When someone dies, their bank freezes any account held in their sole name as soon as it is notified, so no one can withdraw from it. To release the money, the personal representative usually needs a grant of probate, unless the balance sits below the bank's small-estate limit, in which case the bank may pay out on a death certificate and a simple form instead.
This applies to a single-name current or savings account in England and Wales. The amount held decides whether probate is needed, a joint account behaves differently, and a frozen account can still cover the funeral and the inheritance tax bill before the grant arrives.
Is a bank account frozen when someone dies?
Yes, a sole account is normally frozen once the bank is told the holder has died. From that point, direct debits and standing orders stop, no card payments go through, and no one, including the next of kin or the executor, can withdraw the balance until the bank has the paperwork it needs. The account still accrues any interest, and the bank keeps a record for the personal representative.
Report the death to the bank quickly, ideally within a few days, so the account is protected against fraud. Many providers run a dedicated bereavement team and accept notification through the government's free Tell Us Once service (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Do you need probate to release the money?
It depends on the balance. Each bank sets its own small-estate limit, and below it many banks release funds on a certified death certificate and a short declaration, without a grant. Above it, the bank asks for a grant of probate, or letters of administration where there is no will, before it pays out. These limits are bank policy, not law, and commonly range from about £5,000 to £50,000.
| Situation | What the bank usually needs | Grant of probate? |
|---|---|---|
| Balance below the bank's small-estate limit | Certified death certificate, the bank's bereavement or small-estate declaration form, and ID for the person claiming | Not usually required |
| Balance above the bank's small-estate limit | Certified death certificate plus the sealed grant of probate or letters of administration | Required before release |
Small-estate limits vary by provider and are set at the bank's discretion; confirm the current figure directly. Learn what probate is and when it applies. As at August 2026, subject to change.
How to tell the bank and close the account
Closing a deceased person's account follows a set order: register the death, gather the documents, notify each provider, then claim or transfer the balance. A death must be registered within 5 days in England and Wales, and that produces the certificate every bank asks to see (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- Register the death and order certified copies. Register within 5 days at a register office, then buy several certified copies, because banks, pension providers and utilities each want to see one and often will not accept photocopies.
- List every account and provider. Note current, savings, ISA and joint accounts, plus any digital-only banks such as Monzo, Starling or Chase, which are easy to miss because there is no paper statement.
- Notify each bank's bereavement team. Give the death certificate, the account details and ID for the executor or administrator. The bank freezes the sole account and issues a date-of-death balance for the estate accounts.
- Check whether the balance is below the bank's limit. If it is, complete the bank's small-estate form and the money is usually released within a few weeks. If it is above, apply for the grant first.
- Claim or transfer the balance and close the account. Once the bank has its paperwork, it pays the balance to the estate account or the beneficiary and closes the account, providing a closing statement for the estate records.
Can you pay the funeral and inheritance tax before probate?
Often, yes. Even while an account is frozen, a bank will usually pay the funeral bill directly to the funeral director from the deceased's own funds, on sight of the invoice, before any grant. Some banks also release money for the probate application fee and the inheritance tax due, which avoids relatives paying large sums from their own pockets.
Inheritance tax has its own route out of a frozen account. Under HMRC's Direct Payment Scheme, a bank, building society or National Savings and Investments can pay inheritance tax straight to HMRC from the deceased's account before probate, using form IHT423. This breaks the common deadlock, where you need to pay the tax to get the grant, but need the grant to reach the money. You first apply for an inheritance tax reference number on form IHT422, then send one IHT423 to each provider (gov.uk, IHT423, as at August 2026, subject to change).
What happens to a joint account?
A joint account normally passes straight to the surviving holder and is not frozen, which is the opposite of a sole account. Most UK joint accounts are held as joint tenants, so on the first death the balance passes to the survivor by the right of survivorship, outside the will and usually without probate. The deceased's share can still count towards inheritance tax. See our detailed guide on what happens to a joint bank account when one person dies.
Is money in a bank account subject to inheritance tax?
