What to do when someone dies

We are sorry to hear about your loss. We want to make this as straightforward as possible for you. 

If you're an existing client please contact your private banker otherwise get in touch with Coutts 24 on 020 7957 2424.

 

All calls with Coutts are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

first steps to take

Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). This includes weekends and bank holidays. Find out how to do this here.

If you don’t know how or where to get started when it comes to arranging the funeral, you can find a useful step by step guide here. The executor can use money from the deceased’s account to help with funeral costs.  If they send us the final invoice on the funeral company’s headed paper, we’ll pay the funeral company directly. The fees will be paid in three to five working days. 

You can call Coutts 24 on 0207 957 2424 or if you know the deceased’s private banker’s details, you can also contact them. All calls with Coutts are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

We understand that grief can be overwhelming. To find out about the ways we can support you through this difficult time, please get in touch.

We've compiled a shortlist of independent organisations who can provide further bereavement help and support.

 

Age UK: When someone dies

GOV.UK: Tell Us Once

Cruse Bereavement Support

Cruse Bereavement Scotland

first steps to take

 

Register the death

Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). This includes weekends and bank holidays. Find out how to do this here.

arrange the funeral

If you don’t know how or where to get started when it comes to arranging the funeral, you can find a useful step by step guide here. The executor can use money from the deceased’s account to help with funeral costs.  If they send us the final invoice on the funeral company’s headed paper, we’ll pay the funeral company directly. The fees will be paid in three to five working days. 

Let us know

You can call Coutts 24 on 0207 957 2424 or if you know the deceased’s private banker’s details, you can also contact them. All calls with Coutts are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

external support

We understand that grief can be overwhelming. To find out about the ways we can support you through this difficult time, please get in touch.

We've compiled a shortlist of independent organisations who can provide further bereavement help and support.

Age UK: When someone dies

GOV.UK: Tell Us Once

Cruse Bereavement Support

Cruse Bereavement Scotland

what next?

 

  • What we'll do once you've let us know

    Joint account

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

     

    Sole account

    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 be still letters addressed to the deceased in the meantime. This is 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.

  • What documents need to be provided

    All of the following documents must be provided:

    Executor Administering the Estate

    • Original Death Certificate or a Coroner’s certificate of the fact of death. We will require an original death certificate issued in the country of death. If the foreign death certificate is not in English a translation by an official translator will be needed. 
    • A copy of the last Will (including any codicils) certified by a solicitor or one of our bankers.
    • Proof of Identity and address for all executors named in the Will - Passport or UK photo driving licence and recent utility bill from the last 3 months certified by a solicitor or one of our bankers. These documents are not required for existing Coutts clients.

    Solicitor Administering the Estate

    • Original Death Certificate or a Coroner’s certificate of the fact of death. We will require an original death certificate issued in the country of death. If the foreign death certificate is not in English a translation by an official translator will be needed. 
    • Full contact details of the solicitors who must be registered with the Law Society.
    • Please send documents to the Probate team at the following address: Probate team, 1st Floor, Trinity Quay 2, Avon Street, Bristol BS2 0PT.

  • Apply for probate

    The executor should not make any financial plans including putting property on the market until they’ve got probate. 

     

    Click here for guidance on applying for probate

     

    Probate applications can take up to 8 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.

  • Grant of probate issued

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

    As an executor or administrator, they’re legally responsible for the money, property and possessions of the person who died (the ‘estate’s assets’).  They’re responsible for the assets from the date of death until the date everything has been passed on to the beneficiaries. This is known as the ‘administration period’.

  • Closing the accounts

    The executor(s) must complete, sign and return the below closure agreement form.

frequently asked questions

glossary of terms

 

Click here to see a glossary of commonly used terms