Help after the death of a partner

There are several groups that can offer you counselling or emotional support after the death of your partner:

• Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
• Samaritans
• Breathing Space
• Petal

Find out more about bereavement support.

You don't need to deal with everything straight away, but you will need to register your partner's death.

You must register a death in Scotland within 8 days of the date of death.

• How to register a death

If you're on a low income, or your partner was claiming benefits, you can get help with funeral costs.

• How to get a Funeral Support Payment

If your partner had a bank account and it wasn't a joint account, the bank may be able to pay for the funeral with money from your partner's account.

• Get help with funeral costs – Money Advice Service

An executor will be named in your partner's will. It is an executor's job to sort out someone's finances after they've died.

• What an executor does – gov.scot

Your partner's finances go into intestacy if there isn't a will. If your partner did not have large savings or own a lot of property, and you were married or in a civil partnership, anything they had will usually become yours.

• Who inherits if someone dies without a will – gov.scot

If you're dealing with your partner's finances you will need to apply for confirmation before you can take over any bank accounts they held on their own.

• Get help with confirmation – Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• How to apply for confirmation – Bereavement Advice Service

Any debts your partner had will be taken from the value of anything they owned when they died, including their share of joint bank accounts.

• What you can do about debt after the death of a partner – Money Helper
• Dealing with debt after someone's died – Stepchange Debt Charity
• Get help to deal with debt – Citizens Advice Scotland

You don't have automatic rights to your partner's money or belongings if your partner has died and there is no will.

• Your rights if you were living together but not married or in a civil partnership – gov.scot

If you were 45 or over but under state pension age when your partner died you can apply for Bereavement Support Payment.

• How to apply for Bereavement Support Payment – GOV.UK
• Whatever age you are, you can apply for Widowed Parent's Allowance if you have children.
• How to apply for the Widowed Parent's Allowance – GOV.UK

Find out more about bereavement benefits and help with money.

You can use the 'Tell Us Once' service to deal with things like tax and cancelling your partner's benefits. It will also cancel their passport and driving licence.

• How to use the 'Tell Us Once' service and what it covers – GOV.UK
• If your partner paid any bills that were only in their name you'll need to check whether you need to continue paying them.
• Managing your finances after your partner dies – Money Helper

You can also contact Social Security Scotland to find out if there are any benefits that might help you.

You have a right to stay in your home if your name is on your home's lease. If not, you need to speak to your landlord.

• How to check whose name is on the lease and what to do – Shelter Scotland
• If you get behind with rent payments after the death of your partner you should talk with your landlord.
• Read about what to do if you can't pay your rent
• Dealing with rent arrears – Shelter Scotland

The type of mortgage you have can affect what happens to your partner's share of your home. You need to check the title deeds if you're not sure, which are usually held by your bank.

Checking the title deeds – Shelter Scotland

You can also get advice if you get behind with your mortgage payments.

• Get advice if you're having trouble paying a mortgage – Money Advice Service
• Read our guide for home owners with mortgage difficulties

An independent money advisor can help you apply to the Home Owners' Support Fund, run by the Scottish Government to help you stay in your home by:

• buying up to 30% of your home, reducing your mortgage repayments; or
• buying your home, allowing you to become a tenant

If you need legal advice about mortgage difficulties, going to court or repossession, you might be eligible for legal aid.

Find out more about legal aid and how to apply.