Joint accounts pass to the survivor automatically. Sole accounts are frozen until probate — unless the balance is below the bank's threshold. Includes a full bank-by-bank threshold table.
This guide is part of ProbateHelp's Notifications guide cluster. Estimated reading time: 14 min.
Also searched as: bank account when someone dies; joint bank account after death; joint bank accounts after death.
A joint account will normally continue in the surviving holder's name, so a grant is not usually needed for the bank to keep the account open. Tell the bank promptly and follow its evidence requirements. Access can be restricted if the account terms require it or there is a dispute about ownership or use of the money.
A joint account normally stays open in the surviving holder's name, but the bank may restrict it while checking the death notification, the account terms, or a reported ownership dispute. Ask the bank what will happen before relying on the account for urgent payments.
There is no standard release time. It depends on the provider, the documents supplied, whether a grant is required, and whether there are questions about the estate. Ask the provider's bereavement team for its current requirements and keep a record of what you send.
For a sole account, the bank or savings provider decides what evidence it needs and may require a grant. There is no single legal balance below which a grant is never needed. A joint account normally continues in the surviving holder's name, subject to its terms and any ownership dispute.
Money in a sole account forms part of the estate and is distributed under the intestacy rules after debts, tax, and administration expenses are dealt with. Who inherits depends on the family circumstances and estate value. An unmarried partner does not inherit automatically under the intestacy rules in England and Wales.
The Death Notification Service is a free online service for notifying participating private-sector organisations. The selected organisations then contact you about their next steps. Check the service's current participant list; it is separate from the government's Tell Us Once service.
Do not use the deceased person's card, PIN, or online banking credentials. Contact the bank and obtain authority for any payment from a sole account. A surviving joint holder can normally continue to use a joint account under its terms, but ownership disputes can affect what they may safely treat as their own.
A sole savings account forms part of the estate; a joint account will normally continue in the surviving holder's name. NS&I says Premium Bonds can remain in prize draws for up to 12 months after death, but they must then be repaid and cannot be transferred directly into another person's name.