Aviva bereavement team: 0800 015 1142 for life, pension or equity release

Aviva is one of the UK’s largest financial services companies, which means the person you’ve lost may have had several different types of product with them – a life insurance policy, a pension, an annuity, equity release on their home, an investment account, or general insurance like car or home cover. Each of these works differently when someone dies, with different contact routes, different documents, and different rules about who receives what.

This guide walks through each product type in plain terms: how to notify Aviva, what to expect from each claim or cancellation process, and the things that catch people out. If you need to notify other organisations too, our guide to notifying companies after a death covers banks, utilities, insurers, and government departments.

Quick reference:

• Life insurance, pensions, and protection (main bereavement line): 0800 015 1142, Monday–Friday 8am–6pm
• Aviva Investors (investment accounts): 0800 051 2003, then option 4 from the second menu for the dedicated bereavement line
• Home insurance bereavement: 0800 092 5367
• Equity release (lifetime mortgage): 0800 158 4177
• Online notification: aviva.co.uk/help-and-support/contact-us/notify-us-of-a-bereavement
• Life insurance claim payout: as fast as five working days once approved
• Pension death benefits: paid at Aviva’s discretion, guided by expression of wishes form

How to notify Aviva of a death

Aviva has a dedicated UK-based bereavement team. How you reach them depends on which products the deceased held – though for most cases, a single call or online notification will cover the process.

Step by step

If you are calling from abroad: +44 1603 603 277.

One notification does not automatically cover all product lines. If the deceased held, for example, both a life insurance policy and a pension, Aviva may treat these separately. Check with the bereavement team when you first call. For home or car insurance, a separate number applies (see below). For equity release, a dedicated team handles that separately on 0800 158 4177.

What information you’ll need

You don’t need all of this to make the first contact. Aviva will guide you through what they need based on the specific products the deceased held.

What Aviva products may be affected

Aviva covers a wide range of financial products, and the process at death differs significantly by type. Understanding which product you’re dealing with is the most important first step.

If you are unsure what the deceased held with Aviva, ask when you call. Aviva can search their records by the deceased’s name, date of birth, and address, and confirm what policies are on file.

What documents you’ll need

The documents required depend on the product type and the value of the estate. In almost every case, the death certificate comes first.

For all product types:

• Original death certificate from the register office, or an interim death certificate if a coroner’s inquest is underway. Aviva confirms it can accept interim death certificates, though it may need to wait until the inquest concludes before paying out in some cases.
• Your own identification and proof of your relationship to the deceased (executor status, next of kin).

For life insurance claims:

• The death certificate, plus any medical information or other legal documents Aviva requests – your claims adviser will tell you what is needed for the specific policy. Aviva returns originals promptly once reviewed.
• If probate is required, the grant of probate (or, in Scotland, the certificate of confirmation from the Sheriff Court) will also be needed.

For pension death benefits:

• The death certificate, plus any expression of wishes or nomination form the deceased completed. Aviva uses this to decide who receives the death benefits.

For investment accounts (Aviva Investors):

• For accounts under £50,000: Aviva Investors can settle under a small estates process without a formal grant of probate.
• For accounts over £50,000: a grant of probate (or letters of administration if there is no will) is required before Aviva will transfer the assets.

Source: Aviva Investors bereavement guide, verified March 2026.

For equity release:

• Original or certified copy of the death certificate
• Probate documentation (once obtained), so the executor can authorise property sale
• Recent mortgage statements or correspondence, if available

For home or car insurance:

• The death certificate is typically sufficient to notify Aviva and initiate cancellation or transfer of the policy.

Claiming a life insurance payout

When someone with an Aviva life insurance policy dies, the policy pays a lump sum. Who receives that money – and how quickly – depends primarily on whether the policy was held in a trust. For a broader explanation of how life insurance works at death, see our guide on what happens to life insurance when someone dies.

If the policy was held in a trust: The payout goes directly to the trustees, who can distribute it to beneficiaries without waiting for probate. This is the fastest route: once Aviva has approved the claim and has everything it needs, payment can happen within five working days. The money is also generally outside the deceased’s estate for inheritance tax purposes.

