0800 0246 121
0191 656 3201
info@thenbs.org
Mon - Fri 09:00 - 18:00, Sat 10:00 - 14:00, Sun – CLOSED

Practical Help
- Pre-Death PlanningGetting prepared ahead of time when expecting a loss.
  - Estate PlanningHow to prepare and distribute left assets.
  - Will Writing ServicesThe importance of writing will and a review of the Will writing options.
  - Trust FundsInformation on various types of trust funds that can be set up.
  - Lasting Power of Attorney: What is It and How to Set Up an LPAA step-by-step guide on how to appoint an LPA and the importance of doing so.
  - Finding a Suitable Funeral DirectorGet help organising and planning a funeral.
  - Covering Funeral CostsGet help for funeral arrangement costs.
- Legal SupportUnderstand your legal obligations around bereavement.
  - Laws of IntestacyDetermines who is entitled to inheritance by law.
  - Making Changes to InheritanceChanging how inheritance is distributed at this stage requires a Deed of Variation
  - Bona VacantiaWhen there is no living blood relatives, ownerless assets default to the crown.
  - Debts after DeathWhat happens to debts after someone dies.
  - Inheriting DebtThe circumstances where someone may inherit the debts of the deceased.
- Probate SupportHelp with probate and inheritance.
  - Getting Help with ProbateHelp for those unclear on the probate process.
  - Grant of ProbateHow to get a grant of probate and when you need one.
  - Probate in Northern IrelandAdvice for Northern Ireland residents needing help with probate.
  - Probate in Scotland (Confirmation)Advice for Scotland residents needing help with probate, known as ‘Confirmation’.
  - Inheritance TaxWhen and how to pay inheritance tax.
  - DIY ProbateHow and when to carry out probate by yourself.
  - Executor of Will DutiesList of duties required by the distributor of the deceased’s estate.
  - Find Unclaimed Assets of a Deceased PersonHelp for finding unclaimed assets left in wills or from dying intestate.
  - Contentious ProbateAdvice on problems and disagreements that can arise during probate.
  - Deed of VariationChange details about how inheritance is distributed.
- Practical Tasks after a DeathThings to do after someone dies.
  - Death RegistrationWho to contact to register a death.
  - Finding a Funeral DirectorGet help finding a suitable director to arrange a funeral.
  - Covering Funeral CostsGet help paying for a funeral.
  - Paying Inheritance TaxHelp on when and how to pay inheritance tax.
  - Benefits CalculatorFree assessment of benefits you may be entitled to.
  - Stopping Junk MailHow to reduce mail and correspondence to the address of a deceased person.
  - When Coroner is InvolvedAn explanation of the coroner’s process and their involvement.
- Getting Practical & Legal HelpSpeak to someone about the practical or legal aspects of bereavement.
Emotional Help
- GriefNavigating and managing the experience of grief.
  - Managing GriefGet ideas on managing the experience of grief.
  - Traumatic BereavementHelp for managing a traumatic bereavement or PTSD associated with bereavement.
- Specific RelationshipsSupporting grief for relationships and partnerships.
- Supporting OthersHelping others through their bereavement.
  - Supporting ChildrenGet help for explaining the loss of a grandparent or elderly relative to a young child.
  - Supporting EmployeesHelp for employers on how to support employees through bereavement.
- Sharing the NewsHelp with communicating bereavement.
  - Social Media MemorialisationHow to create memorialised social media accounts.
  - Explaining to Young Children
- Getting Help & CounsellingUseful organisations for emotional wellbeing and mental health support.
Quick Guides
Workplace & Training
About NBS
- About NBS
- Donate
- News
- Research
Contact NBS

