What to do when someone dies

Step 1: we will freeze the sole trader’s accounts

This means that no payments will be made out of the sole trader’s accounts, including Direct Debits and standing orders. We will cancel all cards, cheque books, online and telephone banking registered to the accounts. We will also refund any interest, fees and charges applied after the date of the death.

Please note: if the business will continue trading, we can discuss your banking options with you.

Step 2: send us the death certificate and bereavement instruction form


We will ask you to send us an original or certified copy of the death certificate and a Bereavement Instruction Form, which should be completed by the personal representative.


If you do not have a death certificate, you can order one from the General Register Office (GRO) or the local register office where the death was registered.

Download bereavement instruction form (PDF)

Find out how to send documents to us

Find out how to certify documents

Step 3: send us additional documents


We will ask you to send us an additional document. The document we ask for depends on the combined balance in all the accounts (personal and business) that the sole trader had with us.

If the balance is £50,000 or less, we will ask you to send us:


• the will or a certified copy (this only needs to be certified on the first page)

Or:

• the grant of probate or a certified copy.

If the balance is more than £50,000, we will ask you to send us:

• the grant of probate or a certified copy, if there is a will
• the letters of administration or a certified copy, if there is not a will.

If you do not know the balance, we can share this with you when we receive the death certificate.

We may also ask you to send us proof of identity and address.

Find out which documents you can provide as proof of identity and address

When we receive these documents, we will contact you to let you know that the accounts have been closed and the money has been transferred.

If the partnership will stop trading, we will let you know what you need to do to close the account.

If the partnership plans to continue trading, we will ask whether there is a partnership agreement that allows the business to continue following the death of a partner.

If there is a partnership agreement

We will ask you to send a copy of it to us as soon as you can.

Find out how to send documents to us

If there are two or more partners remaining, you can usually continue to use the account as normal.

If there is only one partner remaining, you will need to add a new partner to the account or convert it to a sole trader account.

We will discuss your circumstances with you and let you know what you need to do.

If there is not a partnership agreement

The partnership will automatically be dissolved. We will only allow payments to leave the account to cover the partnership’s existing debts as it winds up.

We will let you know what you need to do to close the account.

If one or more directors are remaining

You can continue to use the account as normal, unless the death affects the mandate. For example, if two directors are needed to sign and one has died.

We will ask you to complete our Change of Signatories and Authorised Users form (PDF) or send us a letter, signed according to your account mandate. We may also ask you for the death certificate: we’ll let you know if we need this.

If you add or remove a director from the company, you need to update Companies House with these changes.

We will discuss your circumstances with you and let you know what you need to do.

If no directors are remaining

If no directors are remaining, and the person who has died was the only signatory and only shareholder, we will freeze the account until a new director has been appointed.

If the person who has died was the only director and the only signatory, but not the only shareholder, we will only allow payments that were authorised before their death to leave the account until a new director has been appointed.

If there are enough signatories remaining to instruct us in accordance with the existing account mandate, the company may be able to continue using the account temporarily. However, a new director will need to be appointed.

If you add or remove a director from the company, you need to update Companies House with these changes.

We will discuss your circumstances with you and let you know what you need to do.

You can usually continue to use the account as normal.

We may ask you to complete our Change of Signatories and Authorised Users form (PDF) or send us a letter, signed according to your account mandate. We may also ask you for the death certificate: we’ll let you know if we need this.

If you add or remove a partner from the company, you need to update Companies House with these changes.

We will discuss your circumstances with you and let you know what you need to do.  

If the organisation’s constitution allows, it can usually continue to use the account as normal unless the death affects the mandate. For example, if two signatories are needed to sign and one has died.

If the person who has died was the sole signatory, the organisation may need to appoint a new signatory and provide a new account mandate to continue using the account.

We may ask you to complete our Change of Signatories and Authorised Users form (PDF) or send us a letter, signed according to your account mandate. We may also ask you for the death certificate: we’ll let you know if we need this.

We will discuss your circumstances with you and let you know what you need to do.