If the policy was not held in a trust: The payout forms part of the estate and is subject to the probate process before it can be distributed to beneficiaries. This can add months to the timeline. Aviva notes that if there is insufficient money in the estate to cover funeral costs and you are a beneficiary of the life insurance policy, an early payment may sometimes be made before probate completes – raise this when you call.

To start a life insurance claim, call 0800 015 1142 or use the online notification form at aviva.co.uk/help-and-support/claims/online-life-claims-notification.

Source: Aviva life insurance FAQ, verified March 2026.

Pensions

Pensions are treated differently from other assets at death. For a general explanation of how pensions pass on death, see our guide on what happens to a pension when someone dies. If the deceased held an Aviva workplace pension, personal pension, or SIPP, our dedicated Aviva pension bereavement guide covers the full process in depth – expression of wishes, tax treatment, the April 2027 IHT change, and how long it takes.

Pension death benefits

Aviva pensions – including SIPPs (self-invested personal pensions), personal pensions, and most workplace pensions – do not automatically pass to the estate. Instead, Aviva exercises discretion over who receives the death benefits, guided by any expression of wishes or nomination form the deceased completed.

This discretionary approach means the pension death benefit is generally outside the estate for inheritance tax purposes under current HMRC rules. However, from April 2027, the government intends to include most pension death benefits in estate calculations for inheritance tax – a significant change if the estate is close to or above the nil-rate band. Source: HMRC announcement, 2024.

Age at death matters for tax:

• If the deceased was under 75, lump sum death benefits paid to a nominated beneficiary within two years of Aviva being notified are generally tax-free.
• If the deceased was 75 or over, death benefits are paid to beneficiaries and taxed at their marginal income tax rate.

Source: Aviva – What happens to my SIPP when I die, verified March 2026.

Expression of wishes form

If the deceased completed an expression of wishes (also called a beneficiary nomination form) with Aviva, this tells Aviva who the deceased wanted to receive the pension death benefits. Aviva takes it seriously but is not legally bound by it – it is guidance, not instruction.

The form can nominate up to five people (or more, with a supplementary sheet). Aviva will contact the nominated beneficiaries and explain the options available to them – which may include a lump sum payment or, for eligible beneficiaries, taking the pension as a drawdown income.

If no expression of wishes was completed, Aviva will investigate who might be appropriate beneficiaries: spouse, civil partner, dependants, and others close to the deceased. This takes considerably longer. If you can locate any paperwork the deceased completed – financial adviser correspondence, pension statements, or a will that mentions the pension – share it with Aviva.

Does Aviva need probate for a pension?

No – pension death benefits are held in a discretionary trust and do not form part of the estate. Aviva does not require a grant of probate to pay pension death benefits. What they do need is the expression of wishes form and, in some cases, information about the deceased’s dependants and financial circumstances.

Annuities

Annuities are among the most misunderstood products at death. Whether any payment continues – and to whom – depends entirely on the type of annuity and the options selected when it was bought. The current guide on our site covers how annuities work when someone dies in more detail.

Single life annuity

A single life annuity pays an income only while the policyholder is alive. When they die, income payments stop. There is no automatic payment to a spouse or dependant.

However, if the deceased selected either a guaranteed period or value protection when the annuity was set up, there may be further payments due.

Guaranteed period: The deceased may have chosen a guaranteed minimum payment period – often 5 or 10 years, though Aviva offers periods of up to 30 years. If the annuitant dies within that period, income payments continue to the estate or a named beneficiary until the end of the guaranteed term. For example, if a 10-year guarantee was in place and the annuitant died in year 3, payments would continue for a further 7 years.

Value protection: This optional feature ensures that if the annuitant dies before receiving income equal to the original purchase price, a lump sum is paid to the estate or beneficiaries representing the shortfall. Aviva offers 90-day value protection as standard from the plan start date; 100% value protection for the whole of life is available when buying an annuity directly through Aviva.

Tax treatment of lump sums from annuity value protection follows the same rule as pension death benefits: if the annuitant was under 75, the lump sum is generally tax-free; if 75 or over, it is taxed at the beneficiary’s marginal income tax rate.

Joint life annuity

A joint life annuity continues paying an income to the surviving spouse or civil partner after the first death. The amount is set at the outset – commonly 50% or 100% of the original income – and continues for the rest of the survivor’s life. The survivor does not need to take any action to start receiving payments; Aviva will arrange the continuation once they have been notified of the death and received the death certificate.

Purchased life annuity

A purchased life annuity (PLA) is bought using capital rather than pension savings. The tax treatment differs from a pension annuity: part of each payment is treated as a return of capital (tax-free) and part as interest (taxable). At death, the same rules about guaranteed periods and value protection apply. If you are unsure whether the deceased held a PLA or a pension annuity, check the original policy documents – the product name will be stated, or call Aviva to confirm.

What to do

To find out whether any further payments are due from an annuity, call Aviva on 0800 015 1142 with the deceased’s full name, date of birth, policy number (if known), and the death certificate. Aviva will check the policy terms and advise on next steps.

Source: Aviva – What happens to an annuity when you die, verified June 2026.

Equity release (lifetime mortgage)

If the deceased held an Aviva lifetime mortgage – a type of equity release where a loan is secured against the property – this needs to be handled separately from their other financial products.

What happens to an Aviva lifetime mortgage at death

The lifetime mortgage must be repaid when the last (or only) borrower dies or moves into long-term care. The loan is typically repaid from the sale of the property, with any surplus going to the beneficiaries of the estate.

If the mortgage was in joint names, it transfers to the surviving borrower when the first person dies. The surviving borrower can continue living in the property and does not need to make repayments until they too pass away or require long-term care.

Repayment timeline

The estate has up to 12 months to repay an Aviva lifetime mortgage after the borrower’s death. Interest continues to accrue daily during this period. If repayment is not possible within 12 months – for example because the property sale is delayed – Aviva asks that you keep them updated on your plans.

If the property needs to be sold, any occupants will need to make arrangements to vacate in time for the sale to complete and the loan to be repaid within the permitted period.

What this means in practice for executors and beneficiaries

Equity release is one of the areas that most frequently catches executors off guard. The key points:

• The property must be sold (or the loan repaid) within 12 months. Interest runs at a compound rate throughout this period – for a large lifetime mortgage, the daily accrual can be significant. Starting the sale process quickly protects the estate.
• Occupants have no automatic right to remain. If family members were living in the property but were not co-borrowers on the lifetime mortgage, they do not have a legal right to stay once the borrower has died. The executor has a duty to the estate (and any beneficiaries) to manage the repayment within the allowed timeframe.
• Aviva operates under the Equity Release Council’s rules, which include a no-negative-equity guarantee. This means the estate will never owe more than the value of the property at sale, even if the compound interest has grown the debt above that level. Any shortfall is absorbed by Aviva. Source: Equity Release Council – standards, verified June 2026.
• The loan cannot simply be inherited. Beneficiaries cannot take on the lifetime mortgage and continue living in the property – the loan must be repaid. If a beneficiary wants to retain the property, they would need to arrange separate finance to repay Aviva’s mortgage in full.
• An alternative to sale is repayment from other estate assets. If the estate has sufficient liquid assets – for example a large pension death benefit or a life insurance payout – the executor can repay the lifetime mortgage without selling the property, and the property then passes to beneficiaries. Discuss this option early with the solicitor handling the estate.

How to notify Aviva equity release

Contact Aviva’s equity release team on 0800 158 4177. You can also write to: Aviva Equity Release Ltd, PO Box 520, Surrey Street, Norwich NR1 3WG.

You will need:

• The death certificate (original or certified copy)
• The deceased’s full name, address, date of birth, and date of death
• The mortgage reference number (if available)
• Probate documentation once obtained, so the executor can manage the sale

Source: Life Ledger – notifying Aviva equity release of a death, verified June 2026.

Investments and savings accounts

Investment bonds and portfolio accounts

For Aviva investment accounts and onshore bonds, the assets form part of the estate and need to be dealt with through the estate administration process.

Aviva Investors operates a small estates process: if the total value of investments held is under £50,000 and the executors have not applied for a grant of probate, Aviva can settle the account without one. For holdings over £50,000, a grant of probate (or letters of administration) is required. Source: Aviva Investors bereavement guide, verified March 2026.

The dedicated contact for Aviva Investors is 0800 051 2003 – from the second menu, choose option 4 for the bereavement line.

