Losing a loved one can be incredibly overwhelming so we want to help you by making the process of dealing with their finances as easy as possible. If the deceased held any accounts with us, please let us know as soon as you are able to. After you’ve been in touch with us, we will respond rapidly and begin to take the necessary actions straight away. We will require written confirmation of the death including the date that it occurred, along with a certified or original copy of the death certificate.
To obtain the death certificate, you will need to have registered the death with at a register office within 5 days. You can find a list of offices here. When you speak to your registrar, they will let you know what you will need to bring with you. Please be aware that we may require additional information including a copy of the Will and a Grant of Probate.
If you need any more information about what you need to do in the event of a death, please visit the UK Government’s website. In addition to any specific information and resources that you may find useful, they have composed a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this difficult time. You can access the guide here.
Once you feel ready to start informing government organisations of your loss, there is a service available to you called ‘Tell Us Once’. This is an easy-to-use amenity that simultaneously notifies all governmental divisions, such as the DVLA, HMRC, and DWP. You will need a reference number from the registrar in order to start the application.
Dealing with grief is difficult and can often feel alienating, but you don’t have to go through it alone. There are plenty of dedicated charities that are well-equipped with specialist support and guidance. So, if you find yourself struggling, please reach out to them.
If you hold a joint savings account with the deceased person, the account will revert to your sole name. If you are the beneficiary of the deceased person’s money, we will require you to provide the passbooks for each account, in addition to the death certificate, and identification for each executor or personal representative, such as a Passport or Driving Licence. Please visit our website to find a comprehensive list of acceptable forms of identification.
If you need to wait for a Grant of Probate, the account can be used to pay funeral expenses by sending us the original invoice in the meantime. We are also able to pay inheritance tax from the account. This is dependent upon the funds being available.
Please contact the mortgage department as soon as you feel ready, as we can help you immediately with any questions you may have.
In the instance that two or more borrowers have ownership of the property mortgaged to us, our next steps are determined by how the property is held. We will then guide you through the relevant process. Under a Joint Tenancy, the property automatically passes to the surviving tenant. We recommend that you get in contact with a solicitor who will handle the legal implications, and your solicitor will take care other matters for you such as insurance, Probate matters, and any changes to the Land Registry Title Documentation.
If the mortgage belongs solely in the name of the deceased, please let us know as soon as possible so that we are able to help you as best we can.
The outstanding mortgage balance will still need to be paid. In most cases, proceeds from the sale of the property will be used to do this.
We know that this can be a daunting process and it’s often easier to speak to someone in person, so please feel free to contact our team if you have any questions or concerns. We will always deal with any conversations sensitively and you can always talk to us at any point during the process, even prior to obtaining the death certificate from the registrar. Please check our opening hours and call at a time that suits you on 01494 879 500. Or, if you prefer, you can send an email to info@bucksbs.co.uk.