Police broke in and found FIL dead, what happens next?

[Matchingcollarandcuffs]

Poor DH found out today that his dad's neighbours were worried for him so they called the Police who found him, they think he'd been dead since yesterday.

He's spoken to Coroners Office who are waiting to hear from the GP as to whether the death was unexpected, before deciding if a PM is needed. Can we tell banks/benefits etc if no death cert yet?

The flat was rented, well over 100 miles from us, DH is sole NOK and barely any other family (DH aunt and cousins), but was pretty much estranged from his dad as parents split when he was young.

Does anyone have any idea what happened next? And how long do you have to clear out rented accommodation(private)? No idea who landlord even is, do we need to pay to make the damage good?

We've been through our mum's deaths before but they were expected and paperwork in place, this is completely different.

Finally, if Police know it's him will DH have to identify the body?

Sorry if these are all odd questions, it's just hard

if there is an inquest, I believe you will get a notice of death before the official certificate.

Sorry for your and DH loss

My DGM died at home alone. DM and DF arrived at the same time as the ambulance when they couldn't get hold of her (history of collapsing). Paramedics entered and found her dead, then when police arrived they asked DF (her SIL) to identify her at the time. So I'd think someone has to formally identify, but perhaps the neighbours may have done it already? Was the GP called, they may have done the ID? I don't think it has to be a relative, just someone who knows the person.

They will give you an interim death cert until the coroner releases the formal certificate. You can use that to contact banks etc.

You also need to find out if there's a will. If not, you can apply for probate.

Re the flat We had the same situation with my dad and we cleared the property out within 1 month of him dying and that's a normal notice period for a rented property. We just kept the agent informed.

I'm sorry for your and DH's loss OP, a sudden unexplained death is always difficult to process but please take it from me that the Police will have treated him with utmost respect and dignity.

The Coroner's office is the best place to answer if you can register the death yet, I imagine you need some kind of paperwork from them, but yes you can tell the banks etc just tell them you don't have an official death certificate yet.

Unless someone who knows your FIL has identified him to the Police then yes unfortunately a relative will have to identify him. Sometimes if distance (and this was done a lot over Covid) the Coroners Office ask for a photograph and have done a photo ID but I don't know how common this is now.

Depending on the landlord will depend if you need to pay for the damage to the door, it's likely you will I would imagine. Heartless I know, but ultimately they're running a business. I know Social Housing usually give 2 weeks to clear the property in the result of a death of a tenant. I would think if you pay his rent for another month a private landlord might give you that time, they're getting paid ultimately but it's a conversation with the letting agent.

You can contact a Funeral Director whilst the Coroner decides whether a PM is required, they will be ready when FIL is released and can collect him for you at that point. Most standard PM's now are CT Scans so whilst less invasive can take a day or two longer depending where FIL is and where the PM Scanner is.

Love and hugs to you all at the loss of FIL, please take it easy and look after each other x

Can your DH travel up to the flat and start looking for paperwork?

If there's a tenancy agreement then this should have the landlord's details on it. Your DH also should look to see if there's a will and if he's going to end up dealing with the estate he will need to start gathering financial information.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Yes, if the GP is able to offer a cause of death then they will complete the MCCD and the coroner will sign the paperwork that allows you to register his death in the normal way. That would then end the coroner's office's involvement and you could get the death certificate from the register office.

If there needs to be a post mortem then once the results are known, as long as it's a natural cause of death then the coroner will inform the register office and again you can go and pick up the death certificate from the register office.

There will only be an inquest if the cause of death is unnatural. If an inquest is opened then the coroner's office will issue an interim death certificate that you can send on to banks etc.

I work as a coroner's officer - each jurisdiction does things slightly differently, but in our area we'd only issue an interim death certificate if there's an inquest or the pathologist takes toxicology/histology.

That must have been a terrible shock for your husband.

He won't be expected to cover any costs relating to his dad's flat. The agreement was between his dad and the landlord. If your FIL has money in his bank account then your husband might have to use that to make repairs, but if not then that will be the landlord's job.

It’s unlikely that you will have to have an inquest as long as there were no other ‘suspicious’ circumstances.

Appoint a good local undertaker( maybe NDN will know), they have good relationships with coroner and police and will look after all of this for you.

You need to give notice to the landlord, normally a one month minimum but the tenancy agreement will specify. The rent should be paid out of the estate by executors or personal representatives.

Thank you. The Coroner's office told him to stay put today and wait until they could speak to the GP but I think we'll travel at the weekend to start scraping through paperwork etc -I suspect there will be very little money and we'll have to pay for everything.

We've been together 23 years and not once did FIL wish him happy birthday on his birthday (amongst many other things) yet DH is a good man and will do right by him at the end, just seems so unfair.