Practical Help
- Pre-Death PlanningGetting prepared ahead of time when expecting a loss.
  - Estate PlanningHow to prepare and distribute left assets.
  - Will Writing ServicesThe importance of writing will and a review of the Will writing options.
  - Trust FundsInformation on various types of trust funds that can be set up.
  - Lasting Power of Attorney: What is It and How to Set Up an LPAA step-by-step guide on how to appoint an LPA and the importance of doing so.
  - Finding a Suitable Funeral DirectorGet help organising and planning a funeral.
  - Covering Funeral CostsGet help for funeral arrangement costs.
- Legal SupportUnderstand your legal obligations around bereavement.
  - Laws of IntestacyDetermines who is entitled to inheritance by law.
  - Making Changes to InheritanceChanging how inheritance is distributed at this stage requires a Deed of Variation
  - Bona VacantiaWhen there is no living blood relatives, ownerless assets default to the crown.
  - Debts after DeathWhat happens to debts after someone dies.
  - Inheriting DebtThe circumstances where someone may inherit the debts of the deceased.
- Probate SupportHelp with probate and inheritance.
  - Getting Help with ProbateHelp for those unclear on the probate process.
  - Grant of ProbateHow to get a grant of probate and when you need one.
  - Probate in Northern IrelandAdvice for Northern Ireland residents needing help with probate.
  - Probate in Scotland (Confirmation)Advice for Scotland residents needing help with probate, known as ‘Confirmation’.
  - Inheritance TaxWhen and how to pay inheritance tax.
  - DIY ProbateHow and when to carry out probate by yourself.
  - Executor of Will DutiesList of duties required by the distributor of the deceased’s estate.
  - Find Unclaimed Assets of a Deceased PersonHelp for finding unclaimed assets left in wills or from dying intestate.
  - Contentious ProbateAdvice on problems and disagreements that can arise during probate.
  - Deed of VariationChange details about how inheritance is distributed.
- Practical Tasks after a DeathThings to do after someone dies.
  - Death RegistrationWho to contact to register a death.
  - Finding a Funeral DirectorGet help finding a suitable director to arrange a funeral.
  - Covering Funeral CostsGet help paying for a funeral.
  - Paying Inheritance TaxHelp on when and how to pay inheritance tax.
  - Benefits CalculatorFree assessment of benefits you may be entitled to.
  - Stopping Junk MailHow to reduce mail and correspondence to the address of a deceased person.
  - When Coroner is InvolvedAn explanation of the coroner’s process and their involvement.
- Getting Practical & Legal HelpSpeak to someone about the practical or legal aspects of bereavement.
Emotional Help
- GriefNavigating and managing the experience of grief.
  - Managing GriefGet ideas on managing the experience of grief.
  - Traumatic BereavementHelp for managing a traumatic bereavement or PTSD associated with bereavement.
- Specific RelationshipsSupporting grief for relationships and partnerships.
- Supporting OthersHelping others through their bereavement.
  - Supporting ChildrenGet help for explaining the loss of a grandparent or elderly relative to a young child.
  - Supporting EmployeesHelp for employers on how to support employees through bereavement.
- Sharing the NewsHelp with communicating bereavement.
  - Social Media MemorialisationHow to create memorialised social media accounts.
  - Explaining to Young Children
- Getting Help & CounsellingUseful organisations for emotional wellbeing and mental health support.
Quick Guides
Workplace & Training
About NBS
- About NBS
- Donate
- News
- Research
Contact NBS

The National Bereavement Service

What is the National Bereavement Service?

The National Bereavement Service team comes from a variety of professional backgrounds, such as the NHS, legal, estate agency, business and funeral services and is committed to providing experienced information and advice to bereaved people.

We aim to empower people who have experienced the death of someone close, whatever the relationship between them, to handle all the practical and legal administration needed after someone has died while also supporting them through the emotional turmoil of grief.

We are a not-for-profit organisation, and our services are completely free of charge, whether you contact us by phone, email or webchat.

How we help

The National Bereavement Service is the only organisation providing such comprehensive information and advice without having any commercial motive.

Our focus is on the practical issues you may have to deal with, backed by our team’s unique depth of knowledge and experience. We’ll advise you on planning ahead for your own death or that of someone else, how you register a death, whether the coroner is involved, suggest who needs to know about what has happened and the legal procedures that may be necessary.

We’ll listen, give you information, perhaps make some suggestions, and if necessary, do some research for you and call you back. Unless we do need to contact you again, we will never record your name or contact details so you may remain anonymous if you prefer.

Finding other support for you

It can be hard to know or find exactly what support you need when you are going through a new and extremely difficult experience.

If we’re not exactly the right people to help you, we usually know who you should be in touch with. We’ll find you the contact details and where possible, give you a choice of which organisation to approach, especially for emotional support. We are all different and different types of support suit some people better than others – we’ll guide you as to what is available.

You make the decision when to contact anyone else so that you can do it when the time and circumstances are right for you. Our team works closely with other bereavement support organisations in the charitable, statutory, and business sectors. We’ll always tell you if we know the organisation personally and we’ll always be confident that you’ll get the very best support possible.

Legal Support

Dealing with someone’s estate can be daunting, and you may be unsure whether you need the help of legal professionals.

We’ll explain all your options and, if you’d like us to do so, introduce you to the legal professionals associated with our sister company Adroit Legal Services.