Executries: Estate administration services

In Scotland, the law requires that a death is registered within eight days.

Deaths in Edinburgh

• You will be contacted by the death registration service when they have received a Medical Certificate Cause of Death and your contact details.
• The registration services will contact you by email or telephone when they have received the documentation and explain the process for registration.
• They will also advise you on what documentation you will need to have. This could include the deceased’s birth certificate, marriage or civil partnership certificate, and NHS medical card if available. These documents contain information which will appear on the death certificate
  
• Registration takes place remotely over telephone. Once registered, you will receive a free abbreviated Death Certificate. You should also purchase at least two full Death Certificates for use during the administration of the estate.
• You will be provided with a unique reference number and a link to the Tell Us Once service, which will notify government departments of the death.

Address: Registration Service, City Chambers, 253 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1YP
Telephone: 0131 529 2600
Email: Registrars.city@edinburgh.gov.uk

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/burials-cremations/register-death

Deaths outside the Edinburgh Council District

For other Council areas, you can check the National Records of Scotland website and use the dropdown menu to find local guidance on death registration. 

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/registration/registering-a-death/

You should contact us as soon as possible to establish if the deceased made a Will because sometimes there are specific funeral instructions to be implemented.

In the absence of instruction, the Undertaker will complete the funeral arrangements with you in accordance with the wishes of the deceased or you and the family.

If there are sufficient funds in the Estate, the undertaker’s account should be settled from the deceased’s estate. The Undertaker should be requested to send the account to us to settle when funds are available. Some undertakers will settle the bill for the funeral teas and add that to the funeral account, otherwise this should be settled by the family and the receipt sent to us for reimbursement when funds are available.

Provided there are funds in the deceased’s bank account, the bank will settle the undertaker’s account before we obtain Confirmation. However, banks will not normally reimburse the funeral teas until Confirmation is obtained.

You may wish to create a commemorative programme which will be given to those that attend the funeral. 

Everyone deals with bereavement differently.

Some people prefer to deal with matters quickly, while others need more time. We completely understand both approaches.

There are only two key time-sensitive matters:

1. Registering the death within eight days 
2. Paying any Inheritance Tax within six months 

Beyond that, we will proceed at a pace that suits you.

If gathering paperwork feels overwhelming, we can assist.

You are not expected to navigate this alone. We are here to support and guide you throughout.

Timescales vary depending on the size and complexity of the estate. Straightforward estates may take a few months, while more complex cases – particularly those involving property or tax – can take longer.

Yes.

At Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents, we can assist with selling property as part of an estate, providing a fully joined-up service through both our executry and estate agency teams.

This means we can:

• Arrange a property valuation

• Advise on the best marketing strategy

• Handle the sale through our estate agency team

• Manage the legal conveyancing

• Coordinate everything alongside the wider executry process 

Selling a property is often one of the most significant parts of administering an estate, and having everything handled under one roof helps ensure a smoother, more efficient process.

You will be in safe hands with Neilsons. We sell over one in ten properties locally and are number 1 for sales on both ESPC and Rightmove. 

We will keep Executors informed throughout and ensure that the sale aligns properly with the administration of the estate. The sale proceeds are passed to the executry team for distribution, in accordance with the will or as appropriate. 

Yes, we can help with that. Through our partnership with Four Square, clients are encouraged to donate good-quality furniture and household items that are no longer needed. These items are then reused or sold through the Edinburgh Furniture Initiative, helping people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, while reducing waste. It’s a simple, practical way to ensure unwanted items can make a positive difference in the local community. Four Square can arrange free collections and take a variety of things from large items of furniture to electrical appliances and household bric-a-brac. See further information here.

Confirmation is a legal document issued by the court that gives the Executor authority to access and distribute the deceased’s assets. It is a key step in the executry process.

If there is no Will, the estate is distributed according to Scottish intestacy rules. This can make the process more complex, and legal advice is strongly recommended to ensure everything is handled correctly.