How to settle utility bills after someone dies?

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Part 1

Notifying the utilities providers

The first thing you should do is call the companies that provide utilities to your loved one’s property as soon as possible. These companies will need to be notified of the death so that they can delay any payments until a final utility bill can be made.

As the executor or administrator, you are responsible for protecting the deceased’s assets, including funds and property. It is a good idea to visit the property occasionally and turn the heating on to prevent damp and mould. If you fail to let the utility companies know that you are handling probate and the deceased’s bank account has been frozen, the utility providers may shut off supplies to the property as no payments are being made.

Notifying the utilities providers is not a job that needs to be undertaken by the executor or administrator. You can hand this job over to a friend or relative if you are already overwhelmed by responsibilities during the probate process. Alternatively, you might choose to hire a professional probate solicitor or service such as Kwil to handle these responsibilities for you.

Part 2

Paying the utility bills

As the utilities will likely be used during the probate process while prepping the property for sale or transfer, final utility bills cannot be calculated and paid until the process is settled. Once the property is sold or transferred, the providers will issue their final bills based on meter readings taken on completion of the sale. These bills should be settled using funds from the estate before any are distributed.