Bank accounts and probate
Banks freeze a sole account as soon as they are told of a death, then release the balance either on their own authority or only against a grant. Each bank sets its own threshold — commonly somewhere between £5,000 and £50,000 — so the deciding factor is the institution, not the law.
Jurisdiction: England & Wales. Last reviewed 13 August 2026.
What happens when you notify a bank
- The sole account is frozen and cards stop working; direct debits are cancelled
- The bank issues a written date-of-death balance for your valuation
- Certain payments can still be made directly from the account: the funeral bill, Inheritance Tax and the probate fee
- The bank confirms whether it needs a grant to release the balance
Funeral bills can be paid before the grant
Send the funeral director's invoice to the bank. Most will pay it directly from the deceased's account even while it is frozen, so no family member has to fund it personally.Thresholds vary by bank
There is no legal threshold. Each institution decides the balance above which it insists on seeing a grant, and it is entitled to require one at any level if it is uneasy. Ring each provider, ask for their figure in writing, and total the accounts before assuming no grant is needed. Our free checker walks through this asset by asset.
Joint accounts
A joint account normally passes to the surviving holder automatically and keeps working. The deceased's share still counts towards the estate value for Inheritance Tax, so it must appear in your figures even though no grant is needed to access it.
Closing the accounts after the grant
- Send an office copy of the grant — order spares at £2 each with the application
- Ask for the closing balance with interest calculated to the closure date
- Have funds paid into an executor's account, not a personal one
- Keep every closing statement for the estate accounts
Frequently asked questions
- Will the bank tell me its threshold?
- Yes. Every major bank has a bereavement team that will confirm in writing the balance above which they need a grant.
- What if the balance is just over the threshold?
- Ask whether they will release on an indemnity. Some will for modest excesses; many will not, and then you need the grant.
- Do I need a separate executor's account?
- It is strongly recommended. Mixing estate money with personal money makes the estate accounts hard to defend.
Dealing with a straightforward estate yourself?
Our free probate checker helps you work out whether this estate appears suitable for a self-help route. It asks about jurisdiction, disputes and complexity, takes a few minutes, and needs no account.
£349 one-off service fee if you go ahead. Court fee and any Inheritance Tax are paid separately.
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