Supporting you through bereavement

Losing someone is distressing and when it comes to sorting out their financial affairs, we understand it can be difficult to know where to start.

To make things as simple as possible for you, this guide will help explain what we’ll need when one of our customers has passed away, and set out the processes we’ll need to follow.

We’ll use some legal terms that you may not be familiar with, so we’ve included a glossary to help you understand them.

Our Bereavement Support Team are also happy to explain anything that you don’t understand.

Coping with your loss financially

The loss of a loved one can have a significant impact on your financial future. If you feel you need support, we’re happy to speak to you about your finances and how to manage them in the days ahead. Please get in touch on 0345 600 2882.

Letting us know

Although you don’t have to, you may wish to ask a solicitor to handle the financial side on your behalf. If so, then they will look after this for you. Otherwise, to tell us one of our customers has passed away, please:

  • phone us on 0345 600 2882 (lines are open Mon – Fri 8am – 8pm. Sat and Sun 9am – 5pm);
  • call into any of our branches;
  • contact us using our secure online form
  • write to us at:
    Bereavement Support Team
    Danske Bank
    Killeaton House
    41 Mosside Road
    Belfast
    BT17 9HH

What we’ll need

Please tell us:

  • The deceased’s name, address and date of birth
  • The date they passed away
  • The contact details of who will be looking after their estate. This may be the next of kin, a solicitor or, if there’s a Will, an Executor.

Don’t worry if:

  • you don’t know the account details of the person who’s passed away.
  • you don’t have the death certificate when you first contact us, you can give it to us at a later stage.

What happens next?

The next steps will depend on your circumstances, however one of our dedicated team will guide you through the process.

Dealing with the estate

  • In this case we should be able to release the money under what’s called a Small Estates Indemnity which can be dealt with at any of our branches.

  • We will require a Grant of Probate (if there’s a Will) or Letters of Administration (if there’s no Will). You can find out more details on how to apply for these legal documents at NI Direct.

  • The personal representatives will be the named executors in the Will. The Will contains their last wishes, in particular who they want to inherit their estate. The executors are legally responsible for carrying these wishes out. You’ll need to find the last known signed and witnessed version of their Will. If you can’t find it at their home, ask their solicitor, bank or financial adviser.

  • If there isn’t a Will the person who’s passed away is said to have died ‘intestate’.

Payment of urgent expenses

Funeral costs - If the person who has passed away has a sole account in their own name, we may be able to release money for funeral expenses at any of our branches. We may also be able to make a part payment if there isn’t enough money to settle the full bill.

What happens to the bank accounts?

  • Sole accounts – We’ll need to suspend the account while we sort out the legalities; this means Direct Debits being paid from the account will be affected; we can talk through which payments are affected, and provide support on how you can make alternative arrangements.

    This means you might need to find another way to pay any ongoing bills. In particular, if there is a Direct Debit for house insurance please check with the insurance company that the house will remain insured until the estate is dealt with.

    ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) – if you’re the spouse or civil partner of the person who has died you may be entitled to an additional ISA allowance. If so, we’ll write to you and let you know what to do.

    Joint accounts – Joint accounts without overdraft facilities will usually be amended into the names of the remaining parties to the account and they’ll get new chequebooks and lodgement books reflecting this. All Direct Debits and standing orders will continue as normal but, if you’d like any of them cancelled, you can do this through eBanking or by contacting your local branch.

  • In these cases, what happens depends on individual circumstances, so please get in touch and we’ll explain the next steps.

  • The type of business account and the nature of the business will dictate the next steps. Please get in touch and we’ll explain the next steps.

Help and information

  • Understanding inheritance tax

    Inheritance tax may be due on the estate, depending on its total value.

    Money can be released towards the payment of inheritance tax before matters are finalised. For further information please refer to UK Government advice on inheritance tax.

Glossary

Term Definition
Administrator The person or people who obtains Letters of Administration to deal with the deceased’s estate when there is no Will.
Assets Any property, money or possessions that belonged to the deceased person.
Death Certificate or Coroners Certificate A legal document confirming a person’s death.
Estate The total value of everything owned by the deceased at the date of death such as money, property and possessions.
Executor A person or people named in the Will whose responsibility is to carry out the deceased’s wishes.
Grant of Probate This legal document authorises the executors to deal with the estate and fulfil the deceased’s wishes, as outlined in their Will.
HMRC Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, sometimes known as the Inland Revenue or, informally, the ‘tax man’.
Inheritance tax The tax that must be paid from the estate to HMRC when the value of the estate exceeds a certain amount.
Intestate A person who dies without having made a legal Will.
Letters of Administration If a valid Will doesn’t exist, this legal document authorises the administrators to deal with the deceased’s property and financial affairs.
Next of kin

The next of kin is the closest relative. The ranking order is:

  1. Spouse or civil partner
  2. Children
  3. Grandchildren
  4. Parents
  5. Brothers and sisters
  6. Aunts and uncles (if they’re blood relatives)
  7. Cousins
Personal representative The person responsible for dealing with the estate - the executor, administrator or next of kin.
Small Estates Indemnity A form that may be used by us to release money if the deceased held a total amount below £50,000.
Will A legal document that outlines what you want to happen to your assets when you die.