Bank statements for the deceased

herbily

I am the executor for a family member's will, and all their bank statements are online. The amount the bank holds is big enough that the bank want probate first. Are they obliged to release bank statement details to the executor? I've requested via post but not had any response, and really need sight of the bank statements to understand what money was coming in and what regular payments were going out.

Sorry if this is a really obvious question but I couldn't see any recent advice on this.

DullGreyGuy

Have you phoned their bereavement team to ask for them? Be a lot quicker than using post. https://www.barclays.co.uk/what-to-do-when-someone-dies/notify-us/ 

Data protection laws only protect living people, that doesn't mean companies will publicly publish stuff once they learn someone is deceased but does make certain things much easier to deal with. 

Keep_pedalling

The bereavement department will provide statements going back quite a long way, but they may not let you have them until you have probate.

YorksLass

As pointed out by DullGreyGuy, banks have a Bereavement team who will talk you through the process of what information, documentation etc they need and in what order.  When I contacted my late husband's bank by phone last year they were really helpful and very patient at answering questions.  Give them a call rather than writing - it's easier and quicker.

foxela

I would have thought it unlikely they will allow you sight of the statements until you have obtained probate, but (as others have said) it would be worth contacting the bank's probate department for advice in the meantime, as they should be able to answer any specific queries you have.

badmemory

.Can you get probate without knowing how much is in the account.  Of course they may tell you the balance & may even give you the balance but the bank statement may be a different thing even though they would assist in finding out if there are any debts.  Which would need to be deducted from the probate value.

gwynlas

You need to speak to them to ensure that any direct debits relating to the property of the estate continue to be paid.

Keep_pedalling

gwynlas said:

You need to speak to them to ensure that any direct debits relating to the property of the estate continue to be paid.

No it’s down to the executor to deal with things like house insurance, the account will be frozen and abided add SOs will stop.

Newly_retired

The bereavement team at my late husband’s bank were very helpful. I think it helped that I also hold an account with them, as additional ID checks were not needed. On sight of the death certificate they provided me with closing figures on all his accounts and on further request, details of regular payments and bank statements for, I think, two years. 

user1977

Keep_pedalling said:

The bereavement department will provide statements going back quite a long way, but they may not let you have them until you have probate.

At the very least they need to tell you the balance as at the date of death, otherwise how do you put together the inventory to apply for probate?

Marcon

Keep_pedalling said:

The bereavement department will provide statements going back quite a long way, but they may not let you have them until you have probate.

...by which time it could be too late for them to be of any use. An executor usually needs them before applying for probate - and banks will normally co-operate on sight of the death certificate and will. https://www.litrg.org.uk/news/tracing-assets-deceased-estate#:~:text=income%20from%20property.-,Getting%20copies%20of%20bank%20statements,were%20held%20by%20the%20deceased. is very helpful (scroll down to 'getting copies of bank statements').