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Bereavement support
Let us support you through the practical and money-related matters when someone dies.
Who we can talk to about the accounts
Anyone can inform us of a death but to deal with accounts you’ll need to be either:
- a next of kin
- an executor of the deceased’s will
- a personal representative of the deceased.
To review any accounts, we’ll need 2 things
Finding a will
The will helps with what you need to do next. It may have details about the funeral and will name 1 or more executors.
An executor of a will is the person named to carry out their wishes. There should be at least 1 executor and you should let them know what’s happened as soon as possible.
If Lloyds or Bank of Scotland is named as the executor, call us on 0800 056 0171. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Don’t worry if there’s no will in place, you can still get in touch.
A will lets you know the wishes of the person who has died. If you can’t find the will, you may need to contact the deceased's bank, family solicitor or personal accountant, as it may be kept in safe custody.
If there’s no will, an administrator needs to be selected. You can find out more about what to do on the government website, as it can vary across the UK.
Reasons you may need an Executor account
- Collecting and holding money before probate is granted. It allows you to be ready to distribute money when ‘Grant of Probate’ is completed.
- Efficient management. It allows you to collect incoming money, like income from investments or the sale of assets, and pay any bills, debts, and expenses related to the estate efficiently.
- Record keeping. It helps you keep detailed records of all transactions.
- Legal compliance. It helps you comply with legal requirements for managing an estate.
Helpful things to know
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Probate is the legal process that decides who can manage the money, property, and belongings of someone who has died – also known as the estate.
The person who applies to manage the estate legally is often called the personal representative.
- The grant of probate is the legal document issued by the Probate Registry. We may not need to see this; it will depend on the products and services held with us.
- Organisations deal with probate in different ways. You may need to get probate for organisations that are not part of Lloyds Banking Group.
- Getting the legal document back from the Probate Registry usually takes 8 to 16 weeks. Administering the estate can take 9 to 12 months. It can sometimes take longer.
- The personal representative may also be known as:
An executor when there’s a will
An administrator when there isn’t a will - The legal documents are known as:
The grant of probate (when there’s a will in England and Wales)
The grant of letters of administration (when there isn’t a will in England and Wales)
Confirmation in Scotland (whether or not there is a will) - To find out if a Grant is required, please see:
Probate England and Wales, call 0300 303 0648 or visit gov.uk/applying-for-probate
Probate Northern Ireland, visit probate | nidirect
Confirmation Scotland, call 0131 444 3300 or visit mygov.scot/confirmation
If you aren’t sure what probate is or whether you need it, please give us a call on 0800 015 0012. Lines are open 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week.
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Please visit these websites for support services that can help:
Bereavement step-by-step guide
Visit: gov.uk/when-someone-dies
Funeral Directors
National Association of Funeral Directors 0121 711 1343 or visit nafd.org.uk
The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) 0345 230 6777 or visit saif.org.uk
Digital skills training
Going through a bereavement can mean to take on new responsibilities. To help with confidence using the internet, not only for banking but for other things too, we have our Digital Helpline where we are offering free 1-2-1 training sessions.
Visit: halifax.co.uk/helpcentre/get-skills-and-support-near-you
Grief after bereavement or loss (NHS)
Visit: nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/grief-bereavement-loss/
Cruse Bereavement Care
Support, counselling, education, advice and information following a bereavement.
Visit: cruse.org.uk
Citizens Advice
Visit: citizensadvice.org.uk
Information on reporting a death, wills, probate, or inheritance tax
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The government Tell Us Once service
This is a service that lets you tell government organisations about a death. If this is offered, you can let key local and government agencies know over the phone or online.
Once you have registered the death, the staff will explain how it works. They’ll tell you which of these departments will be told:
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
- Passport office
- Local Authority
Visit: Tell Us Once - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Death Notification Service
This is a free service. It allows you to tell other banks and insurance companies of a death at the same time.
Visit: deathnotificationservice.co.uk
Stopping mail
We know that getting mail for someone who has died can be upsetting. The Bereavement Register is a free service that can help get names removed from mailing lists.
Visit: thebereavementregister.org.uk/ or call 0207 089 6403
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Bereavement words and phrases explained Assets
Belongings that have a financial value, including money, investments, property and their possessions.
Beneficiary
A person or an organisation who’s been left something in a will or trust.
Confirmation
In Scotland the probate is called confirmation.
