We are experiencing a high number of calls at the moment. So that we can support those in the most vulnerable situations, please only call if it’s urgent. Remember, you can do most of your banking tasks yourself online, either using our app or through Online Banking.

Losing a loved one

When you've lost someone, speaking to banks will be the last thing on your mind.

We're here to help make the process as simple as possible.

Get in touch

There are three ways to let us know a loved one has died: online, over the phone or in branch.

What to expect

We’ll ask you for details about the person that’s died and your relationship to them. If you haven’t found a will, don’t worry, we can still help. You’ll need their account details to help us find and protect the accounts. Once we’ve received your request we may need to call you to confirm some further details. 

We’ll also need to speak to the executor or next of kin. If that’s you, then you’ll need:

  • The death certificate
  • Proof of your identity

The documents we accept are listed below.

Contact us online

Notification – If you’re still waiting for proof of death 

You can tell us about the death of a customer without proof of death using our online notification form.

 

Registration – If you have proof of death 

You can use our online Bereavement Registration form .*

We'll need to see proof of death and proof of your identity. You can upload a scan or photograph of this. The documents we accept are listed below.

*The Bereavement Registration form should be completed by an Executor, Personal Representative or Solicitor acting on behalf of the deceased customer’s accounts.

Call us

If you already have a death certificate, please call our Specialist Bereavement Team and we’ll guide you through the next steps.

Call us on 0800 028 1057. Lines are open 8am -8pm, seven days a week.

If you are calling from abroad, you can call us on +44 (0) 113 366 0145.

The challenging times we’re all experiencing means our call wait times are much longer than usual, but we’ll answer as quickly as we can.

Visit us

You can arrange to meet with one of our Bereavement Specialists in branch.

Call us on 0800 028 1057 to book an appointment.

Find your local branch

Following the Government's confirmation of new measures to tackle Coronavirus we are aiming to keep as many of our branches open as possible, but have had to make some changes to opening hours and services.  Click on the link above to find out about our updated branch opening hours and temporary branch closures.

Help with funeral bill payments

When you register, we can support you if you need help arranging payment for a funeral bill or other urgent expenses. There must be sufficient funds available in the deceased customer’s accounts.

You’ll need to provide a copy of the funeral bill. If you are not ready to provide this information today, you can contact us at a later date to arrange.

What happens next?

During our conversation, we’ll take the time to support you, talk you through each stage and make sure we understand exactly what you need. Then, we’ll go ahead and make any relevant changes. We can do things like close any of their accounts or put joint accounts in the surviving person’s name.

Once you have notified us of a death we will notify these brands in Lloyds Banking Group so you don’t have to:

  • Halifax
  • Lloyds Bank
  • Bank of Scotland
  • MBNA

Once we’ve received a death certificate, we will also notify these brands for you:

  • Scottish Widows
  • Clerical Medical
  • Birmingham Midshires

You’ll still need to tell any other banks. You can do this with the free Death Notification Service.

As we handle your case, if we need any more information, we'll let you know.

Depending on the balance on the accounts, a Grant Of Probate/Confirmation may be required. If this is the case we’ll let you know.

  • Here's a list of the documents we can accept:

    • UK Death Certificate - England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
    • Interim Death Certificate/Coroners Certificate - England, Wales and Northern Ireland
    • Abbreviated Extract of Death - Scotland
    • Grant of Representation – This refers to one of the following:
      • Foreign Death Certificate
      • Grant of Probate - England, Wales and Northern Ireland
      • Letters of Administration - England, Wales and Northern Ireland
      • Certificate/Grant of Confirmation - Scotland

  • Here’s a list of the documents we can accept:

    • A valid UK driving licence
    • EU/ EEA driving licence
    • A valid signed passport
    • EU/EEA identity card

    If you aren't an existing Lloyds Banking Group customer, we may also need you to provide proof of your address. We can accept any one of the following documents, dated in the last three months: 

    • Bank, Building Society or Credit Union Statement
    • Local Authority tax bill
    • Local council rent card / statement 
    • Mortgage statement
    • Solicitor's correspondence 
    • Utility Bill / Utility statement 
    • Certificate / Letter from a utilities supplier

  • 1.  Who should contact the bank after someone dies?

    We need to speak to one of these people:

    • The executor named in the will
    • Next of kin
    • Representative (if there’s no will)

    When you call us, we’ll ask for your ID – we do this to make sure you’re the right person to handle this process.

    2. Do I need to go into a branch?

    No you don’t. For most people, we can handle the entire process on the phone and you can send us any documents after we speak. Plus, if you have an account with us, we can use your telephone banking details to identify you.

    3. How do I pay for the funeral and other urgent expenses?

    If the deceased has money in their account, it can be used for:

    • Inheritance tax
    • The funeral
    • Probate fees
    • Confirmation fees  

    4. Can I take money out of a joint account?

    As the surviving account holder, you can keep using your joint account. If this changes, we'll let you know.

    5. What happens to standing orders and direct debits?

    This depends on if it’s a joint account or if the account was only in their name. For joint accounts, your regular payments will stay in place. If you want to cancel a Direct Debit, please let us know.
     
