Bereavement FAQs

To let us know someone has died, complete our bereavement notification form.

If you'd prefer to speak to us, call our bereavement team on 0800 587 4565. We’re open Monday to Friday 8am-7pm and Saturday 9am-2pm (closed bank holidays). Or visit a branch.

You can also notify us by post using this address:

Oakfield House
PO Box 600
Coventry
CV3 9YR

If you've let us know someone has died but you're not formally dealing with their estate please can you ask the person dealing with the estate to contact us. We'll register the information on our system and write out to the person with the authority to deal with the estate. You don't need to do anything else.

If the member had savings accounts in their name only, we'll cancel any cash cards on these accounts and also stop payments such as standing orders and Direct Debits from going out of the account. We can't stop payments coming into the account.

If you're formally dealing with the member's estate

If you’ve told us that you’re dealing with the estate, please be aware that we may share your name with other people to tell them that you have this responsibility. After you've registered a death with us, we'll write to you to tell you what happens next. 

It can take a few days to get this information together, so allow up to 10 working days to receive this letter. You don't need to call us.

We'll confirm what else you'll need to send us in this letter.

You may need a solicitor

Many personal representatives act without a solicitor. However, if the estate is large or complicated, you may want to get legal advice.

When you have registered a bereavement with us, if you're the person dealing with the member's estate, we'll write to you to tell you what happens next. 

We'll confirm what else you'll need to send us in this letter. For balances of £50,000 or more we'll need to see the grant of representation. This will need to be the court sealed copy or a certified copy.

At any point, we may ask for grant of representation, regardless of the amount of savings held. Where a will has been left, we may ask to see this. We’ll let you know if we need to.

For total balances of less than £50,000 with us, we'll need:

• Originals or certified copies of either the death certificate or interim death certificate. Here you'll find all our identification and certification information
  
• A completed and signed Account closure form – after bereavement (PDF)
  
• One form of identification from the list below (to confirm who you are) for each personal representative who's named on the form but doesn't currently hold an account with us.

If ID isn't provided we'll complete an Electronic ID Verification (EID) check.

To confirm who you are	Branch	Post
Passport (UK or foreign) - current, valid and full	Original	Certified Copy
Full old style paper driving licence (UK) - current, signed	Original	Certified Copy
Valid UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional)	Original	Certified Copy
EEA photocard driving licence - current	Original	Certified Copy
Blue badge parking permit	Original	Certified Copy
EEA member state identity card	Original	Certified Copy
DWP pension entitlement letter - current year	Original	Original

 

 

For total balances of more than £50,000 with us, we'll need:

• Grant of representation (from the Probate Registry) 

If you’re unsure of how to obtain the documents we need to see, call us on 0800 587 4565.  We’ll do our best to help.

If you’re a personal representative, but you live abroad.

You'll need to complete and sign an Account closure form - after bereavement (PDF) and provide identification if you don't currently hold an account with us. 

We’ll also need a translated death certificate (either original or certified copy) if it's not in English.

Copies of original documents can only be certified by one of the following:

• British Ambassador
• Secretaries of Embassies or Litigation
• Forces abroad
• Charge d'Affaires
• Envoys 
• Consuls
• Consul General
• Notary Public
• Ministers

We can only accept a grant of representation that has been issued in the UK, this is due to Probate Law. Any grant of representation issued in any Commonwealth country must be re-sealed through the Probate Courts in the UK. For other countries not in the Commonwealth you will need to get legal advice and apply for UK Probate.

When you have registered a bereavement with us, if you're the person dealing with the member's estate, we'll write to you to tell you what happens next.

We'll confirm what else you'll need to send us in this letter.

What we may need to see

In order for us to register the death, we'll need to see either the original or certified copy of the death certificate (or interim death certificate). We're unable to accept a photocopy of the death certificate or a version that has been sent to us by email. We'll also need to see the grant of representation.

What else we’ll need from you will depend on whether the mortgage is in a sole name or in joint names. 

For mortgages in sole names:

• You may need a statement of the balance of the mortgage account at the date of death so that you can obtain the grant of representation – we can let you have this.
• The personal representatives of the estate may want to redeem the mortgage and close the account. We can send a redemption statement once we have seen the grant of representation.
  
• An executor can continue to make mortgage payments to the deceased mortgage account to prevent arrears building up.

