Global | NatWest International
Dealing with Financial Difficulties
What to do when someone dies

Bereavement guide

Notifying us when someone dies

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We’re here to help you Open in new window

Things to consider Open in new window

Common questions Open in new window

Notify us about a bereavement Open in new window

We’re here to help during this difficult time

We’re sorry for your loss. To help you, here’s an overview of what you can expect during the bereavement process.

Once you’ve told us about the person’s death:

We’ll review the account and temporarily freeze it to protect the funds. Joint accounts will remain unaffected.
We’ll let you know what documents you’ll need to provide. These can be sent digitally, by post, or drop them into your local branch.
After we verify the documents, we’ll ensure the funds are transferred according to the deceased’s wishes.
Once all funds have been processed, we’ll close the case and follow up with you to confirm.

Things to consider

When someone passes away, it can be overwhelming. In addition to informing friends and family, you’ll also need to reach out to several organisations.

In Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man, you must register a death within 5 days.

In Gibraltar, the registration should be completed within 8 working days, or when a coroner instructs the registrar.

A local funeral director can assist you with this process.

Obtain a death certificate

If the death was expected, the GP will issue a death certificate stating the cause of death. If the death was unexpected, the GP may need to report the death to the local coroner and it may take longer for the death certificate (or a coroner’s report) to be issued.

You’ll need a death certificate to register the death, but you may be able to get an interim certificate from the coroner.

For more information, please visit the government website for the relevant area:

States of Jersey
The Royal Court of Guernsey
Isle of Man Government
Government of Gibraltar

Find out if there is a will

If there is a will, it will state the wishes of the deceased and usually names one or more executors. An executor is a person who is responsible for carrying out their wishes. If you can’t find the will, it could be with the deceased’s solicitor, or a family member may know where it is.

If there is no will, the deceased is said to have died ‘intestate’. It means that the estate is likely to take longer to be wound up.

If there's anything complex in the deceased’s financial, business or family affairs, it’s best to consult a lawyer who specialises in probate law.

Finding a lawyer in your jurisdiction

The Law Society of Jersey
Members of the Guernsey Bar
The Isle of Man Law Society
Gibraltar Lawyers and Law Firms

Arranging the funeral

You can begin planning the funeral right away. Most people choose to hire a funeral director to handle the arrangements, however you can do it yourself. It’s a good idea to get quotes from several funeral directors to compare prices, as costs can differ.

If you’re on a low income, you may be able to apply for assistance from your local authority to help cover funeral costs.

Contact other organisations that need to know

You will need to tell other organisations about the person’s death, such as:

Banks
Building societies
Insurance companies
Pension provider
Utility companies

It’s also a good idea to redirect any post by contacting your local mail provider.

Common questions

How do I notify you when someone dies?

The easiest way to notify us about a bereavement is by using our online form. You can also contact our Bereavement Team by phone, post, or email.

We will ask you for the following details:

Your name, address and contact details.
The full name, address and bank details of the deceased.
The date of death.

If you already have a bank account with us, please let us know.

Once we receive these details, a member of our bereavement team will get in touch with you to explain the next steps.

Notify us about a bereavement

What documents and information will you need from me?

If we need to verify your identity, we will require:

Current photo ID: A clear and readable document, showing your full legal name.
Proof of address: A PDF of a recent statement or e-bill, dated within the last 6 months.
Your signature: Your signature in black ink on plain white paper.

We'll need the following documents and information:

The deceased’s sort code and account number(s) with us.
A certified copy of the Death Certificate.

Depending on the circumstances of the deceased, we may require additional documents:

Letter of administration or solicitor’s letter: This legal document from a court or solicitor allows someone to manage the estate of a deceased person without a will.
Certified copy of the Will.
Grant of Probate: This legal document allows the executor to manage the deceased’s estate.
Indemnity form: This document protects against any claims on the estate.

What address should I send documents too?

If you need to send us any documents, please include your contact details and send them to:

NatWest International
PO Box 11
16 Library Place
St Helier
Jersey, JE4 8NH

Email: bereavementteam@natwestint.com

Does the bank freeze all accounts when they are notified of a bereavement?

Once we are notified of a bereavement, we will freeze any sole accounts in the deceased’s name. This prevents any payments from being made into or out of the account.

For joint accounts, we will transfer the account to the name of the remaining party or parties after we have received the death certificate. We will also complete a review of any joint facilities associated with the account.

I've applied for Grant of Probate. What information does the bank need?

If you've applied for Grant of Probate, we will need some details about the person obtaining it.

Please provide the following information:

Full name and address of the Administrator/Executor.
Relationship to the deceased of the Administrator/Executor.
Sort code and account number of the Administrator/Executor (if they bank with us).
Name of the Advocate/Solicitor or Firm.

The Bank will usually require to see the Grant of Probate however, this may not be required for smaller estates. We can confirm these details when we contact you to discuss the next steps.

I need an executor account? Can you help?

Yes, we can help you open an executor account to manage payments for the estate. To get started, please visit one of our branches with the following documents:

Probate document: This confirms your appointment as the Executor.
Proof of identity: A valid form of ID.
Proof of address: A recent statement or utility bill.

We will set up a Select account for you, which includes a debit card, cheque book, and online banking. Please keep in mind that this is subject to your country of residency.

In most cases, we can pay the funeral bill directly from the deceased’s accounts. However, it’s best to contact our Bereavements Team to confirm.

For residents of the Isle of Man, we can also pay the Grant of Probate fee directly to the Isle of Man Government.

How to let us know about a bereavement

If you've experienced a bereavement, the easiest way to inform us is by using our online form. However, you can also reach out to our bereavement team by phone, post, or email.

We will ask you for the following details: