Money from the estate of the person who has died

A black couple are sat at a table holding hands. On the table is a paper form and a pen.

Any money left by the deceased person can help pay towards the cost of their funeral.

Carefully look through the deceased person’s paperwork to try and identify all the different accounts they may have had and to see if anything suggests they had any insurance policies or private pensions.

There may be money available from the estate of the person who has died.

Funeral costs are normally paid first before any other debts the person had. However, secured debts, for example a mortgage, are paid before funeral costs.

If, after this, there is insufficient money or assets in the estate to pay off any debts, then they would be paid in priority order until the money or assets run out. Any remaining debts are likely to be written off.

Accessing money from the bank account of the person who has died

The person who has died may have left some money in accounts, for example with a bank, a building society, the Post Office or a credit union.

In order to release money from an account, you can present a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the funeral bill to the bank.

Most banks have an online facility to do this. Alternatively you can go into a branch, or contact the bank’s bereavement team who will be able to help.

Many banks will release the money directly to the funeral director (if you are using one), so it is helpful to present a copy of their invoice, with their payment details, as well.

You don’t need to wait for probate or the will (if there is one) to be read.

Life insurance and pre-paid funeral plans

The person who died may have taken out life insurance, or arranged a pre-paid funeral plan.

Check their paperwork for any documents or, if possible, look at their bank statements for any regular outgoing payments.

Occupational and private pensions

This could be a work-related pension (set up by an employer) or a personal pension (set up by themselves).

Besides any letters or statements, payslips can also be helpful as they will show whether the employer paid any money into a pension.

If you don’t find anything, but think they may have had one, you can find pension scheme contact details by searching for the name of an employer on the gov.uk website.

Death in service benefit

If they were employed at the time of death they may have been eligible for a ‘death in service benefit’ from their employer.

Tax refunds

The person who has died is entitled to a full personal allowance in the tax year of their death regardless of when they die.

If they had already paid some tax then a refund may be due – contact HMRC to find out. The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group’s also has useful information about tax when someone has died.

Letting organisations know about a death

Life Ledger and Settld. are websites which enable you to notify many companies about a death from one place. They are free, secure, and easy-to-use.

For more information about admin after a death, click below.

Admin & benefits after a death

Frequently asked questions

Accessing money from the estate of someone who has died

What is the ‘Estate’?

The ‘Estate’ is everything owned by a person who has died. This could be made up of money held in cash or accounts, money owed to a person who has died, any shares and investments, property and personal belongings of value (for example their car or jewellery).

What is probate?

Probate is the legal process of dealing with someone’s estate after they have died. It is not always needed, and you can check with any financial institutions (for example banks or mortgage companies) to find out whether probate will be needed to access their assets. Each organisation has its own rules and policies.

You can find more information about probate, and how to apply for it, on the gov.uk website.

Do funeral costs come out of the estate?

Yes, funeral expenses can be paid from the deceased person’s estate and are often the highest priority except for some secured debts such as mortgages. The executor or administrator of the estate (who is responsible for managing the deceased person’s affairs) can use the deceased person’s assets, such as bank accounts or property, to cover funeral costs.

Funds from someone’s property, for example, may require a grant of probate before they can be released.

Can I use the deceased person's bank account to pay for their funeral?

Any money left by the person who died must be used to pay towards the cost of their funeral, before any rent, utilities etc. are paid. The only exception to this is where they left any secured loans (such as a mortgage), in which case these must be paid first. If, after this, there is insufficient money or assets in the estate to pay off any debts, then they would be paid in priority order until the money or assets run out. Any remaining debts should be written off.

To release money from a bank account, you can take a copy of the death certificate and a copy of the funeral bill to the bank. Many banks will release the money directly to the funeral director (if you are using one). There is no need to wait for probate.

I only have an interim death certificate, will the bank accept this?

Many banks will accept interim death certificates, coroner’s certificates, and non-UK death certificates that have been translated into English to release money for funeral expenses. Check with the bank whether they can accept an interim certificate and what other documents, such as proof of identification, they need.

How can I pay for a funeral before probate?

If there is money in the deceased person’s accounts, you can usually get the bank to release the money directly to the funeral director. Take the death certificate and funeral invoice to a branch of the bank and they can pay the funeral director directly. If you cannot attend a branch, most banks are now able to do this online. There is no need to wait for probate.

Does life insurance pay for a funeral?

Yes, life insurance payouts can be used to help cover funeral costs. A lump sum paid out upon death can be used by beneficiaries to pay for funeral expenses although it doesn’t have to be used in this way.