We realise that when someone dies it is a very emotional time for all involved and it can often be overwhelming. We're here to offer help and support and will try to keep things as simple as possible for you.
Registering a bereavement with us
To register the death of a customer and release their account information, we’ll need:
- A photocopy of your driving licence or passport
- Original or photocopy of the death certificate
- Personal Representative Registration form
Please check the FAQs further down the page for further information.
How to let us know
Pop into your local branch to speak with us, we'll be able to answer your questions and assist you.
Give us a call on 0345 734 4345 (Lines are open 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday)
Write to us by sending any post to: Newcastle Building Society, 1 Cobalt Park Way, Wallsend, NE28 9EJ
If you need any additional support, please don’t hesitate to let us know. This could be something like communicating with you in a certain way or sending letters in a different format. We’ll do our best to make any adjustments that will help you.
Managing bereavement expenses
While you’re dealing with the estate, you may need to access money from the customer’s accounts. You can do this once you’ve informed us of the death and registered your details. You can usually make a withdrawal for funeral expenses, probate application fees or inheritance tax.
Joint accounts
Any joint savings accounts will automatically transfer to the surviving account holder once the death has been registered. Probate will not be needed as part of this process. What happens with a joint mortgage account is dependant on how the property is owned.
Closing the accounts
When you’re ready to close any savings accounts, we’ll need an account closure form. We will need probate if the total balance of the customer’s savings account(s) is over £30,000 or if you’re already getting probate because another company needs it. We may also need it if the customer has a mortgage with us which won’t automatically transfer to a joint holder.
The probate must be either an original or a solicitor-certified copy, and can be sent through the post or taken to a branch with the original account closure form.
Forms
If you’d like to print your own forms to send through the post or take to a branch:
Personal Representative Registration (PDF, 111 kB)
Request to Close Account(s) (PDF, 190 kB)
Request to Cover Costs (PDF, 86 kB)
FAQs
In place of a death certificate, we can also accept an original or photocopy of an interim death certificate or a coroner’s report. If you send an original through the post or bring it to branch, we’ll make a copy and give you the original back.
We can also accept a Death Certificate Verification form from a solicitor practicing in England or Wales, but for this option, we’ll need to see the original.
Please contact us and we can discuss different options.
This is so we can register that you’re the one dealing with the account. If you’re dealing with things through the post, or if you visit a branch to register a death but are not closing the accounts straight away, we’ll ask you to complete this form just to make sure we have your details on file.
You’ll need to fill in a form which can be found on this page and we’ll also need to see an invoice. If you complete a Personal Representative Registration form, there’s an option to say you plan to withdraw some costs. If you select this, when we post the account information and next steps, we’ll include the right form.
We’ll need probate if the total balance of the customer’s sole savings account(s) is over £30,000. If the balance total is below £30,000, but you’re still applying for probate because another company needs it, we’ll also need to see it. Also usually if the customer holds a mortgage that won’t automatically be transferring to a joint holder.
Funds will usually be held with other companies, so the process to close the accounts can differ. To begin getting things registered, you can contact NFAL by telephone on 0345 600 4330. Or you can write to them at Newcastle Financial Advisers, 1 Cobalt Park Way, Wallsend, NE28 9EJ.
If your partner had an ISA, you may be able to keep the funds in an ISA wrapper to keep any tax benefits. Find out more about inheritance ISA allowance.
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