What to do when someone dies: who to inform and how to get through probate

At Nottingham Building Society we recognise that dealing with the accounts of someone who has passed away can be a stressful and confusing time. We want to support our members, their family and friends by providing some practical information on what we will need and what will happen when informing us of the death of a member. Our bereavement guide provides some practical information about dealing with a death and our processes as well as signposting places you can access further information or support.

Notifying us of a death

We will need full detail of each person who has passed away. This will include their full name, address, date of birth, any details you may have on the holdings they have with Nottingham Building Society and any previous address we may hold on record.

• We will need to see personal identification from the next of kin and/or executor.
• Further information our identification requirements can be found here.
• In order for us to register the death of a member we will need to see a certified copy or original death certificate. You can provide us with this document either at your nearest Nottingham Building Society branch or by sending it along with a covering letter to:
  
  Nottingham Building Society
  Nottingham House 
  3 Fulforth Street
  Nottingham
  NG1 3DL 

Branch savings accounts

• If you are local to a branch you can call to arrange a meeting for us to support you through the process of registering a member’s death. You can find the details for your nearest building society branch here.
• If you are unable to reach a building society branch you can contact us with any documents you may need to provide by post. The address for correspondence is:
  
  Nottingham Building Society
  Nottingham House
  3 Fulforth Street
  Nottingham
  NG1 3DL

We can support you by providing access to funds in the accounts to cover payments towards funeral arrangements or inheritance tax, we will just require sight of a bill or invoice.

If you hold any savings passbooks for the account holder, we will update the books to provide the most accurate balance of the accounts.

If the combined balance plus accrued interest is £1,000 or less, we can close the account by completing the relevant indemnity closure form:

• Indemnity closure form - where there is a Will in place.
• Indemnity closure form - where there is no Will in place.

Combined balances between £1,001 up to and including £30,000 (inclusive of accrued interest) will also require an indemnity closure form which must be witnessed by a solicitor or commissioner for oaths:

• Indemnity closure form - where there is a Will in place.
• Indemnity closure form - where there is no Will in place.

If the combined balance of all accounts (including accrued interest) is over £30,000:

• Withdrawal form - for use when you have obtained grant of probate or letters of administration.

We will ask you to provide us with sight of a grant of probate or letters of administration for us to close the account. We can provide figures to you to obtain grant of probate of letters of administration if you have yet to request this document.

Online accounts

Once we have received notification of the death of a member our systems will be updated.

If the combined balance plus accrued interest is £1,000 or less, we can close the account by completing the relevant indemnity closure form:

We will be able to close the account without the need for any additional paperwork

Combined balances between £1,001 up to and including £30,000 (inclusive of accrued interest) will also require an indemnity closure form:

We will provide you with some additional paperwork by post for completion and witnessing.

If the combined balance of all accounts (including accrued interest) is over £30,000:

• Withdrawal form - for use when you have obtained grant of probate or letters of administration.

We will ask you to provide us with sight of a grant of probate or letters of administration for us to close the account. We can provide figures to you to obtain grant of probate if you have yet to request this document. Once you have a grant of probate you can provide this to us with a covering letter along with the bank details for the closing balance to be sent to.

Mortgage accounts

Once a death of a sole mortgage account holder has been registered, we will send further paperwork for the executor to provide their details, ID and future plans for the property.

Monthly mortgage payments are not expected, although they can be continued to be made if desired.

Interest will continue to be charged to the account.

We will carry out regular courtesy calls to the executors to provide the latest position.

When the death of a joint mortgage account holder is registered, the mortgage will be transferred into the name of the surviving holder.

Next steps

If you need support or guidance you can contact us on 0344 481 4444 and we will do all that we can to help you during this difficult time. Alternatively you can email us with a more general enquiries or visit your nearest building society branch.

Useful information

• Order a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate
• Wills, probate and inheritance

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate taxation and trust advice, will writing and legal services.