Bereavement Support
We’re sorry to hear you’ve lost someone and understand it might be difficult to deal with their accounts. To help make things a bit easier, we’ll guide you through the practical and money-related matters involving a person’s death.
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
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This will need to be an original copy from the registrar.
We can also accept an interim death certificate or a coroner’s certificate (‘Certificate of coroner’).
To register a death
- Get a medical certificate from the hospital, GP or coroner.
- Register their death on GOV.UK or register at your local Register Office.
Once registered, you'll receive a death certificate which companies may ask to see. We recommend getting more than 1 copy.
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- We’ll need to identify the person dealing with the estate.
- If you need to talk to us, we’ll identify you by asking you some security questions.
- If you’re visiting the branch and you’re also a customer, bring your debit card or 1 form of ID with you.
- If you don’t have an account with us, bring 2 forms of ID. At least 1 will need your residential address on it.
Examples of the ID we accept
- Valid passport (full and signed).
- Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card.
- UK valid photo card full or provisional driving licence.
- EEA valid photo card driving licence.
- Disabled driver pass.
- HMRC assessment or statement.
- Most recent council tax bill.
- Local council rent card or tenancy agreement.
- Most recent utility bill.
Finding a will
Useful 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 the websites below 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
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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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.
You can call them on 0207 089 6403 or visit thebereavementregister.org.uk
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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
The assets (such as, money, investments, property, personal possessions etc.) left by a deceased person.
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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Additional cardholders named on accounts won’t be able to use their cards anymore.
If the deceased person owed money on any credit cards, there are several options. We’ll go through all your options when you call us.
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If the loan was just in the deceased’s name and they have money in their other accounts, we’ll discuss your options when you get in touch.
If the loan was in joint names, the other person named on the loan needs to keep making the monthly repayments. If the loan is covered by insurance, we’ll let you know how to make a claim.
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When you call our team of specialists, we’ll discuss all the options available regarding the savings account.
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If you’ve lost a loved one, and need to let us know, you can contact our specialist bereavement team on 0345 266 6679.
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm and Saturday, 9am-1pm.
Letting other companies know
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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 Halifax Bank of Scotland Scottish Widows Clerical Medical 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 |