Documents Required to Close a Bank Account After Death

What you need to close a deceased person's bank account depends on two things: whether the account is sole or joint, and whether the balance is above or below the bank's probate threshold. The core documents are consistent across all banks. This guide covers exactly what you need, when you need it, and why.

The documents: an overview

There are two stages in closing a bank account after death. The first is notification - telling the bank someone has died and getting the account frozen. The second is closure - instructing the bank to release the funds and close the account. Different documents are required at each stage.

Stage 1: Notifying the bank

At the notification stage you need:

1. The death certificate

This is the most important document. Banks require an original certified copy - not a photocopy - issued by the register office when you registered the death. Most banks will return the original to you after taking their own copy. Some will accept a digital image or certified copy, but confirm this with the bereavement team first.

Order at least ten certified copies when you register the death. Each copy costs £11 at registration. Ordering additional copies later through the General Register Office costs the same but takes longer. Running short slows down the entire administration. Ten copies is not excessive - banks, HMRC, pension providers, investment platforms, insurance companies, the Land Registry, and DVLA may all need one.

2. Your proof of identity

As executor or administrator, you need to prove who you are. A current passport or driving licence is accepted by all banks. Some banks also accept a national identity card if you have one.

3. Your proof of address

A utility bill or bank statement dated within the last three months. Council tax letters, HMRC correspondence, and GP letters are also widely accepted. It must show your current address.

4. The will (sometimes required at this stage)

Some banks ask to see the will when you notify them, particularly for larger accounts. They use it to confirm that you are the named executor. You do not need a sealed grant at this point - just the original will or a certified copy. Not all banks require this at notification. Ask the bereavement team what they need.

Stage 2: Closing the account and releasing funds

What you need to close the account depends on the balance.

If the balance is below the bank's threshold

Below the threshold - typically £25,000 to £50,000 depending on the bank - no Grant of Probate is required. You provide:

• Completed bereavement or small estate indemnity form (the bank provides this)
• Death certificate
• Your proof of identity
• Your proof of address
• Bank account or sort code details for the estate account to receive the funds

The indemnity form is a signed declaration that you are entitled to the funds and that you accept liability if another legitimate claimant comes forward later. Banks use it to protect themselves in the absence of a formal grant.

If the balance is above the bank's threshold

You must wait for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration before the bank will close the account and release funds. You will need:

• Sealed copy of the Grant of Probate (if there is a will) or Letters of Administration (if there is no will) - a sealed copy has the court's official stamp; a photocopy does not count
• Completed bank closure instruction or bereavement form
• Death certificate
• Your proof of identity
• Estate bank account details to receive the funds

Sealed copies of the grant are available from the Probate Registry at £16 each. Order at least six to eight when you apply for probate - you will need them for each institution holding assets above their threshold.

Documents for joint accounts

Joint accounts are simpler. The surviving account holder needs:

• Death certificate
• Their own proof of identity

No probate is required. The account passes to the survivor by right of survivorship and the bank transfers it to their sole name on sight of the death certificate.

What if the bank asks for the original will?

Some banks request the original will at the closure stage, not just a copy. You do not have to hand it over permanently - ask the bank to take a copy and return the original. If they insist on retaining it, ask for written confirmation that they hold it and will return it on request. The original will is an important document and you should not leave it with any organisation without getting a receipt.

What if you do not have the will?

If the deceased did not leave a will, or no will can be found, you apply for Letters of Administration rather than a Grant of Probate. The documents required by the banks are the same - sealed copies of the Letters of Administration in place of sealed copies of the Grant of Probate. See our guide to finding a will after someone dies if you are unsure whether a will exists.

What if the death certificate is a foreign document?

If the person died abroad, the death certificate will be in the local language and format. Most major UK banks will accept a foreign death certificate, but they typically require a certified translation into English. Some banks also accept an apostille (an official authentication mark). Contact the bank's bereavement team to confirm their specific requirements before obtaining the translation - it saves time and cost.

A practical document checklist

Before contacting any bank, have the following ready:

• At least five to ten certified death certificates
• Your passport or driving licence
• A recent utility bill or bank statement (your address)
• The original will or a certified copy (if there is one)
• Details of the estate bank account (sort code and account number)
• A list of every institution you need to contact and approximate balances

If the balances exceed the bank thresholds, add the sealed Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to this list once the grant has been issued.

For the full process of closing each account once you have these documents, see how to close a bank account after someone dies. To understand which documents are needed for probate itself, see documents needed for probate.

Savings accounts, cash ISAs, and NS&I: what documents are required?

The requirements for closing a savings account after someone dies are essentially the same as for a current account, but there are a few important differences to be aware of.

Savings accounts (including building society accounts)

For savings accounts held at banks or building societies, the documents required are the same: death certificate, your proof of identity and address, and the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration if the balance exceeds the institution's threshold. Most banks treat savings accounts and current accounts identically for bereavement purposes — what matters is the balance, not the account type.

Building societies sometimes have lower bereavement thresholds than banks, and some smaller building societies may require original documents rather than certified copies. Always call the bereavement team first to confirm what they need before sending documents.

Cash ISAs

A cash ISA held by the deceased forms part of the estate. Unlike the pre-2018 rules, the ISA tax wrapper does not end on the date of death for deaths on or after 6 April 2018. Instead, the ISA automatically becomes a Continuing Account of a Deceased Investor (CADI), which retains its tax-free wrapper until whichever of the following happens first: the executor closes it, estate administration is complete, or three years after the date of death. To close a cash ISA after death, you need the same documents as for any other savings account — death certificate, your proof of identity, and the Grant of Probate if the balance is above the ISA provider's threshold.

A surviving spouse or civil partner can apply for an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) allowance — an additional ISA allowance equal to the higher of the deceased's ISA value at the date of death or the value at the point the CADI closes. This is separate from the estate process and does not require the ISA itself to be transferred — the survivor applies to their own ISA provider using the APS paperwork from the deceased's ISA provider.

NS&I (National Savings and Investments)

NS&I holds Premium Bonds, Investment Accounts, Income Bonds, and other products. NS&I has its own bereavement process. To close accounts or transfer Premium Bonds, you need:

• A completed NS&I bereavement claim form (available on the NS&I website or by calling 08085 007 007)
• An original death certificate
• The Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration if the total NS&I holdings exceed £5,000
• Your proof of identity

Premium Bonds cannot simply be transferred to beneficiaries — they must be cashed in, or the beneficiary can purchase new bonds in their own name. NS&I continues entering the deceased's bonds into the monthly prize draw for up to twelve months after the date of death. Any prizes won during this period are held and paid as part of the estate claim once settled.

Multiple savings accounts at the same bank

If the deceased held several accounts at the same bank (for example, a current account, a savings account, and a fixed-rate bond), the bank will usually apply its probate threshold to the combined total of all accounts held with them — not to each account individually. This means a modest savings account alongside a larger current account may still require a Grant of Probate if the combined balance exceeds the bank's threshold.

What about the account being frozen — how long does that last?

The bank freezes the account as soon as you notify them. It stays frozen until you provide the documents above. For accounts below the threshold, this can be resolved in a matter of weeks. For accounts requiring probate, the freeze typically lasts four to six months. Our guide to how long bank accounts are frozen after death covers the full timeline in detail, including what affects the length of the freeze and when funds can be released early (such as for funeral costs). If you have not notified the bank yet, see are bank accounts frozen when someone dies for what happens step by step on notification.