is long, but a lot of it collapses into a few shortcuts. Work out which ones your country has before you start dialling.
One GOV.UK service notifies most government departments together: HMRC (tax), DWP (benefits & State Pension), DVLA (driving licence), Passport Office, and the local council.
What they usually need
Tip The registrar gives you a Tell Us Once reference when you register the death — use it within 28 days.
Federal and state agencies must be told separately: the Social Security Administration (to stop payments and open survivor claims), the IRS (final tax return), the state DMV, and your voter registration.
What they usually need
Tip Confirm the funeral home actually reported the death to the SSA — do not assume it was done.
Tell the Seguridad Social/INSS (pensions), the Agencia Tributaria (Hacienda, for tax), the DGT (vehicles/licence) and the local padrón municipal. The DNI is cancelled via the death registration.
What they usually need
Tip Most trámites now need a prior cita previa online — book before travelling to any office.
Accounts must be frozen or transferred, direct debits stopped, and any balance released to the estate. Joint accounts usually pass to the survivor.
What they usually need
Tip Ask for the "bereavement team" — most banks have one, and it is far faster than a normal branch.
Stops payments cleanly and opens any survivor pension, death-in-service or final-pay entitlement.
What they usually need
Tip Ask the same contact about money owed to you (see "Money you may be owed"), not just stopping payments.
Life policies may pay out; home/car/health policies need updating or cancelling to avoid wasted premiums or invalid cover.
What they usually need
Tip Do not cancel home/car insurance on an empty property or unused vehicle until you have confirmed cover is still valid — gaps can be costly.
Final bills need settling and the account renaming or closing — especially if the home is now empty.
What they usually need
Tip Take a meter reading on the date of death (or as close as possible) so the final bill is fair.
Contracts continue (and charge) until cancelled; mobile numbers may need preserving for two-factor codes during the admin.
What they usually need
Tip Do not rush to cut off the mobile — you may need its verification codes to access other accounts first.
A tenancy must be ended or transferred; a mortgage lender must be told and any associated life cover claimed.
What they usually need
Tip Check whether the mortgage had life cover that clears the balance before worrying about payments.
Online accounts can be memorialised or closed, recurring subscriptions stopped, and the identity protected from misuse.
What they usually need
Tip Wait until close family know before any public posts. Use each platform's official "memorialise/close account" process — never share passwords by email.
Redirecting or holding mail prevents sensitive letters piling up at an empty home (an identity-theft risk) and helps you find accounts you did not know about.
What they usually need
Tip Incoming post is one of the best ways to discover forgotten accounts, bills and subscriptions.
Ownership must be transferred or the vehicle sold/scrapped, road tax and the licence updated.
What they usually need
Tip Keep the vehicle insured until it is transferred or sold — an uninsured vehicle is an offence even when parked.
Gym, clubs, charities, professional bodies and loyalty schemes often auto-renew and can be cancelled (some refund unused time).
What they usually need
Tip Ask charities to stop regular donations and remove the person from mailing lists.