Redirecting Post After a Death: Royal Mail and Other Options

Post redirected after a death serves three purposes:

1. You see important legal and financial mail (bank statements, tax documents, pension information, probate correspondence)
2. You can respond to institutions that don't yet know about the death
3. You can identify accounts you didn't know existed (which is surprisingly common)

Without redirection, important letters are sitting in an empty house while you're unaware. By the time you realise, they're weeks old.

Royal Mail's redirection service is the only reliable way to receive post addressed to the deceased.

How Much Does It Cost?

(Prices correct as of February 2026. Check Royal Mail's website for current rates.)

How Long Should You Redirect For?

Minimum: 3-6 months. This covers the period when most financial institutions will have notified you and updated their records.

Better: 12 months. Some companies take a long time to process death notifications. Annual renewal letters, tax correspondence, and pension documents might arrive for up to a year.

How to Set Up Redirection

Option 1: Online (fastest)

Visit www.royalmail.com/redirection

• Enter the address where mail should be redirected from
• Enter the name of the person who has died
• Enter the redirection address (where you want post sent)
• Enter the date the redirection should start (usually the date of death)
• Choose the length (3, 6, or 12 months)
• Pay online (debit or credit card)

Setup time: 5-10 minutes. Redirection usually starts within 2-3 working days.

Option 2: At the Post Office

Visit your local Post Office with the deceased's name and address, your redirection address, proof of your address (utility bill or bank statement), and payment.

Setup time: same-day, but the service might take 2-3 working days to activate.

Option 3: By phone

Call Royal Mail: 03457 740740 (available 8am-5:30pm Monday-Friday). Slower; 1-2 weeks.

What Royal Mail Redirection Covers

• Letters and small packets
• Standard mail
• Registered mail (Special Delivery)

What It Does NOT Cover

• Parcels from courier services (DPD, Hermes, UPS, DHL, etc.) - these don't go through Royal Mail
• Packages from online retailers that use non-Royal Mail delivery services
• Very large parcels (anything over standard size limits)

If you're expecting parcels, contact the company directly and ask them to redirect or redeliver.

Even after death, unsolicited mail will arrive: marketing, charity appeals, spam.

Bereavement Register (Free)

The Bereavement Register stops most marketing mail to the deceased for 2 years.

What it does:

• Removes the deceased's name from most mailing lists
• Significantly reduces direct mail spam
• Stops charity appeals and marketing letters
• Takes effect within 4 weeks

What it doesn't cover: addressed mail from companies they had direct relationships with (banks, utilities, etc.), some charities that don't participate, and very old mailing lists.

Visit www.thebereavementregister.org.uk - registration is free.

Mailing Preference Service (Free)

The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is the UK's official preference service for stopping direct marketing mail. It removes names from direct mail lists, stops most unsolicited marketing, takes 3 months to take full effect, and lasts for 3 years.

Visit www.mpsonline.org.uk - registration is free.

Combine both services for maximum effect. Together, they'll stop most unsolicited mail within 3-4 weeks.

This is where post redirection gets interesting. You'll often receive letters from companies you've never heard of. This is common and sometimes important.

Financial Institutions You Didn't Know About

You might receive statements from savings accounts, Premium Bonds, shares or investment accounts, pensions (especially older ones or small pots), insurance policies, or endowment policies.

This is actually valuable. Many deceased people had accounts they hadn't told family about. The post reveals these.

What to do:

1. Keep the letter
2. Note the company name and account number
3. Contact the company directly
4. Tell them about the death and ask for their bereavement process
5. Ask about the account value
6. Add this to the probate list - it's an asset of the estate

Don't assume small accounts are worthless. Even a dormant savings account with £100 needs to be traced and included in Probate. You may also discover digital accounts and online subscriptions that need closing.

Subscriptions and Memberships

You might receive renewal notices for magazines, gym memberships, professional memberships, streaming services, or online services.

Cancel the subscription by contacting the company directly. Ask for a refund if the subscription was paid in advance. Keep the refund for the Estate. See our guide to closing utility accounts for a full list of providers and their bereavement contact numbers.

Charities and Charitable Giving

Charities often send appeal letters. If the deceased was a regular donor, you might receive annual reports, thank you letters, or appeals. You can donate in their memory if you wish, respond with a polite note, or simply do nothing - charities understand.