You've all been really helpful though, really appreciate it

You won’t be liable to pay off any landlord. His estate will have to pay if there is any damages. If there is no money in the estate then that’s the end of it. The landlord can’t come after your husband for the money. The agreement is not with him

This helped us a lot when my dad died www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once

Hope your DH is ok. Has the flat been secured?

There are some great guides on the .gov site and some easy routes such as tell us once for NI pension and so on. There is something similar for gathering info re bank accounts etc. I would definitely go up and gather paperwork and any momentos or valuables to keep safe until its established what his wishes were (or if intestate) . Remember to check things like bibles and books for paperwork and photos.

In terms of death certificate the COroner will contact your partner and discuss what is happening, but yes sort a funeral director and make some decisions about what you are going to do re funeral/cremation etc. These should be paid out of the estate but he may not have enough to cover this.

Once you have the death certificate (get a few copies if you can) you can start sending it off to various people, bank first so they know. Also for paying the Funeral Directors you can inform the bank of who they are and if there is money in his account they can pay them directly - just let the FD know

Look for an address book for names of friends and distant rellies contact details

Personally after what you have said I would just do a cremation with a short service there (Same price). It does start getting expensive for full services and involving Fds etc

Just a heads up - if you need to get probate do it on line. It is much, much quicker on line and can saves you weeks.

We had 7 days to empty and clean my DN flat. Make sure was clean, fill holes from pictures removes curtains poles carpets etc.
Similar circumstances.

I have been through something similar with my husband. It was a very emotional time for him and he was upset - but my gut instinct was to protect him. I think I did feel some anger as my husband (like yours) is a good kind man.
I guess what I am trying to say it’s that all the emotions you have are valid.

God, that’s awful . I know landlords need to move onto new tenants but that seems so callous- in many cases people won’t be able to logistically organise that in such a short time
I’m sorry

So sorry for your loss. But do not bankrupt yourself sorting this out: when someone does their debts and obligations die with them, and the funeral should be paid for by the estate. You do not need to pay for anything here.

Be careful you don't become liable to pay out for anything. If there is no money in the estate just walk away and don't meddle with any of the finances. Unless there is a will naming your husband as Executor you aren't obliged to sort anything out. Head over to the bereavement section on Martin Lewis' website as they have some great resources on there.

Had a quick skim read through and don't think anyone has mentioned that once informed of his death, the bank accounts will be frozen and the only payments allowed to leave will be funeral costs.

Also, as mentioned any debt does not get inherited. If there is some money in his accounts, after funeral expenses debts are paid in a priority order. The bank will also be able to provide a 3 month statement to your husband (or executor if there is a will), so he can identify things like utility companies, phone/Internet providers, and incoming payments.

If he had a workplace pension, that doesn't form part of his estate and is paid to any beneficiaries named, or if none, paid to your husband.

A lot of places now will accept a scan of a death certificate so you don't need loads of copies, we have managed deaths in recent years with 3 copies being more than adequate. It was only banks and pensions that wanted a hard copy, everyone else was happy with a scanned copy emailed to them.

Thankfully the Coroner confirmed the Police secured it.

And to the poster who only had 7 days, that's horrific. In a way that could work in our favour of we go up and take anything of value (won't be anything of monetary value just emotional/useful paperwork etc), then they can dispose off the rest but that isn't fair.

And yes all emotions are valid, just so different to when his much loved mum died. I was estranged from my mum so went through similar when she died but thankfully didn't have to do all the during, I would have been very tempted to walk away like she did when I was 3!

He's spoken to Coroners Office who are waiting to hear from the GP as to whether the death was unexpected, before deciding if a PM is needed. Can we tell banks/benefits etc if no death cert yet?

I told banks that my relative was dead without an interim death certificate and a stop was put on their accounts. There was a PM, which I was told was inevitable because the person was in good health and death was sudden with no witnesses present. I did not need to identify the body as I was one who found it.

There wasn't an inquest because PM determined the cause of death.

I was surprised the banks were willing to put a stop on the cards and the accounts with no proof, but glad that they did. This was 7 years ago so not too far in the distant past.

Local council were very good and gave me 2 months to clear out the home.

"...and the only payments allowed to leave will be funeral costs."

Any overpayment of pension can also be reclaimed by the DWP without contacting the executors. Several week's pension was taken out of the bank account by the DWP when my late mother died. But if the deceased qualifies, the DWP will pay out to the estate the winter fuel payment even if the person died in the months preceding the month in which they would have received the winter fuel payment. For example, my mother had died in late September but her estate still qualified for receipt of the fuel payment which she would have received in the November.