What to do after a death: a guide to the formalities.
Losing a loved one is a difficult time, and the steps that follow can feel overwhelming. Here is a clear guide to the main formalities, in order. Take all the time you need. If you wish, we can take care of everything for you.
In the first few days
Have the death certified by a doctor, then register the death at the town hall of the place of death, within 24 working hours. The town hall issues the death certificate, which you will need in several copies.
Contact a funeral home to arrange the funeral. The burial or cremation usually takes place within six days.
Within the week
Notify the deceased’s employer, or the unemployment and pension bodies if they were no longer working. Inform the bank, which will freeze individual accounts.
Contact the notaire to open the succession, especially where there is property, a will or several heirs.
Within the month
Notify the pension funds, the health insurer and the insurance companies, the family benefits office, the health insurance fund, and the energy, water, telephone and internet providers. Cancel or transfer subscriptions and contracts.
Remember the landlord or building manager, the vehicle insurance and the registration document. Each organisation generally asks for a copy of the death certificate.
The organisations to notify
The list is long and depends on the situation: banks, insurers, health insurer, pension funds, employer, family benefits office, energy, water, telephone, subscriptions, landlord or building manager, tax office, vehicles.
It is easy to forget one, and a forgotten contract keeps taking payments. This follow-up work is exactly what we take on.
Formalities after a death in the Hérault
We support families in Montpellier, Béziers, Sète, Agde and across the Hérault, and throughout Occitanie. We know the local authorities and work alongside the region’s notaires and funeral homes.
What to do after a death: our guide