Yes, cash in a bank or savings account forms part of the estate and counts towards inheritance tax, alongside property, investments and other assets. Whether any tax is due depends on the estate's total value against the available allowances. A transfer to a surviving spouse or civil partner is normally exempt, and the main thresholds are frozen until 5 April 2031 (end of the 2030-31 tax year), a freeze extended at the Budget on 26 November 2025 (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
| Allowance or rate | Level (August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Nil-rate band | £325,000 |
| Residence nil-rate band | Up to £175,000 |
| Standard rate | 40% |
| Reduced rate (10%+ of net estate to charity) | 36% |
| Residence band taper threshold | £2,000,000 |
Source: gov.uk/inheritance-tax. The residence nil-rate band reduces by £1 for every £2 the estate exceeds £2,000,000. Thresholds frozen until 5 April 2031. See our guide to inheritance tax. As at August 2026, subject to change.
What happens to a bank account if there is no will?
The account still forms part of the estate, but who deals with it and who inherits follow the intestacy rules rather than a will. An administrator, usually the closest relative, applies for letters of administration to release funds above the bank's limit, and the balance passes under the statutory order of priority, starting with a spouse or civil partner and children (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). Writing a valid will avoids leaving this to a fixed formula.
What people get wrong about accessing a deceased person's account
The most common error is assuming a spouse or next of kin can simply withdraw from a sole account. They cannot: the bank freezes it until the personal representative produces a grant or a small-estate declaration. Other frequent mistakes are using the deceased's card after death, paying the funeral or tax personally when the bank would have paid it, and overlooking app-only accounts.
- Assuming the next of kin can just withdraw the money. Being a spouse or child gives no automatic right to a sole account. The bank freezes it until the executor produces the grant or a small-estate declaration.
- Using the account after death. Continuing to draw on a card or app once the holder has died can amount to fraud, even for household bills. Route payments through the estate instead.
- Paying the funeral or tax personally when the bank would have paid it. Ask the bank about paying the funeral director and inheritance tax from the deceased's own funds before reaching for your own money.
- Forgetting digital-only accounts. App-based banks leave no paper trail, so scan emails and card statements so nothing is left frozen and forgotten.
- Confusing joint and sole accounts. A joint account usually keeps working for the survivor; a sole account does not.
Frequently asked questions
The questions below cover the points families raise most often after a death: when a sole account is frozen, whether relatives can reach any money before probate, how long release takes, the small-estate threshold, what happens with no will, and what an executor can do before the grant. Each answer reflects general bank practice in England and Wales.
Is a bank account frozen immediately when someone dies?
A sole account is frozen once the bank is notified of the death, not the moment the person dies. From then, withdrawals, card payments, direct debits and standing orders stop until the bank has the paperwork it needs. Report the death promptly to protect the account against fraud (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Can family access money from the account before probate?
Not by withdrawing it directly. However, a bank will usually pay the funeral bill, the probate fee and inheritance tax from the deceased's own frozen account before the grant, and where the balance is below the bank's small-estate limit it may release the whole sum on a death certificate and a form (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
How long does it take to access a bank account after someone dies?
Where the balance is below the bank's small-estate limit, funds are often released within a few weeks of the bank receiving the death certificate and its form. Where probate is needed, the timescale depends on the grant, which can take several weeks or more once the application is submitted (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
What is the small-estate threshold for releasing a bank account without probate?
There is no single figure. Each bank sets its own limit, commonly somewhere between about £5,000 and £50,000, below which it may release funds without a grant. It is set at the bank's discretion rather than by law, so ask the specific provider for its current threshold (as at August 2026, subject to change).
What happens to a bank account if there is no will?
The account forms part of the estate and passes under the intestacy rules. An administrator applies for letters of administration to release funds above the bank's limit, and the balance is shared in the statutory order of priority, starting with a spouse or civil partner and children (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Can an executor access a bank account before probate is granted?
Only in limited ways. An executor cannot freely withdraw from a frozen sole account before the grant, but can usually arrange for the bank to pay the funeral, the probate fee and inheritance tax from the deceased's funds, and can claim the whole balance where it falls below the bank's small-estate limit (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).