A new partnership has been announced between Northumberland County Council Registrars, and end-of-life admin service Settld.

Bereaved families in Northumberland are to be offered a pioneering step-by-step guidance and assistance to deal with the heavy admin burden following the death of a loved one. The deal will be from the point of that the death has been officially registered by the Registrar.

The award-winning admin service Settld, headquartered in Sunderland, will provide a range of services including a detailed checklist for those handling a death, and support in closing, transferring or changing financial, digital and household accounts.

Councillor Gordon Stewart, Portfolio Holder for Community Services at Northumberland County Council said: “Sadly, we all experience the grief of losing a loved one at some point in our lives.

"The best thing we can do as a local authority is to quietly offer practical help and support.

“By linking with Settld we are able to provide sound advice to get our residents through the darkest of days - freeing them to grieve and remember their loved ones in their own way.”

After someone registers a death in Northumberland, they will receive a pack with helpful guidance on what they might need to do. Settld will then provide hands-on help with the difficult admin - from sorting out probate to accessing local grief support.

The company notifies more than 950 service providers, from banks and insurers to energy firms, mobile providers, subscription services, social media platforms and more.

In addition to registering the death with service providers, Settld’s free online service helps users close, transfer or amend accounts and obtain date of death balances for probate.

More than 26,870 deaths are registered in the North East of England every year and the new service will be working alongside the Government’s Tell us Once service.

Vicky Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Settld, said: “We are delighted to have the backing of regional Registrars, to further support families when they need it the most.

“Settld is here to help the bereaved, and that now means additional help and advice from the point of a death being registered until all the admin is sorted.”