How long do I have to use Tell Us Once?

Normally 28 days from registering the death. After that you contact each department directly.

Process · 4 min read

Tell Us Once: what it covers and what it doesn't

Tell Us Once handles the government side of a death in one go. It does not touch banks, pensions from private employers, insurers or utilities — those remain your job.

Written and reviewed by Ramani Gill, Founder & CEO — Solicitor, TEP, BA, LLM. Last reviewed 2026-08-19.

What it covers

HM Revenue & Customs
Department for Work and Pensions, including State Pension and benefits
DVLA — driving licence and vehicle records
HM Passport Office
The local council: council tax, blue badge, electoral roll, council housing
Some public sector pension schemes

What it does not cover

Banks, building societies and credit cards
Private and workplace pensions
Life insurance and other insurers
Utilities, telecoms and broadband
Landlords, mortgage lenders and subscription services

Doing this yourself?

Our guided service walks an executor through valuations, the HMCTS forms and the estate accounts for a one-off £349.

Check if I can do probate myself

What you need to hand

The Tell Us Once reference number from the registrar
The deceased's National Insurance number and date of birth
Details of benefits or entitlements they received
Contact details for the next of kin and for the person handling the estate

Overpayments come back

Benefits or State Pension paid after the date of death must be repaid from the estate. Using Tell Us Once quickly keeps that amount small.

GOV.UK — Tell Us Once

Common questions

How long do I have to use Tell Us Once?: Normally 28 days from registering the death. After that you contact each department directly.

Not sure whether this estate is straightforward?

The free suitability checker asks about jurisdiction, disputes and complexity, and tells you in a few minutes whether a self-help route is sensible — or whether you should speak to a solicitor. No account needed.

Start the free checker