Guide
What to do when your partner dies
Losing your partner is devastating, and if you weren’t married the rules can feel unfair. This guide covers what to do and where you stand.
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 partner left.
If you weren’t married or in a civil partnership
Unmarried partners don’t automatically inherit under the law, and aren’t covered by Tell Us Once’s spousal benefits. If your partner left a will naming you, that protects you. If not, you may have no automatic right to their estate, though you can sometimes make a claim — it’s worth taking early advice.
Check whose name the tenancy or mortgage and the household bills are in, as your rights to stay in the home depend on this. Citizens Advice can help you understand your position.
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 inherit if we weren’t married and there’s no will?
- Not automatically. Intestacy rules don’t recognise unmarried partners. You may be able to claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act, especially if you depended on each other financially — seek advice quickly as time limits apply.
- Can I stay in our home?
- It depends on whose name is on the tenancy or title and how it was owned. Jointly-owned homes often pass to the survivor; sole-name property follows the will or intestacy. Get advice if you’re unsure.
General information to help you find your way — not legal or financial advice. Last reviewed June 2026.