Bereavement guidance

• If you’re using a solicitor, they can apply for the Grant of Probate and contact us directly about any Close Brothers Savings deposits.
• If you’re managing things yourself, you can apply online at gov.uk.
• Once you’ve told us about the death and sent an original or official copy of the death certificate, we’ll send you a valuation letter and an executor’s instruction form.
• You’ll then need to return these to us along with the grant of probate.

If a Fixed Rate Bond matures before we receive the Grant of Probate, we’ll move the balance into a temporary account in the deceased customer’s sole name while we wait for the required documents.

The interest rate for this account will be shown in your valuation letter.  Once the funds have been moved, we’ll need to receive the relevant documentation before we can return the money. 

We’re not able to transfer ownership of this type of account.

No. In this instance we’d need all of the following:

• The original death certificate or an official copy
• The original or official copy of the last will and testament
• An indemnity form signed by all executors
• Evidence of the bank account funds will be paid into.

You can find out more information about Probate at gov.uk

Probate can’t be granted until all tax liabilities on an estate have been paid, including inheritance tax.

We can release funds to HMRC for the purposes of paying inheritance tax, provided you supply a completed IHT423 form, inheritance tax reference number and the original or an official copy of the last will and testament.  

For more information on obtaining an inheritance tax reference number please visit gov.uk.