For mortgages in joint names:

• Joint tenants
  If the property is jointly owned, when we’ve received the death certificate, we'll amend the mortgage account to the name of the remaining account holder(s).
• Tenants in common
  If the property is owned by two or more people as ‘tenants in common’, we’ll need to see an original or certified copy of the grant of representation. This will enable us to discuss, or where required, provide further information to the personal representatives in regards to the mortgage.

If you don't know how to get the documents we need, call us on 0800 587 4565.  We’ll do our best to help. 

Send the documents we've asked for to:

Oakfield House
PO Box 600
Coventry
CV3 9YR

Don't worry, we'll send these documents back to you.

If there's no will and you’re the next of kin, you can apply for grant of representation. This will give you the authority to administer the estate.

If there’s a will, it should say who the executor(s) are. Executors have the authority to deal with the estate of the person who’s died. For example, they can close accounts, deal with solicitors, pay outstanding bills and debts, make legacies and so on.

Administrator
Person(s) appointed to deal with an estate where no will has been left.

Beneficiary
Person(s) who will receive part or all of the estate under a will or intestacy.

Commissioner for oaths
A person appointed to administer oaths. Not always, but often this is a solicitor.

Death certificate
Document issued showing date and cause of death.

Estate
Total of the assets, property, and belongings of the deceased, less any liabilities.

Executor(s)
Person(s) appointed to deal with an estate when a will has been left.

Grant of representation
A term used to describe either a grant of probate or letters of administration.

Intestate/Intestacy
When a person dies without leaving a will. The law will decide who inherits if there is no will.

Inheritance Tax
Inheritance Tax (IHT) may need to be paid on the estate if it’s worth more than a certain amount. The current rate can be found at www.hmrc.gov.uk/inheritancetax

Interim death certificate
If an inquest is required to determine cause of death, an interim death certificate will be issued. This will enable the probate process to start.

Joint tenants
Where two or more people own a property in equal, undivided shares. If one owner dies, the property will pass automatically to the survivor(s), regardless of whether a will has been made, and it doesn’t form part of the deceased’s estate.

Justice of the Peace
Magistrate.

Letters of administration
If there is no will, this certificate is issued by the court authorising persons who are nominated by law to administer the estate.

Next of kin
A person's closest living relative such as a spouse, civil partner, child or sibling.

Personal representative
Either an executor for the estate where a will has been left, or next of kin or administrator of the deceased’s estate where there is no will.

Probate
The process of proving a will by the executors. The term is also commonly used to describe the process of obtaining a grant of representation, even where there is no will.

Tenants in common
Where two or more people own a property in distinct shares. If one owner dies, their share doesn’t pass automatically to the survivor(s) – it will form part of the estate and will pass according to the will or intestacy.

Will
A will informs people what should happen to a person's money, possessions and property after they die (all these things together are called the 'estate'). If there’s a will, it should say who the executor(s) are. Executors have the authority to deal with the estate of the person who’s died. For example, they can close accounts, deal with solicitors, pay outstanding bills and debts, make legacies and so on. If there's not a will and you’re the next of kin, you can apply for grant of representation. This will give you the authority to administer the estate.

After someone's died, there are often expenses to be paid. If they had savings with us, there are some payments that we can make from their accounts, including:

• funeral expenses, memorial stone or plaque, notice of death
  We'll need to see the original invoice. We'll make the payments directly to the supplier, either by cheque or electronic transfer.
  
  
• probate, grant of representation, court fees
  We make the cheque(s) payable to HM Courts and Tribunals Service. 
  
  
• Inheritance Tax
  We'll need a completed HMRC form IHT423 or the probate summary form IHT421 with signed instructions from the executors or administrators.
  
  

Can expenses that have already been paid be reimbursed?

Yes they can. We'll need to see evidence of the payment being made. Both a receipt from the funeral directors and a bank/building society statement confirming the amount paid and the name of who the payment has been made to. We can reimburse these costs either by cheque or electronic transfer.

If you need to make payments from their accounts, you'll need to send a letter and documents we've asked for to: 

Oakfield House
PO Box 600
Coventry
CV3 9YR

Don't worry we'll make sure we send any documents back to you.

• Paying money into the account

If the account is in a sole name, you won't be able to pay any more money in after we've been notified of the death. We're unable to stop electronic payments such as standing orders being received into the account. If you have any specific questions about this, please contact us.