Current valuation
A document that confirms the value of any remaining cash or stock held within the person’s accounts at the time of death.
Distribution of assets
This is the process of selling assets held within a share dealing account as instructed by the named executor of the account.
Estate
All of the person’s assets, are usually detailed in their will.
Executor
The person, named in a will, who carries out the wishes of a person who’s died.
Grant of representation
A legal document that outlines who can deal with the estate left by the person who’s died.
Grant of Probate
The legal court document that confirms the executors' authority to deal with an estate. If there’s a will, you’ll need to get a Grant of Probate from the Probate Registry. If the estate is held in joint names and passes automatically to the surviving owner (as is often the case with married couples), you may not need to apply for probate.
Intestate
The term is used when a person has died without a will being made.
Letters of Administration
If there is no executor named in a will, then this lets a named person deal with the estate.
Liabilities
This covers any debt left when someone passes, and costs involved with settling an estate.
Personal representatives
The executors and administrators are called personal representatives as a group.
Probate
The process to get permission from the court to deal with the deceased person’s estate.
Trade
A deal to buy or sell an investment such as shares.
Trust
This is when money or property is held for someone under restrictions, such as until they reach a certain age. A trust can also allow assets to go to someone else before they pass.
Will
A legal document drawn up and witnessed during the person’s lifetime that outlines who receives a share of any assets when they pass.
What happens to accounts?
Understand what happens with each different type of account we have for a person that has died.
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Sole name
What happens with sole accounts when someone has passed away What happens?
Regular payments
Statements and letters
What happens?
- The accounts will be frozen, and cards and cheque books cancelled.
- If we receive money, after the account has been frozen, we’ll return it to the sender.
- Any interest will still be paid until the account is closed.
- All fees and interest will be stopped.
Regular payments
- We’ll stop all standing orders and Direct Debit payments.
- We can give you a list of payments from the accounts, this will help you decide if you need to set up new payments.
- You should contact the original company to make or cancel future payments.
- Note, we can’t stop subscription payments from leaving the account. You’ll have to contact these companies to cancel the subscription.
Statements and letters
- We’ll stop sending statements and most letters, once we’ve been told of the death.
- Some of the communications we send out are made up to 6 weeks in advance. This means we can’t stop these being sent.
- Bereavement related communications will be sent to the personal representative.
Joint account
What happens with joint accounts when someone has passed away What happens?
Taking money out
Regular payments
What happens?
Accounts will be transferred to the remaining account holder and stay open.
Taking money out
The remaining account holder will be able to use the account as normal. If there is a cheque book, it will be reissued in the remaining account holder’s name.
Regular payments
Standing orders and Direct Debits will continue and the remaining account holder can be given a list of payments to check.
Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)
A spouse or civil partner can claim an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) allowance on their ISA.
Claiming an APS gives the spouse or civil partner an extra tax-free ISA allowance to the value of the deceased’s ISA. For example, if they held £20,000 in their ISA this can be added on top of the spouse or civil partner’s ISA allowance for the tax year. On registering the bereavement, we’ll discuss this as an option.
Children's savings accounts
If the person who died was a trustee of a child’s account a new trustee is needed. If the child is 16 or over, you’ll need to decide if the money can be given to the child.
Inheritance Tax
How much Inheritance Tax needs to be paid will depend on the value of the estate and who inherits it. See www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax to find out more.
Share Dealing
If you are looking after an investment account, we can give additional help and practical support on our Investments page.
If you need help with a Share Dealing Account, please call 0800 876 6847 or +44 (0) 113 270 1154 from abroad. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.
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Sole name
What happens with sole name mortgages when someone has passed away What happens?
Making payments
Mortgage options
What happens?
- Mortgage payments will remain due. We don’t expect you to make them for up to 18 months from the date the person died. This allows you time to get probate. The amount owed will increase.
- We’ll cancel any Direct Debits paying the mortgage.
- This means the mortgage will fall into arrears. We are required by the Financial Conduct Authority to write and tell you. You don’t need to take any action when you get these letters.
Making payments
If you want to still make mortgage payments while probate is received, this can be arranged.
Mortgage options
Once probate is in place, you have the option to pay off the mortgage.
Joint names
What happens with joint name mortgages when someone has passed away What happens?
Making payments
Mortgage options
What happens?
- If the mortgage is held in joint names, the monthly payments will continue.
