At this difficult time, we can give you practical support and guidance on what you need to do.
We've also created step-by-step bereavement guides which you can access via the link below.
Bereavement support
Losing someone close to you can be very distressing. Getting their finances in order can be stressful too. That’s why our dedicated branch team is here to help.
Here for you
The first step
If you haven’t already, register the death at www.gov.uk/register-a-death Opens in a new window. You can also contact nearly all government organisations (like HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) in one go using their Tell Us Once Opens in a new window service.
Ideally, you should visit the deceased person’s local registry office with the medical certificate from the hospital, GP or coroner. The office will then give you with a death certificate. It’s often useful to ask for several copies of this, as you may need to tell multiple organisations about the customer’s death.
Telling us about a death
Please let us know about the death of our customer as soon as possible. We’ll need to collect and process some information about you. Our privacy notice tells you more about the personal information we collect and how we use it (together with a summary of your data protection rights). We’ll also send you a letter to provide more information.
You can do this in one of four ways:
Contact the branch
Please contact the branch where the customer held their account. You can also visit the branch if you’d prefer to speak to someone in person.
The team there will talk you through the next steps.
If you’re not sure which branch to contact, try the branch closest to the customer’s home.
Call our Customer Connect team
If you’re still unsure which branch to contact, or if you want to contact us outside opening hours, call our Customer Connect team. They’re available 24 hours a day.
They’ll collect a few details from you, find out which branch you need to speak to and transfer your call.
We know talking about a death can be upsetting, so they’ll also tell the branch why you’re calling so you don’t have to.
If you call the team outside of branch opening hours, they’ll ask the branch to call you the next working day. Please call:
From the UK:
0800 470 8000Outside the UK:
+44 20 7578 8247Contact our Client Support team
If the deceased was a Handelsbanken Wealth client, please contact our Client Support team.
Our team will talk you through the next steps and find the right person to help you.
If you have the contact details of the client's Client Director, you can contact them directly.
Call: 01892 701 803
Complete online form
You can also contact us directly using the below form:
What happens when you tell us of a customer’s death?
We will:
- Block any sole accounts the customer held. This includes cancelling any Direct Debits, standing orders, all cards, online banking access, overdrafts and open credit facilities
- Cancel any cheque books and return any pending cheques
- Remove any previous third party authority / power of attorney mandates from the account. These expire when a customer dies.
- Hold all statements and other correspondence until we know who the personal representatives are. We’ll then forward everything to them.
If the customer had a joint account, the account balance automatically passes to the remaining account holder(s). We’ll work with the remaining account holder(s) to make sure:
- Any standing orders, Direct Debits and cheques no longer needed are cancelled (these will continue until this is agreed).
- All relevant mandates are updated.
- All statements and other correspondence are sent to the remaining account holder, in their name only. This includes new cheque books and paying-in books.
We'll also review all other products they had.
You can contact the customer’s branch if you have any questions or want to make some specific arrangements.
What else should you do?
Provide us with documents
We’ll ask you for an original, certified or official copy of the death certificate.
If there’s a will, you may be asked to provide a copy of that too.
We’ll also need to know who will deal with the deceased’s estate. They’ll need to give us proof of identity and address - the branch can confirm exactly what’s needed.
We may ask for other documents - again, the branch will let you know if so.
Consider applying to be a personal representative / for Grant of Probate.
The customer’s will, if they left one, may appoint an executor to deal with their estate. If it doesn’t, or if there is no will, someone will need to apply to become a personal representative. This could be you, another family member or a legal representative. Probate will be required if the customer’s Handelsbanken account contained £20,000 or more.
The Government’s guide for applying for probate is at www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate Opens in a new window.
You can also check to see if someone else has already done this at www.gov.uk/search-will-probate Opens in a new window.
Arrange the funeral
Appoint a funeral director to start making funeral arrangements. You can also contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of the local council.
We understand that paying for funeral costs can be stressful.
Remember to check if the customer had any insurance to cover the cost. If they didn’t, we can release some money from the customer’s account to make the payment.
We’ll just need a copy of the funeral invoice to arrange the payment. However, there needs to be enough in their account for us to do this.
