What to do when someone dies

Register the death within five days (eight days in Scotland). This includes weekends and bank holidays. Find out how to register a death.

You have the following options to notify us:

• Online (not available for non UK addresses).
• If you are an existing client, you can contact your Private Banker.
• Call Coutts 24 on 020 7957 2424 (Relay UK 18001 020 7957 2424).

If you've already told us about the death and need to send some documents, you can email us at PrivateBankProbate@coutts.com, quoting the bereavement reference number we've provided you with, and we can let you know what documents we need and the best way to send them to us.

Please note: we can not accept documents via email, however some documents can be submitted digitally, we'll let you know which ones.

Alternatively, you can send the original or certified copies to us by post:

Probate team, 1st Floor, Trinity Quay 2, Avon Street, Bristol BS2 0PT.

You can also visit a NatWest or Royal Bank branch to provide your documents.

If you need any support, please call Coutts 24 on 020 7957 2424 (Relay UK 18001 020 7957 2424).

We'll protect any sole accounts and update any joint accounts.

Sole account(s)

Once we have been notified of the death, the account and any cards will be frozen. We'll stop any further communications relating to that account. It takes a short time to arrange this, so there may still be letters addressed to the deceased in the meantime. This may be a good time for the executor to contact any utility providers and let them know that their bills won't continue to be paid from this account.

Joint account(s)

The surviving account holder can continue to use the joint account as normal. On receipt of the documents from the executor, the account will be converted into the sole name. However, if there was a joint overdraft or other lending held, this will be reviewed with the surviving parties to ensure it continues to meet their needs.

All of the following documents must be provided:

Death Certificate

If you don't have the Registrar's issued death certificate yet, you can send us one of the below:

• Coroner's Death Certificate.
• Interim Death Certificate.
• Solicitor Death Verification Form.
• Foreign Death Certificate.

If the foreign death certificate is not in english, a translation by an official translator will be needed.

Will & Codicil

We'll need to see either the original or a certified copy of the signed, dated and witnessed Will & any Codicils.

If there is no Will, the next of kin will need to provide proof of relationship (for example, a marriage/civil partnership certificate or a birth certificate).

Proof of identity and address

• Passport or UK photo driving licence.
• A recent utility bill from the last three months certified by a solicitor or a NatWest/Royal Bank branch (this is not required if you provide a UK photo driving licence).

We'll need to see these documents for the executor managing the estate. ID documents can be uploaded digitally using our trusted partner, Mitek. To get the link, email us at PrivateBankProbate@coutts.com quoting the bereavement reference number we've previously provided. 
ID documents are not required for existing Coutts clients.

Solicitor or accountant administering the estate

• Full contact details of the solicitors who must be registered with the Law Society.
• Full contact details of the accountant who must be accredited on the ACCA website.
• Email us at PrivateBankProbate@coutts.com to find out the best way documents can be sent to us.
• Alternatively send documents to the Probate team at the following address: Probate team, 1st Floor, Trinity Quay 2, Avon Street, Bristol BS2 0PT.

If you are a solicitor or an accountant who has been provided with authority to act on behalf of an executor, we would need to see the proof of authority before we can proceed.

Probate (or more generally, a Grant of Representation) is a legal document that gives authority to deal with a person's property, money and possessions (their ‘estate’) after they die.

Probate is not always required, however in certain circumstances one may be needed. Please refer to the government probate guidance for more information and how to apply.

Executors should not make any financial plans including putting property on the market until they have received the grant of probate.

Probate applications can take up to 12 weeks to process. It does take longer to process paper applications than online applications. After the executor has applied, the death certificate will be returned to them. The will and any additions to it ('codicils') will be kept by the probate registry and become a public record.

Once the executor has the grant of probate (or letters of administration) they can start dealing with the estate.

As an executor or administrator, you're legally responsible for administering the money, property and possessions of the person who died (the estate’s assets). This includes identifying and collecting the estate assets, and settling any debts, liabilities and administration expenses from estate funds.

After telling us about the death, you may need to complete an Account Closure Form signed by the administrator or executor(s).

Once we have been provided with the necessary documents, all sole accounts held in the late client's name will be closed, and any assets held will be released in line with the instructions we've received.

Anyone can notify us of the bereavement, however if you are associated to the business account, please contact your Commercial Banker in the first instance who can support you through the process.

Alternatively, please contact Coutts Businessline on 020 7770 0070 (Relay UK 18001 020 7770 0070).

Death Certificate

If you don't have the Registrar's issued death certificate yet, you can send us one of the below:

• Coroner's Death Certificate.
• Interim Death Certificate.
• Solicitor Death Verification Form.
• Foreign Death Certificate.

If the foreign death certificate is not in english, a translation by an official translator will be needed.

Other documents we may require depending on the business structure or circumstances:

• Will & any Codicils.
• Partnership agreement.
• Company documentation (e.g. articles of association, board resolutions).
• Proof of authority for individuals acting on behalf of the business.

Please note: Coutts does not provide legal advice. For any legal matters, please seek independent legal counsel.

Yes, the cash and assets can be used for the payment of inheritance tax before a grant of probate is obtained.

However, if the estate is intestate (there is no will), only cash can be used for the payment of inheritance tax, we are unable to sell stocks and shares prior to probate.

We want to support you through this time. If you are an existing client you can contact your Private Banker about any additional support or adjustments you need to make banking easier. 

• Utility companies.
• Pension scheme provider.
• Insurance companies.
• Mortgage providers.
• GOV.UK Tell Us once service.
• Social services, if the person was receiving community care services or equipment.
• Employers or trade unions.
• GP, dentist, optician and anyone else providing medical care.

Please contact the late client's Private Banker to discuss any outstanding credit.

If the deceased did not leave a Will (often referred to as intestate), the next of kin can apply to become the administrator of the estate. This would be known as applying for Letters of Administration (or Confirmation in Scotland). 

Please contact us to discuss what alternative documents would be required in this circumstance.

We require a foreign death certificate translated into English. Unless the account otherwise qualifies under the small estates rules (assets held with Coutts are under £50,000) we would require either a Grant of Representation that has either been resealed by a UK court, or UK Grant of Representation, before accepting instructions.

If our late client had a managed investment portfolio, we stop managing it as soon as we're notified of their death, unless it's held in joint names. As a result, we no longer review or carry out any trades within the portfolio.

Once we’ve confirmed who will be managing the estate, they can instruct us on how to proceed with closing the portfolio.

A bereaved spouse or civil partner may apply to receive an additional ISA allowance based on the value of their partner's ISA holdings. This is called an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS).

Please note: this does not mean you inherit the actual ISA. Instead, you inherit an additional ISA allowance, the value of which is based on the deceased partner's ISA holdings, either at the date of death or at the date the ISA is closed.

When you're managing the estate of our late client, we have to confirm your identity to make sure we have the right person. We can do this digitally through our security partner Mitek. This way, we can check you are you, while keeping your details completely safe and secure. 

Mitek can quickly and safely verify people from all over the world using digital footprints, ID document authentication and facial biometrics. It’s not only safer, it also speeds up the notification process.

To verify your identity, you will receive an email or SMS from our trusted partner, Mitek.

You will be asked to:

• Capture a selfie using a device with a camera
• Upload a valid form of photo identification 
• Provide proof of address if requested.

Once your identity has been successfully verified, we can proceed with processing the case.