If you are the joint holder of an account, the account is transferred to the surviving holder after the bank receives the official Death Certificate. In general, joint accounts are not frozen after one holder passes away, and the funds don't form part of the deceased estate.
Provide documents
the deceased person's death certificate • their current Will • the deeds of any trusts they held. Depending on the value of the estate (property and assets) you may also need: a letter of administration (if there is no valid Will) • a grant of probate (if there is a valid Will).
Bank accounts pass to heirs through an estate or via beneficiary instructions. You can potentially avoid probate with payable on death (POD) beneficiaries or joint tenancy with rights of survivorship. When you die without a will, state laws or automatic transfers determine who receives funds.
If a bank account has no joint owner or designated beneficiary, it will likely have to go through probate. The account funds will then be distributed—after all creditors of the estate are paid off—according to the terms of the will.
Yes. If the bank account is solely titled in the name of the person who died, then the bank account will be frozen. The family will be unable to access the account until an executor has been appointed by the probate court.
Some banks or building societies will allow the executors or administrators to access the account of someone who has died without a Grant of Probate.
Notify insurers and creditors
Ideally, as soon as possible after receiving the death certificate, or within a month of the death.
You should also let the deceased person's bank know. This means that the bank can stop any communications, as well as freezing the account – and stopping any standing orders or direct debits. When you've notified the bank, they can let you know what the next steps will be and which other documentation they might need.
Paying with the bank account of the person who died
It is sometimes possible to access the money in their account without their help. As a minimum, you'll need a copy of the death certificate, and an invoice for the funeral costs with your name on it. The bank or building society might also want proof of your identity.
If the person who died left a valid will, this will name one or more executors, and it is their responsibility to apply for probate. If there isn't a will, then inheritance rules called the rules of intestacy will determine whose responsibility it is to get probate.
It is illegal to withdraw money from any bank account that belongs to somebody who has died. This is even the case for the person who holds power of attorney and who has been able to withdraw money for the deceased when he or she was still alive. The power of attorney comes to an end when the person dies.
Taking money out of a deceased's bank account
Keep in mind that most banks won't allow you to withdraw money from an open account of someone who has died (unless you are the other person named on a joint account) before you have been granted probate (or have a letter of administration).
The law protects people — including family members — from debt collectors who use abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to try to collect a debt. Collectors can also contact any other person with the power to pay debts with assets from the deceased person's estate.
Does a next of kin have legal rights and responsibilities in the event of my death? No. If you have made a Will, your executor(s) will be responsible for arranging your affairs according to your wishes. Your executor may appoint another person to act on their behalf.
There are some fees (known as disbursement costs) that you'll have to pay as part of getting probate. For example, the probate application fee or getting certified copies of certain documents.
Typically, a financial institution like a bank or credit union will require executors to obtain a grant of probate before distributing money in a deceased person's checking or savings account.
Accessing money, property and other assets. If the deceased person left a lot of money or property in his or her estate, the executor or the administrator may have to apply for a grant of representation to gain access to the money. An application for a grant is made to the Probate Registry.
Can a Power of Attorney change a will? It's always best to make sure you have a will in place – especially when appointing a Power of Attorney. Your attorney can change an existing will, but only if you're not 'of sound mind' and are incapable to do it yourself. As ever, these changes should be made in your interest.
It's illegal to take money from a bank account belonging to someone who has died. This is the case even if you hold power of attorney for them and had been able to access the accounts when they were alive. The power of attorney comes to an end when a person dies.
Probate. If you are named in someone's will as an executor, you may have to apply for probate. This is a legal document which gives you the authority to share out the estate of the person who has died according to the instructions in the will. You do not always need probate to be able to deal with the estate.
Joint assets
The most common and straightforward situation where a grant of probate will not be needed is where the deceased owned assets in joint names. This may be property, bank accounts, or life policies, that continue in the name of the survivor.
If the house is deeded to a surviving heir, you may not have to include it in the probate assets. If this is the case, you would be free to take anything out of the home and dispose of the contents the way you choose. If the house is part of probate, you may not be allowed to take anything out of it.
There is no legal requirement that says you have to use a Probate solicitor. You can complete the probate process yourself if you want to. However, the personal representatives are personally liable for the estate administration process.