Advertising and Junk Mail

Even with the Bereavement Register and Mailing Preference Service, some spam will still arrive. Shred it, recycle it, and don't spend time responding.

Create a System

Set aside time once a week to go through the post. Keep it organised:

• Financial institutions: File separately; these need follow-up
• Utility companies: File separately; you'll need to arrange final readings
• Insurance companies: Keep for probate
• Personal mail: Photos, letters, etc. - decide what to keep
• Junk mail: Recycle immediately

Keep a Spreadsheet

As you discover accounts and subscriptions, track them:

This becomes your probate list.

Photograph Important Documents

When urgent documents arrive (tax letters, pension statements), photograph them on your phone immediately. If anything happens to the paperwork, you have a backup.

Post to a Care Home or Hospital Address

If the deceased was in a care home or hospital when they died, mail might still arrive there. Contact the facility and tell them to forward remaining mail to you. Update the address with the Royal Mail redirection. Most care homes will cooperate, but sometimes mail is lost. You will also need to deal with personal belongings left at the facility.

Post to a Business Address

If the deceased ran a business, post will arrive at the business address. Contact the business premises manager, arrange for mail to be forwarded, and notify HMRC separately of the death (for tax purposes).

Post That Can't Be Redirected

Some mail (bank cards, PINs, security documents) might be returned to the sender if the redirection isn't set up in time. This is normal. Contact the company directly and ask them to resend or update your address. You have authority as the Executor to receive these documents.

By 6 months: Most banks, pension providers, insurance companies, and utilities will have updated their records. You'll stop receiving post to the deceased's name from these institutions.

By 12 months: Almost all unsolicited mail will have ceased. Some subscriptions or charitable organisations might still send mail, but it's rare.

Beyond 12 months: If you're still receiving significant amounts of mail, it usually means you've missed notifying a company. Track down the institution and notify them.

Post Addressed to the Deceased Hits Differently Every Time

There's something visceral about seeing someone's name on an envelope. This fades with time, but the first few months can be surprisingly hard. It's okay if handling the post is emotional.

The Post Reveals the Shape of Someone's Life

Between subscriptions, charities they supported, financial accounts, professional memberships, and random mailing lists, the post tells you a surprising amount about how someone lived. It's an intimate record.

You're Legally Entitled to Open Post Addressed to the Deceased

As the executor or next of kin, you have the legal right to open mail addressed to the deceased for the purpose of administering their estate. You don't need permission. But it can feel odd. Remember: you're entitled.

Some Companies Take Months to Update Records

Even after multiple notifications, some companies will continue sending mail for weeks or months. Keep records of your notifications (dates, people you spoke to, confirmation numbers). After 8 weeks of repeated correspondence, escalate to a supervisor.

Dormant Accounts Reveal Themselves in the Post

The post is often how executors discover the deceased had savings accounts, investment bonds, or insurance policies they didn't know about. This is found money for the estate. Don't ignore mysterious financial statements.

Courier Deliveries Can't Be Redirected

If the deceased ordered something from an online retailer and it arrives via DPD, Hermes, or another courier, Royal Mail redirection won't catch it. Contact the retailer and arrange redelivery.

1. Set up Royal Mail redirection immediately (£35.99 for 3 months minimum)
2. Register with the Bereavement Register (free; stops most marketing mail)
3. Register with the Mailing Preference Service (free; takes 3 months to take effect)
4. Create a filing system for incoming post
5. Go through the post weekly and catalogue financial institutions, subscriptions, and insurance policies
6. Contact companies directly to notify them of the death
7. Cancel subscriptions and claim refunds
8. At 6 months: Expect much less mail to the deceased's name
9. At 12 months: Consider stopping the redirection (if mail has significantly reduced)

• Royal Mail redirection (online): www.royalmail.com/redirection
• Royal Mail customer service: 03457 740740 (Mon-Fri 8am-5:30pm)
• Bereavement Register: www.thebereavementregister.org.uk (free)
• Mailing Preference Service: www.mpsonline.org.uk (free)

Once post is redirected, you'll need to:

• Notify banks and close accounts
• Do I need probate?
• How to apply for probate

The post often reveals hidden accounts - make sure you track them all for probate.