• Cheques

Cheques in the deceased's name that are dated prior to the date of death can be paid into the deceased's accounts.

 

• Interest on the savings

The savings in the account will continue to earn gross interest after the date of death. For ISA accounts, those members who died on or after 6 April 2018, will continue to be paid interest tax-free up until either the completion of the administration of their estate, the date their ISA is closed or on the third anniversary of their death, whichever is the earliest. 

 

• If there are cash cards on the account

If it’s a joint account, you’ll be able to use your card as usual. Any cards held in the name of the person who died will be cancelled – you can destroy these.

 

• Automated payments

Payments on joint accounts will continue to be made as normal. If it’s a sole account, we’ll cancel all Direct Debits and standing orders. Contact us if you think this might be a problem.

Probate is the process of proving a will by the executor(s).

A grant of representation is a certificate issued by the courts – it confirms the authority of the executor(s) to administer the estate.

The term is also used to describe the process of obtaining letters of administration where there is no will.

When to apply for a grant of representation

You’ll probably need to apply for a grant of representation if the estate contains property, land or shares, or if it’s a large or complex estate. You'll also need to do this if their total savings balances in sole accounts with us as the time of death are more than £50,000 (our probate limit). 

You may not need a grant of representation if the estate: 

• Doesn’t include land, property or shares – only cash and personal possessions.
• Will pass automatically to the surviving spouse or civil partner.
• Is small or insolvent.

If you’re not sure, your Probate Registry will be able to help you. Find your local office, go to www.gov.uk and type ‘find a court’ in the search box; click ‘Find a court’ then select ‘Probate’ in the options.

Or call the HMRC Probate and Inheritance Tax Helpline on 0300 123 1072.

If there are any investments with Credit Suisse or Aviva arranged through the Coventry Building Society, contact them directly and they'll be able to help you.

When you have registered a bereavement with us, if you're the person dealing with the member's estate, we'll write to you to tell you what happens next.

It can take a few days to get this information together, so allow up to 10 working days to receive this letter. You don't need to call us.

We'll confirm what else you'll need to send us in this letter.

For mortgages in sole names:

• You may need a statement of the balance of the mortgage account at the date of death so that you can obtain the grant of representation - we can provide you with this.
• The personal representatives of the estate may want to redeem the mortgage and close the account. Once we have seen the grant of representation we can send a redemption statement.

For mortgages in joint names:

Joint tenants -  If the property is jointly owned, when we’ve received the death certificate, we'll amend the mortgage account to the name of the remaining account holder(s).

Tenants in common - If the property is owned by two or more people as ‘tenants in common’, we’ll need to see an original or certified copy of the grant of representation. This will enable us to discuss or where required provide further information to the executors or administrators in regards to the mortgage.

The personal representatives of the estate will then need to seek independent legal advice from a Solicitor in regards to updating the title document. Once this has been amended we can remove their name from the mortgage account.

If you need to add someone to the mortgage account after we've completed this process, you’ll need to talk to one of our mortgage advisors, and any decision will be subject to our lending criteria. 

An executor can continue to make mortgage payments to the deceased mortgage account to prevent arrears building up.

If the mortgage account is redeemed following a death, an early repayment charge may be applied - please contact us and we'll let you know if this is the case. Interest will continue to be accured on all mortgage accounts until redemption.

Call us on 0800 121 8765 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-12pm and we'll try and find an option that may work for you. 

You'll need to register the bereavement with us first.

The easiest way to let us know someone has died is to complete our bereavement notification form.

If you're formally dealing with the member's estate, we'll then write to you to tell you what happens next. 

When we've seen an original or certified copy of the death certificate and the grant of representation, you'll be able to request a mortgage redemption statement by calling us on 0800 121 8765. Check our opening hours as these may vary.

You'll need to register the bereavement with us first.

To let us know someone has died, complete our bereavement notification form.

If you'd prefer to speak to us, call our bereavement team on 0800 121 8765. We’re open Monday to Friday 8am-7pm and Saturday 9am-2pm (closed bank holidays). Or visit a branch.

You can also notify us by post using this address:

Oakfield House
PO Box 600
Coventry
CV3 9YR

If you're formally dealing with the member's estate, we'll then write to you to tell you what happens next. 

If an endowment policy is assigned to the Society, we'll need to see either the death certificate or the grant of representation before claiming the funds on your behalf. If the policy is not assigned to the Society, you'll need to contact the endowment policy company.