ISAs

When an ISA holder dies, the ISA becomes a “continuing deceased’s account” and stays open for up to three years and one day from the date of death. During this time it retains its tax benefits – no income tax or capital gains tax – but no new money can be added.

If the deceased was married or in a civil partnership, the surviving spouse or partner receives an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) – an extra ISA allowance equal to the value of the deceased’s ISA. This must be claimed within three years of the date of death or 180 days after estate administration is complete, whichever is later. Source: Aviva – What happens to my ISA when I die, verified March 2026.

For other beneficiaries, the ISA value is included in the estate for inheritance tax purposes. The executor decides whether to sell the investments, transfer them, or hold them in the continuing account until administration is complete. Contact Aviva Investors on 0800 051 2003 for ISA bereavement queries.

Home and car insurance

Home and car insurance are separate from life and pension products and are typically handled through different Aviva teams.

Home insurance

The deceased’s home insurance remains important during estate administration – the property still needs to be protected, especially if it becomes unoccupied. Most standard home insurance policies have conditions on unoccupied properties (typically 30 to 60 days), after which cover may be restricted or excluded. Contact Aviva as soon as possible to discuss options.

To notify Aviva about a death in connection with a home insurance policy, call 0800 092 5367. You can also write to: Aviva, Claims Assessment Team, PO Box 520, Norwich, NR1 3WG. You will need:

• The original death certificate
• The policy number
• Your own contact details and relationship to the deceased

Aviva will advise on whether the policy can continue in the name of the estate, be transferred to a new policyholder, or needs to be cancelled. If cancelled, any unused premium is refunded on a pro-rata basis, though a cancellation fee may apply depending on the policy terms. The estate remains liable for any outstanding premiums owed at the date of death.

Car insurance

A car insurance policy cannot continue in a dead person’s name. If the vehicle is now in the care of an executor or family member and they want to continue driving it, they need to arrange their own insurance. The executor driving the deceased’s vehicle to manage the estate is not automatically covered by the existing policy.

For Aviva car insurance, the options are:

• Cancel the policy: a pro-rata refund of any unused premium is due to the estate. A cancellation fee of £38 may apply outside the cooling-off period.
• Transfer to a new driver: not possible on a standard personal car insurance policy – the new driver will need a separate policy.

Contact Aviva using the number on the policy documents or certificate of insurance, or call the main bereavement line on 0800 015 1142 and ask to be directed to the general insurance team.

Health insurance (private medical insurance)

Aviva is one of the UK’s largest private medical insurance (PMI) providers, offering individual, family, and group (employer-arranged) health policies. These are separate from life insurance and handled by a different team.

What happens to an Aviva health insurance policy when someone dies

The policy ends at death. Any unused premium for the period after the date of death is refunded to the estate on a pro-rata basis.

If the policy covered multiple people – for example, a family plan – and the deceased was the main policyholder, Aviva will usually allow the remaining covered individuals to continue on a new policy in their own name, subject to underwriting. Contact Aviva to discuss the options rather than assuming cover lapses immediately.

Employer-arranged health insurance (group PMI)

If the deceased held their health insurance through their employer rather than directly with Aviva, the employer’s HR department is responsible for notifying Aviva, not the family. It is worth confirming with the employer that notification has been made and that the deceased has been removed from the group scheme. Any death-in-service benefit (if separate from the health policy) should be handled by the employer’s HR or benefits team.

How to notify Aviva about a health insurance death

Use the main Aviva bereavement line: 0800 015 1142, Monday–Friday 8am–6pm. Have the policy number to hand if possible, along with the death certificate. Aviva’s bereavement team can direct you to the relevant health insurance team for processing.

Source: Aviva UK customer services, verified June 2026.

Protection products: critical illness and income protection

Aviva also sells critical illness cover and income protection insurance, sometimes as standalone products and sometimes combined with life insurance.

Critical illness cover pays a lump sum if the policyholder is diagnosed with a qualifying condition. It is not a life insurance product and has no death benefit in itself – the payout is triggered by diagnosis of illness during the policyholder’s lifetime, not by death. If the policy was a combined life and critical illness policy, there may be a death benefit element in addition to the critical illness payment. Check the policy documents or call Aviva on 0800 015 1142 to confirm what type of policy was held.