    If the account was only in their name, we'll stop all regular payments. Then we'll give you a list of these payments, so you can contact the right companies to either cancel or keep making them.
     
    6. What happens to the mortgage?

    How we handle mortgages depends on if it's in joint names or just their name:

    Joint names
    If it's in joint names, we'll usually transfer it to the other person named on the account. We might also need to transfer the payments if they were made from just the deceased's account.

    Sole name
    If the mortgage was just in their name, we won't take any payments for the first 3 months after you've reported the death. However, interest will still continue to be added to the mortgage, so you may want to arrange payments to prevent arrears.

    If you want to keep the property, we can arrange an appointment with a Mortgage Adviser to talk through your options.

    7. What happens to an outstanding personal loan?

    If the loan was just in the name of the person who died and they had money in other accounts, we’ll talk to you about your options. If the loan was in joint names, the other person named in the loan needs to keep making the monthly payments. If the loan is covered by insurance, we’ll tell you how to make a claim.
     
    8. What happens to credit cards?

    Additional cardholders won’t be able to use their card anymore. If the person who died had money to pay off on their credit card, we'll contact you and let you know your options. Usually, we use the banking or saving balances they have with us to pay this off. If their card is covered by credit card repayment insurance, we’ll tell you how to make a claim and what to do with the cards.
    When the balance is paid, we close the account.

    9. What is probate?

    If you're named in someone's will as the executor, you may need to apply for a grant of representation. If there's a will, this is called a grant of probate; if there isn't, it's called letters of administration. It gives you the legal right to deal with their estate and do the things they've asked for in their will. You can apply for a grant of probate from the Probate Registry. They'll send this to you after:

    • They check the will is valid
    • You've sent the right application forms
    • All taxes are paid

    The process of getting the grant and the document you use to manage the estate is called probate. If you need help applying for probate, we can put you in touch with our colleagues at Lloyds Bank.

    Take a look at their services

    In Scotland, this process is different. It is called Confirmation and is usually handled at the Sheriff Court.
     
    10. Can I tell you online?

    If you’re not ready to talk to us yet, you can start the process with an online form. Then when you're ready, we can help you finish the rest.
     
    11. How do I get a death certificate?

    When someone dies, you’ll get a medical certificate which shows the cause of death. If you take this to a registrar of births, deaths and marriages, they'll give you a death certificate. You need this when you talk to many companies to prove someone has actually died.

    Ask for more than one copy of this because you'll have to show it a few times.
     
    Sometimes, the cause of death isn't known. If this is the case, the coroner will give you an interim certificate. It will confirm a death has happened and you can use it instead of a death certificate.

  • Assets
    Any property or possession with monetary value.

    Beneficiary
    Anyone that gets something from the Estate.

     Estate
    The total sum of assets left after all debts have been paid.

    Executor
    The person named in a will to carry out the wishes of the person who has died.

    Intestate
    The term used when the person has died without a will in place.

    Letters of administration
    This is a document that lets you deal with the deceased's estate. You'd get this if there isn't an executor.

    Liabilities
    This is any debt the deceased has. Or any cost an executor has had to pay while handling the estate.

    Personal Representatives
    As a group, executors and administrators are called personal representatives.

    Trust
    A trust is when you hold money or property for someone else. Normally, people do this for children until they're old enough to handle their money.

    Will
    A legal document that says who benefits from the estate and in what way. It also names an executor. This is the person who carries out the wishes in the will. If there is no will, it's called intestate.  

  • Citizens Advice Bureau
    For legal help or to get contacts for counselling: visit: www.adviceguide.org.uk

    Cruse Bereavement Care
    For general information, counselling and support.
    Call: 0808 808 1677 or visit: www.cruse.org.uk

    Death Notification Service
    When someone dies, you can tell many companies at the same. Visit: www.deathnotificationservice.co.uk

    Gov.uk
    For help with what to do after someone dies visit: www.gov.uk/after-a-death

    For information on reporting a death, wills, probate or inheritance tax visit: www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages/death

    HM Inheritance Tax
    For help with tax issues.
    Call: 0845 302 0900 or visit: www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax

    Probate
    To apply for powers to process the will in England and Wales:
    Call: 0845 302 0900 or visit www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance

    To apply for powers to process the will in Scotland:
    Apply at your local sheriffs court
    Call: 0131 334 0380 or visit: www.mygov.scot/confirmation

    The Bereavement Register
    You can use this to take the deceased’s name and addresses off mailing lists or other databases.
    Call: 0207 089 6403 or visit: www.thebereavementregister.co.uk

Bereavement support guide

We know there’s a lot to process, so we've created a personal guide with more information on your next steps. We've broken down each step in more detail and given useful answers to other questions you may have. You'll find more on how we can help you, what to do with accounts and anything else you may need to do.

Other accounts

If you're dealing with one of these accounts, our guides are here to help.

Calls may be monitored or recorded in case we need to check you’ve carried out your instructions correctly and to help improve our quality of service.