Further assistance
Please contact us if you have any questions or need any help
We understand how difficult it can be when you have lost a loved one. If you have any questions or need anything, please contact the branch where the account was held and we will do our utmost to support you.
Our bereavement guide (pdf 3.3 MB) Opens in a new window also contains lots of useful information as well as a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.
Also, please tell us about anything that we need to be aware of, or consider, to enable us to better support you. This may include something that could impact your ability to communicate with us, provide information or understand our communications.
Look after yourself
If you’re struggling to recover from the loss of your loved one, these organisations may help:
The NHS Opens in a new window provides practical help on coping with bereavement.
CRUSE Bereavement Support Opens in a new window - the largest national charity for bereaved people. They can help you understand and cope with your grief through several channels and support programs.
Samaritans Opens in a new window listen and offer support to anyone struggling to cope without judgement, day or night.
Wealth FAQs
-
What should you do if your loved one held an account with us?
If your loved one held an account with us (or if you think they might have done), the first thing to do is get in touch with us.
Please also take a look at our bereavement guide, which may answer more of your questions.
Contact our Client Support Team: 01892 701 803 or clientsupport.hwam@handelsbanken.co.uk
-
Why will we need to see a will?
We may need to see an official will to make sure we’re dealing with the correct representative(s) of our late customer. -
What if someone dies without a will?
Someone who dies without a will is said to have died ‘intestate’. Different legal rules apply to this situation, known as the ‘rules of intestacy’.
Broadly speaking, if someone has died intestate, close family members can apply to deal with their estate. However, the rules of intestacy are complex and you may wish to seek legal advice to help deal with your loved one’s estate.
-
What if you don’t want to act as executor?
If you’ve been named as an executor (appointed in someone’s will to administer their estate) but for any reason you would prefer not to act in this role, you can elect to pass the role on to a qualified professional.
A letter of authority confirming your wish to stand down as executor will suffice to excuse you from the role of executor. We have a standard letter that you can use as a basis for confirming your decision – please get in touch if you’d like us to share this with you.
Contact our Client Support Team: 01892 701 803 or clientsupport.hwam@handelsbanken.co.uk
-
What happens if someone dies abroad?
You should register your loved one’s death according to the local regulations of the country where they have died. A death certificate issued abroad can usually be used in the UK, but if it’s not in English, you’ll probably need to get an official, certified translation to continue dealing with your loved one’s affairs.
You might also choose to register your loved one’s death with UK authorities, so that it’s recorded with the General Register Offices in England and Wales. To do this, contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-national-dies-abroad
If the person who’s died had assets abroad, we would strongly recommend seeking legal advice on dealing with these assets.
-
What if you are worried about the value of investments going down?
It’s normal to feel concerned about fluctuations in financial markets, especially if dealing with investments is something new for you.
If you’re worried about the value of your loved one’s investments, please do get in touch with us to discuss the situation with a Client Director.
Contact our Client Support Team: 01892 701 803 or clientsupport.hwam@handelsbanken.co.uk
-
Can you switch your loved one’s investments into cash?
Normally, our late client’s account would not be liquidated (made into cash) until Probate has been granted and we have seen the original Grant of Probate (called a Certificate of Confirmation in Scotland). Probate gives you the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and assets after their death.
If you’re worried about the value of your loved one’s investments, please do get in touch with us to discuss the situation with a Client Director.
Contact our Client Support Team: 01892 701 803 or clientsupport.hwam@handelsbanken.co.uk
-
What happens to Junior ISAs?
If your questions following bereavement relate to a Junior ISA, we understand that the investor in question is likely to be a child. Their account can probably be dealt with as a ‘small estate’, where the value of the investment is passed to the parents. In this situation it is best for you to contact us to discuss how to proceed.
Contact our Client Support Team: 01892 701 803 or clientsupport.hwam@handelsbanken.co.uk
-
What if my loved one held an ISA with a different provider?
If your loved one held an ISA with another provider (rather than Handelsbanken Wealth) then you will need to contact the other provider to obtain details of the investments held.
Help with payment difficulties
If you’re struggling to make payments or manage your finances, don’t worry - we can help.