How to Close a Deceased Person's Bank Account
Quick Answer
You need a death certificate, proof of identity, and either probate or letters of administration to close a deceased person's bank account in the UK.Joint accounts become the survivor's sole property immediately. Individual accounts are frozen until probate is granted.
Essential Documents Required:
- Certified copy of death certificate
- Your proof of identity (passport or driving licence)
- Probate grant or letters of administration
- Account details and recent statements
- Proof of relationship to deceased (if not spouse)
Contents
Immediate Steps After Death
Important: Act Quickly
Contact the bank within 1-2 working days of death to prevent fraud and freeze accounts.
- Contact the bank immediately
Call the bank's bereavement team or visit a branch. Most banks have dedicated bereavement services.
- Provide basic details
Give the deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, and account numbers if known.
- Request account freeze
Ask them to freeze all accounts to prevent unauthorised transactions.
- Ask about joint accounts
Joint accounts may continue operating for the surviving account holder.
Required Documents Checklist
Always Required
- Death certificate (certified copy)
- Your ID (passport/driving licence)
- Proof of your relationship to deceased
May Be Required
- Grant of probate
- Letters of administration
- Marriage certificate (for spouses)
- Birth certificate (for children)
Pro Tip
Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate - you'll need them for banks, insurance, pensions, and more.
Joint Bank Accounts
Good News
Joint accounts automatically become the sole property of the surviving account holder. No probate needed.
Steps for Joint Accounts:
- Contact the bank
Provide death certificate and your ID to remove deceased's name from account.
- Update account details
Change to single-name account in survivor's name only.
- Review direct debits/standing orders
Cancel any payments that were for the deceased person only.
- Update beneficiaries
Add new beneficiaries if needed for your sole account.
Important Exception
If the account was held as "tenants in common" rather than "joint tenants", the deceased's share forms part of their estate and requires probate.
Individual Bank Accounts
Key Point
Individual accounts are frozen immediately upon death and require probate or letters of administration to access.
Process for Individual Accounts:
- Account is frozen
Bank freezes account when notified of death. No transactions possible until probate granted.
- Apply for probate
You need probate (or letters of administration) to access funds over £5,000-£10,000 (varies by bank).
- Small estates exception
Some banks release funds under £5,000 without probate for funeral expenses.
- Present probate to bank
Once granted, take probate documents to bank to access and close account.
Funeral Expenses
Banks can release funds for reasonable funeral expenses before probate, usually up to £5,000. Ask your bank about their policy.
When You Need Probate
Probate Required If:
- Individual account over £5,000-£10,000
- Multiple accounts totalling over £10,000
- Complex estate with debts
- Disputed will or beneficiaries
No Probate Needed If:
- Joint accounts only
- Individual accounts under £5,000
- Everything held in trust
- Surviving spouse inherits all
Probate Timeline: Usually takes 6-12 months from application to grant. Simple estates may be faster.
Each Bank Has Different Limits
- HSBC: £50,000 limit
- Barclays: £50,000 limit
- Lloyds: £50,000 limit
- Nationwide: £50,000 limit
- Santander: £50,000 limit
Limits subject to change. Always check with specific bank.
How Long It Takes
Joint Accounts: 1-2 weeks
Quick process once you provide death certificate and ID.
Individual Accounts (Small): 2-4 weeks
For accounts under probate threshold with simple documentation.
Individual Accounts (Probate): 6-12 months
Waiting for probate grant significantly extends timeline.
Speed Up The Process
- Gather all documents before contacting bank
- Use bank's dedicated bereavement team
- Apply for probate early if needed
- Consider professional executor if complex
Common Problems & Solutions
Problem: "We can't find any accounts"
Solution:
- Check for accounts under maiden name or previous names
- Look through old statements and correspondence
- Try different branches of the same bank
- Use the My Lost Account service to trace missing accounts
Problem: "You need probate but account is too small"
Solution:
- Ask to speak with bereavement team manager
- Provide full estate valuation to show total value
- Request exception for funeral expenses
- Consider statutory declaration if under £5,000
Problem: "Joint account holder disputes ownership"
Solution:
- Check original account opening documents
- Look for "tenants in common" vs "joint tenants" designation
- Seek legal advice if dispute continues
- Bank may freeze account until resolved
Problem: "Account is overdrawn"
Solution:
- Overdrafts become estate debts
- Check if deceased had payment protection insurance
- Negotiate payment plan with bank if needed
- Estate may be insolvent if debts exceed assets
Bank-Specific Information
Major UK Bank Bereavement Contact Numbers:
Always call during business hours for bereavement services. Most banks offer priority service for bereaved customers.
Need Help?
Get Your Free Death Admin Checklist
Closing bank accounts is just one part of death administration. Our comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to do, in the right order, with clear deadlines.
- Step-by-step bank account closure process
- Required documents for each type of account
- Template letters for banks and financial institutions
- Probate requirements and timelines
- Who else to notify after a death
Get your free checklist
- What to do in the first 5 days after someone dies
- How to register a death in the UK
- Who to notify (banks, councils, utilities, and more)
- When you might need probate
- Optional tasks like redirecting mail or closing online accounts