Tell us once
Tell Us Once is a free service that lets you notify most central and local government of a death, saving you the time and effort of contacting them individually.
When and How to Use It
You can use Tell Us Once if the person who died was living in England, Scotland or Wales at the time of death. The death must already be registered (or have a final or interim death certificate if a coroner is involved). At your appointment to register the death, the registrar will explain the service and either complete the Tell Us Once process with you or give you a unique reference number to use online or by phone (within 28 days).
What You’ll Need
When using Tell Us Once, you may be asked for:
- The full name and date of death of the person who died
- Executor or administrator’s name, address and contact details
- Details of any surviving spouse/civil partner or next of kin
- Passport number, driving licence number, and vehicle registration (if applicable)
- Information about any benefits, pensions or council services they were receiving
Who It Notifies
Tell Us Once can inform:
- HMRC
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Passport Office
- DVLA
- Your local council (for council tax, electoral register, Blue Badge)
- Some public sector and Armed Forces pension schemes
- Private companies such as banks, utilities, and insurers must still be contacted separately
What Happens Next
The organisations contacted will update their records and may get in touch if they need more information. Using Tell Us Once usually means you do not need to complete the reverse of form BD8 (Certificate of Notification of Death).