Income protection replaces a portion of income if the policyholder is unable to work due to illness or injury. The policy pays out while the policyholder is alive but unable to work; it does not continue after death. There is no death benefit attached to a standard income protection policy.

In both cases, notify Aviva of the death via the main bereavement line. They will confirm the policy terms and advise whether any further payment or refund is due to the estate.

MyAviva account access

The deceased may have had a MyAviva online account, which could contain policy documents, statements, or payment details. MyAviva accounts are personal and cannot be accessed by executors or family members using the deceased’s login credentials – attempting to do so would be a breach of the terms and conditions.

The right approach is to contact Aviva’s bereavement team directly (0800 015 1142). They have authority to access the account on your behalf and provide the relevant information. You do not need the deceased’s login details. If there are policy documents the executor needs, Aviva can supply them through the bereavement process.

Aviva bereavement support services

Beyond the financial administration, Aviva provides a range of support services to people going through bereavement. These are available to policyholders’ beneficiaries and family members:

• Six bereavement counselling sessions with a qualified counsellor, arranged through Aviva’s support service
• Unlimited calls to Grief Encounter – a specialist bereavement charity – for both adults and children
• Legal support and practical guides to help with estate administration and the steps that follow a death

Ask the bereavement team about these services when you first call. There is no additional cost – they are part of Aviva’s standard bereavement support.

Source: Aviva – Life & protection support, verified June 2026.

How long does it take?

Timelines vary significantly by product type and complexity.

The probate process itself typically takes around 16 weeks in England and Wales for straightforward estates, though complex ones take longer. Source: gov.uk/applying-for-probate. For a full walkthrough of the process, see our guide on how to apply for probate.

The single biggest cause of delay is incomplete documentation. If Aviva has to return to you repeatedly for additional information, each exchange adds time. Providing the death certificate, policy details, and expression of wishes documents as early as possible keeps things moving.

If something goes wrong: the complaints process

If Aviva’s handling of a bereavement claim does not meet reasonable expectations – for example, if there is an unexplained delay, a claim is declined without adequate explanation, or there is a dispute over who should receive pension death benefits – you have a clear escalation path.

Step 1 – Aviva’s internal complaints process. Raise a formal complaint with Aviva directly. Aviva must acknowledge within 5 business days and give a final response within 8 weeks. Their complaints contact is at aviva.co.uk/help-and-support/contact-us/complaints.

Step 2 – Financial Ombudsman Service. If you are not satisfied with Aviva’s final response, or if 8 weeks pass without one, you can refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) free of charge. The FOS can investigate disputes about life insurance claims, pension death benefits, and investment accounts. Complaints must be referred within three years of the event, or within three years of becoming aware of the problem. Source: Financial Ombudsman Service.

The FOS has previously upheld complaints against Aviva for unreasonable delays in issuing claim forms, requesting information beyond the standard ten-working-day window, and disputed expression-of-wishes decisions. If you feel Aviva is being unreasonable, a formal complaint often moves things quickly.

Things to watch out for

Check for an expression of wishes form. The single most important document for pension death benefits is whether the deceased completed one of these. If they had a financial adviser, the adviser may hold a copy. If not, check any pension-related paperwork. Without it, Aviva has to conduct its own enquiries, which takes considerably longer.

Policies held in trust bypass probate – ask. If the deceased had a life insurance policy, it is worth checking whether it was placed in a trust. If so, the payout can be made directly to trustees without waiting for probate. If you find a trust deed among the deceased’s papers, give it to Aviva when you call.

You may not know all the policies. Aviva covers many product types. Check bank statements for direct debits to Aviva – or to former Aviva brands, including Norwich Union, CGU, and Friends Provident. Aviva can search their records by the deceased’s details if you don’t have policy numbers.

Check the annuity type carefully. People often assume an annuity simply stops at death. If the deceased chose a guaranteed period, joint life provision, or value protection when they bought the annuity, there may be substantial further payments due. Do not assume nothing is owed – call Aviva and ask them to confirm the specific policy terms.