- Usually, the mortgage will transfer to the name of the remaining owner. Sometimes this is more complicated, if so, we’ll advise you on the next steps.
- If the person left on the account needs to change or discuss the monthly payments, speak to one of our Mortgage Advisers.
Making payments
We appreciate that some people find it hard to keep payments up to date, while trying to look after the estate. If payments aren’t made, the account will fall into arrears and the amount owed will increase. This could affect the mortgage holder’s credit rating. We’ll let them know if the account is in arrears.
Mortgage options
Once probate is in place, you have the option to pay off the mortgage.
If you need to speak to one of our Mortgage Advisers call us on 0345 850 3705. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm.
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Sole account
Any personal debt in 1 or more sole accounts can be paid from the estate - representatives aren’t personally liable for the debt.
What happens with sole account debts when someone has passed away Overdraft
Personal loan
Credit card
Overdraft
You’ll need to speak to our specialist bereavement team to find out if there is any money in the estate to pay back the overdraft.
Personal loan
- All regular payments set up to pay the loan will stop.
- If the loan is covered by Payment Protection Insurance, we’ll tell you how to make a claim.
- If not, you need to speak to our specialist bereavement team to find out if there are any funds in the estate to pay back the loan.
Credit card
- All regular payments to and from the credit card will stop.
- Note, we can’t stop subscription payments from leaving the account. You’ll have to contact these companies to cancel the subscription.
- If the credit card is covered by Payment Protection Insurance, we’ll tell you how to make a claim.
- If there’s no cover, speak to our specialist bereavement team to find out if there is any money to pay back the amount owed on the credit card.
- If there is an additional cardholder, they won’t be able to use the account.
Joint account
What happens with joint account debts when someone has passed away Overdraft
Personal loan
Overdraft
Responsibility for the overdraft passes to the remaining account holder.
Personal loan
Responsibility for the repayments passes to the remaining account holder on the loan. The loan can also be paid off in full.
If further support is needed, speak to our Specialist Bereavement Team call us on 0800 028 1057 or +44 (0) 113 366 0145 from abroad. Lines are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
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Sole name
What happens with a sole name buildings and contents insurance policy when someone has passed Cover on a property
If no one is living in the property, or if someone else has moved in
I have financial interest in the property, but I’m not named on the policy
Cover on a property
- A policy in a sole name can be changed to an executor’s policy.
- If the policy is paid by Direct Debit, we’ll need new payment details to allow the policy to continue.
If no one is living in the property, or if someone else has moved in
It’s important to contact us to tell us of any changes. This will allow us to tell you if the policy can continue or not and what will happen next.
I have financial interest in the property, but I’m not named on the policy
We may be able to add you to the existing policy. We’ll need to check a few things with you. This will include your details and if the current cover remains suitable.
Joint names
What happens with a joint name buildings and contents insurance policy when someone has passed Cover on a property
Cover on a property
The policy can be changed to a sole name. It’s important to speak to us to make sure the cover is still suitable. We’ll also need to check the billing details. This will make sure future payments come from an active account.
If you need further help or to update a policy, speak to Home Customer Services:
- If the policy number begins HAP call 0345 300 5178
- For other policies, call 0345 604 6473
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.
Letting other companies know
The person who has died may have had accounts you weren’t aware of. We’re part of a wider group, so if they had accounts with any of the companies listed, we’ll inform them. Other companies will need you to contact them.
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Companies we’ll contact for you |
Companies you’ll need to speak to |
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Companies we’ll contact for you Lloyds Bank of Scotland Scottish Widows Clerical Medical MBNA Birmingham Midshires |
Companies you’ll need to speak to Black Horse: 0344 824 8888 Lex Autolease: 0800 389 3690 Lloyds Bank Car Finance: 0333 202 7946 Bank of Scotland Car Finance: 0333 202 7943 Halifax Car Finance: 0333 202 7940 Intelligent Finance 0345 609 4343 |
Estate Administration Service
As part of our wider group, we can introduce you to the Lloyds Bank Estate Administration Service. Helping bereaved families deal with various legal, financial and practical matters. From helping you obtain probate - to taking on the role of executor, we can be involved as little or as much as you need.
Our initial support and guidance is fee-free and without obligation. If you'd like to find out more, you can speak to one of our bereavement advisers on 0800 056 0171 or +44(0)1733 286 482 if calling from abroad. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Extra support
Calls and online sessions may be monitored and recorded. Not all Telephone Banking services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
