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Original poster

Bank obstructing probate application.

52 replies

Nodirectionhome · 06/09/2026 08:14

A relative died recently and I am the named executor. It is a simple estate and I have done this before, so am not using a professional to do it.

The issue I am facing is that the relative's bank will not tell me the bank balance at the date of death until I have the grant of probate. I cannot apply for probate until I have details of all my relative's assets. A catch 22 situation.
I am not asking them to release the funds, only for the balance information.
Has anyone come across this before? Is there a solution?
Edited for spag.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nodirectionhome · 09/09/2026 20:04

funkybanana · 09/09/2026 07:51

Glad they've moved on the valuation, but eight weeks is a long time to wait for one letter. Barclays is on the Death Notification Service - it's a single online form, it goes straight to their bereavement team rather than the branch, and from what I've seen the date of death balance letter usually follows within a couple of weeks of them getting the certificate. If you've only dealt with the branch so far it's worth doing that in parallel.

The other thing is the clock. Interest on any IHT starts running from the end of the sixth month after death whether or not you've got your figures, so don't let Barclays' timetable push you past that. You can get an IHT reference number now and make a payment on account from NS&I to stop interest, then settle up when the final numbers are in. The IHT400 also has a box for flagging figures as provisional estimates, and you correct them afterwards with form C4. Barclays are also in the direct payment scheme (form IHT423) if the NS&I money doesn't cover it.

I've got a one-page list of what each of the big banks' bereavement teams ask for and roughly how long they take - message me and I'll send it over.

Edited

Thank you.I will message now

OP posts:
funkybanana · 09/09/2026 20:35

funkybanana · 09/09/2026 07:51

Glad they've moved on the valuation, but eight weeks is a long time to wait for one letter. Barclays is on the Death Notification Service - it's a single online form, it goes straight to their bereavement team rather than the branch, and from what I've seen the date of death balance letter usually follows within a couple of weeks of them getting the certificate. If you've only dealt with the branch so far it's worth doing that in parallel.

The other thing is the clock. Interest on any IHT starts running from the end of the sixth month after death whether or not you've got your figures, so don't let Barclays' timetable push you past that. You can get an IHT reference number now and make a payment on account from NS&I to stop interest, then settle up when the final numbers are in. The IHT400 also has a box for flagging figures as provisional estimates, and you correct them afterwards with form C4. Barclays are also in the direct payment scheme (form IHT423) if the NS&I money doesn't cover it.

I've got a one-page list of what each of the big banks' bereavement teams ask for and roughly how long they take - message me and I'll send it over.

Edited

A few people have messaged me asking for the document, so I thought I'd just share it here for everyone, in case it's helpful

https://getsolace.co.uk/resources/who-to-tell-when-someone-dies

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