The two-year window for pension tax-free payment. If the deceased was under 75, lump sum pension death benefits are generally tax-free if paid within two years of Aviva being notified. This is another reason not to delay notification – the clock starts from when Aviva is told, not from the date of death.

Equity release interest accrues daily. If the deceased held a lifetime mortgage, the outstanding balance is growing every day. Notify Aviva’s equity release team promptly (0800 158 4177) and begin the probate and property sale process as soon as possible to limit interest accrual.

From April 2027, pension inheritance tax rules are changing. HMRC announced in 2024 that most pension death benefits will be included in estate calculations for inheritance tax from April 2027. If the estate is likely to exceed the nil-rate band (currently £325,000), taking advice from a solicitor or financial adviser before that date is worth considering. Source: Aviva IHT changes guidance.

Home insurance and unoccupied properties. If the deceased’s home becomes unoccupied after death, standard home insurance policies often restrict cover after 30 to 60 days. Tell Aviva about the situation promptly – they may be able to add an unoccupied property endorsement or advise on specialist cover for the estate period.

Former Aviva brands. Aviva acquired several companies over the years, including Norwich Union, CGU, and Friends Provident. If the deceased held a policy with any of these former brands, Aviva now administers it – contact Aviva directly and they will confirm.

NFU Mutual life insurance after August 2016. If the deceased held an NFU Mutual life insurance policy issued from August 2016 onwards, it is administered by Aviva. Contact Aviva directly for those claims.

Direct Line life insurance (July 2019 – May 2025). Direct Line life insurance sold in this period is underwritten by Aviva. Aviva is the correct contact for those claims, not Direct Line.

Tell Us Once and the Death Notification Service

Two services are designed to reduce the number of separate notifications families need to make after a death. Neither covers Aviva directly, but it is important to understand what each does – and doesn’t – do.

Tell Us Once

Tell Us Once is a free government service that lets you notify multiple government departments in a single step: HMRC (for personal tax), the Department for Work and Pensions (to stop pension credit, universal credit, and related benefits), the DVLA, the Passport Office, the local council (for council tax, library cards, and similar), and certain public sector pension schemes such as NHS Pensions and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

Aviva is not covered by Tell Us Once. The service only notifies government and public sector bodies. Private companies – including all insurers and private pension providers – are outside its scope. You will need to contact Aviva separately. Source: gov.uk – Tell Us Once, verified June 2026.

Death Notification Service

The Death Notification Service (DNS) at deathnotificationservice.co.uk is a separate free service run by the banking industry, designed to let families notify multiple banks and building societies in one step. Its membership is primarily made up of retail banks, building societies, and credit card providers.

Aviva is not a member of the Death Notification Service. Aviva is an insurer and pension provider, not a retail bank. The DNS does not cover insurance companies or private pension providers. You need to contact Aviva directly using the numbers in this guide.

In practice, once you have used Tell Us Once for government bodies and the DNS for any banks the deceased held, Aviva will need a direct contact.

If the estate is in Scotland

The probate process in Scotland operates differently from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the equivalent of a grant of probate or letters of administration is called confirmation, issued by the local Sheriff Court rather than the Probate Registry.

How this affects Aviva claims

Aviva applies the same principles regardless of jurisdiction. Where probate is required – for example, for investment accounts over £50,000, or for life insurance proceeds that form part of the estate – Aviva will require a certificate of confirmation from the Sheriff Court in Scotland rather than a grant of probate.

For pension death benefits, the position is the same as in England and Wales: Aviva does not require confirmation because pensions sit outside the estate.

For equity release, the Scottish property law framework is different (heritable property rather than freehold), but the practical process for notifying Aviva and managing the repayment timeline is the same. If the property involved is in Scotland, it may be worth engaging a Scottish solicitor familiar with both conveyancing and estate administration.

Small estates in Scotland

Scotland has its own small estates procedure. For estates under £36,000 (the current Scottish small estates threshold as of 2026), you can apply for confirmation using a simplified form at the Sheriff Court without a full estate inventory. Aviva can usually deal with the estate under this simplified process where it applies. Source: gov.scot – small estates, verified June 2026.

If the estate is in Northern Ireland

Probate in Northern Ireland is administered by the Probate Office in Belfast, which is part of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS). The process is separate from the England and Wales Probate Registry and from the Scottish Sheriff Court.

