Guide
What to do when your daughter dies
Losing a daughter is a grief like no other. Take the practical things slowly — none of it is more important than looking after yourself right now.
The first steps
Register the death within 5 days (8 in Scotland) at a register office, and order several certified copies of the death certificate while you’re there — banks, pensions and insurers each want to see an original. Then begin funeral arrangements, checking first for any prepaid plan or written wishes your daughter left.
Who handles the arrangements
If your daughter was an adult with a partner or spouse, they may take the lead, and any will names an executor. As a parent you can still be closely involved. If she was a minor, you will register the death and arrange the funeral.
Support exists specifically for bereaved parents, such as The Compassionate Friends and Sands if your daughter was a baby or stillborn.
Telling people and organisations
Use the government’s Tell Us Once service to report the death to HMRC, the DWP, the passport office, DVLA and the local council in one step. Then contact banks, pension providers, insurers and any household services directly.
Common questions
- Do I need probate for my daughter’s estate?
- It depends on what she owned and how it was held. Smaller estates, or assets held jointly, often don’t need it. Her bank will tell you their threshold.
- Who can register the death?
- A spouse or partner, a parent, or another relative — and anyone present at the death or organising the funeral.
General information to help you find your way — not legal or financial advice. Last reviewed June 2026.