Managing the Estate

The legal and financial process of settling what someone left behind: probate, intestacy, tax, and administration.

What happens to a bank account when someone dies in the UK: payments, frozen accounts, and what gets refunded

When a UK bank or building society is told that an account holder has died, the account is usually frozen the same day. Direct debits and standing orders are cancelled. Joint accounts are an exception and pass to the surviving holder. For sole accounts above the bank's small estates threshold, you will need a Grant of Probate before the funds can be released or transferred.

14 min read

How to value an estate for probate in the UK

This guide walks through the steps in order, with enough detail to see the process through from start to finish without getting lost.

8 min read

What happens to a pension when someone dies in the UK

This guide explains how each type of pension pays out, what the executor or beneficiary needs to do, and what the major changes coming in April 2027 mean for families.

10 min read

The residence nil rate band: how it works and what it could save you

The rules are more complicated than that headline suggests. The RNRB applies only in certain circumstances, tapers away for larger estates, and has several edge cases that catch families out. This guide explains how it works, who qualifies, and what practical steps matter when an estate involves a family home.

9 min read

Inheritance tax threshold UK 2026: what you need to know

This guide explains what the threshold is, how it combines with other allowances, and what to check if you are dealing with an estate that may be close to the limit.

8 min read

What happens to a joint mortgage when one partner dies in the UK

This guide explains what happens on death, what the surviving partner needs to do, and what the realistic options are if the mortgage is suddenly unaffordable on one income.

10 min read

What happens to Premium Bonds when someone dies in the UK

When the holder dies, Premium Bonds do not pass to anyone automatically. They cannot be transferred into a beneficiary's name. They sit outside the Tell Us Once service, which means no government notification will reach NS&I. The executor has to contact NS&I directly, and has a decision to make about whether to cash the bonds in immediately or leave them in the monthly prize draw for up to a year. This guide explains how the process works, what the options are, and what the executor actually needs to do.

9 min read

What happens to an ISA when someone dies in the UK

This guide covers cash ISAs, stocks and shares ISAs, Innovative Finance ISAs and Lifetime ISAs. Junior ISAs work differently and cannot be inherited as an ISA, so they are covered separately at the end.

9 min read

What happens to direct debits and standing orders when someone dies in the UK

When someone dies, their bank account does not freeze itself. Until the bank is told, direct debits and standing orders keep running. Subscriptions renew. Insurance premiums are collected. Utility payments go out on schedule. Money leaves the account as if nothing has changed.

8 min read

What happens to energy and water bills when someone dies in a property they rented?

When someone dies while living in a rented property, their energy and water bills don't simply stop, but the situation is different in important ways from when a property is owned.

6 min read

What happens to energy and water bills when someone dies in a property they owned?

When someone dies and leaves behind a property they owned, one of the many practical questions families face is: what happens to the gas, electricity and water bills?

5 min read

My Lost Account UK: how it works and what it does not find

Most people searching for it fall into one of two situations: they have found references to an account that may no longer be active, or they are dealing with the estate of someone who has died and need to find accounts they did not know existed. This guide explains how the service works, what it covers, and where it falls short.

7 min read

What is probate?

Most people encounter it for the first time while dealing with a bereavement. The name does not help much. This guide explains what probate actually involves, when it is needed, who does it, and what happens if there is no will.

7 min read

What happens to bills when someone dies

When someone dies, their bills do not stop. Gas, electricity, water, broadband, TV Licence, council tax: each one continues until someone contacts the provider and tells them. The accounts stay open, the charges keep running, and if a direct debit was paying them, it may keep going too until the bank is notified.

8 min read

Intestacy rules UK: who inherits when there is no will

Dying intestate means dying without a valid will. The intestacy rules then determine who is entitled to the estate: what order people inherit in, and how much each person receives.

8 min read

Letters of administration: what they are and how to apply

This guide explains what letters of administration are, who can apply, what the process involves, and how long it takes.

6 min read

How long does probate take in the UK?

This guide explains what affects probate timescales, what a realistic timeline looks like at each stage, and what typically causes delays.

7 min read

Pension Tracing Service UK: how it works and what to do next

It does one thing: it gives you a contact address or phone number for a pension scheme. Finding the contact is only the first step. Whether you have a pension with that scheme, and what it might be worth, is something only the scheme itself can tell you.

7 min read

View all guides

Managing the Estate

The legal and financial process of settling what someone left behind: probate, intestacy, tax, and administration.

What happens to a bank account when someone dies in the UK: payments, frozen accounts, and what gets refunded

How to value an estate for probate in the UK

What happens to a pension when someone dies in the UK

The residence nil rate band: how it works and what it could save you

Inheritance tax threshold UK 2026: what you need to know

What happens to a joint mortgage when one partner dies in the UK

What happens to Premium Bonds when someone dies in the UK

What happens to an ISA when someone dies in the UK

What happens to direct debits and standing orders when someone dies in the UK

What happens to energy and water bills when someone dies in a property they rented?

What happens to energy and water bills when someone dies in a property they owned?

My Lost Account UK: how it works and what it does not find

What is probate?

What happens to bills when someone dies

Intestacy rules UK: who inherits when there is no will

Letters of administration: what they are and how to apply

How long does probate take in the UK?

Pension Tracing Service UK: how it works and what to do next

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