Guide
What to do when your grandparent dies
When a grandparent dies, parents and grandchildren often share the practical work. Here’s a clear order to follow together.
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 grandparent left.
Who takes the lead
Usually it’s your grandparent’s own children (your parents) who are named as executors and lead the arrangements. As a grandchild you might be helping, or — if your parent has also died — you could be more directly involved. The will sets out who is responsible.
Grandparents are more likely to have had a prepaid funeral plan and a long-standing will — check their paperwork and their solicitor early.
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
- Can I deal with my grandparent’s estate?
- If you’re named as executor, yes. Otherwise it’s usually their children. If your own parent (their child) has died, you may step into that line under the intestacy rules.
- Is probate usually needed?
- Often, if your grandparent owned a home or had savings above a bank’s threshold. If everything passed to a surviving spouse, it may not be.
General information to help you find your way — not legal or financial advice. Last reviewed June 2026.