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We know losing someone can be very upsetting and hard to deal with. We're here to help and will keep things as simple as we can.

Registering a bereavement with us 

To let us know someone has died and to get account details, please send us:

  • A photocopy of your driving licence or passport
  • Original or photocopy of the death certificate
  • Personal Representative Registration form

Please check FAQs further down the page for more information.

How to let us know

Visit a branch

Visit your local branch to talk to us. We'll answer your questions and help you.

Call us

Give us a call on 0345 734 4345 (Lines are open 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday)

By post

Write to us by sending any post to: Newcastle Building Society, 1 Cobalt Park Way, Wallsend, NE28 9EJ

If you need extra support, please tell us. This could be something like talking to you in a certain way or sending letters in a different format. We’ll do our best to make any changes that will help you.

Accessing the funds

If you need access to the money held in the account to pay for funeral costs, inheritance tax or probate fees, we can usually pay these for you using the money from the account.

Joint accounts

Joint savings accounts will go to the other account holder when the death is registered. Probate will not be needed. What happens with a joint mortgage account depends on how the property is owned.

Closing the accounts

To close savings accounts, fill out a 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.

Send the original probate or a solicitor-certified copy by post or take it to a branch with the 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, 95 kB)

Request to Close Account(s) (PDF, 190 kB)

Request to Cover Costs (PDF, 86 kB)

FAQs

I don’t have a death certificate

If you don't have a death certificate, we can take an interim 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.

I don’t have a driving licence or passport

Please contact us and we can look at different options.

Do I need to complete the Personal Representative Registration form?

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.

How do I access money from the customer’s account?

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 access some money. If you tell us this, when we post the account information and next steps, we’ll include the right form.

When is probate needed?

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.

Inheritance ISA allowance

If your partner had an ISA, you may be able to keep the money in an ISA wrapper to keep any tax benefits. Find out about inheritance ISA allowance.

We're here to help

You'll find more information about other areas we can help and support you.
A close up picture of the outside of Newcastle Building Society's head office at Cobalt Business Park.