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’.

You can apply for Probate or Letters of Administration directly through the Probate Office or you may prefer a solicitor to handle this on your behalf. You can find out more details on how to apply for these legal documents at NI Direct. If you like, we can pay the fee for probate from the account of the person who’s passed away. Just let us know.

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.