How this affects Aviva claims

Where Aviva would normally require a grant of probate in England and Wales – for example, for Aviva Investors accounts over £50,000 – they will instead require a grant of probate issued by the Belfast Probate Office. Letters of administration (where there is no will) are also issued by the Belfast Probate Office.

For pension death benefits, the position is the same as elsewhere in the UK: Aviva does not require a grant of probate because pensions sit outside the estate.

For life insurance held in trust, the trust bypasses the estate entirely, so no grant is needed regardless of jurisdiction.

Small estates in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has a small estates threshold of £10,000. Where the estate is below this value, the executor or next of kin may be able to deal with financial institutions – including Aviva – without obtaining a formal grant of probate. Aviva’s bereavement team can advise on whether this applies to the specific products held.

For estates above £10,000, a full grant of probate or letters of administration from the Belfast Probate Office is required before Aviva will transfer or release assets that form part of the estate.

Source: NI Courts and Tribunals Service – probate, verified June 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Aviva bereavement phone number? The main Aviva bereavement line is 0800 015 1142, Monday–Friday 8am–6pm, free from UK landlines and mobiles. For investment accounts, call 0800 051 2003 (option 4 from the second menu). For home insurance, call 0800 092 5367. For equity release, call 0800 158 4177.

How long does Aviva take to pay life insurance? Once Aviva has approved the claim and received all required documents, they can pay out as quickly as five working days for policies held in trust. For policies not held in trust, the money forms part of the estate and cannot be released until probate is granted, which typically takes 16+ weeks for straightforward estates.

What happens to an Aviva pension when someone dies? Aviva exercises discretion over who receives pension death benefits, guided by any expression of wishes form the deceased completed. The pension does not automatically pass to the estate or next of kin. If the deceased was under 75, a lump sum paid within two years of Aviva being notified is generally tax-free. If 75 or over, benefits are taxed at the beneficiary’s marginal income tax rate.

How long does Aviva take to pay pension death benefits? Aviva typically takes several weeks once all documents are received. If no expression of wishes is on file, it takes considerably longer because Aviva must conduct its own investigation into appropriate beneficiaries. Having the expression of wishes form significantly accelerates the process.

What happens to an Aviva annuity when someone dies? It depends on the policy type. A single life annuity with no guarantees stops at death. If the policy had a guaranteed payment period, payments continue to the estate or beneficiary until that period ends. Joint life annuities continue to the surviving spouse or partner. Value protection triggers a lump sum if the annuitant died before receiving income equal to the purchase price. Call Aviva on 0800 015 1142 to check the specific terms.

Does Aviva require probate for pension death benefits? No. Pension death benefits are held in a discretionary trust and fall outside the estate. Aviva does not require a grant of probate to pay pension death benefits. However, probate is required for Aviva Investors accounts over £50,000.

Can I notify Aviva of a death online? Yes. Aviva offers an online bereavement notification at aviva.co.uk/help-and-support/contact-us/notify-us-of-a-bereavement. For most bereavement cases a phone call is also required to discuss product-specific next steps.

What happens to an Aviva equity release mortgage when someone dies? The lifetime mortgage must be repaid when the borrower dies (or moves into long-term care). The estate has up to 12 months to repay the outstanding balance, normally through sale of the property. Interest accrues daily until the loan is repaid. For joint mortgages, the debt transfers to the surviving borrower and only becomes due when the second person dies. Contact Aviva’s equity release team on 0800 158 4177.

What if no expression of wishes was completed for an Aviva pension? Aviva will investigate who the appropriate beneficiaries are by gathering information about the deceased’s circumstances – spouse, civil partner, dependants, and financial situation. This process takes significantly longer than when a form is on file, sometimes several months. Share any relevant information you have (will, financial correspondence, details of dependants) to help Aviva reach its decision.

Does Aviva need the original death certificate? For most products, yes – an original death certificate (or a certified copy) is required. Aviva returns original documents once they have been reviewed. An interim death certificate can be used if the coroner’s inquest is still underway, though some payouts may be held pending the final certificate.

Does Tell Us Once notify Aviva? No. Tell Us Once is a government service that notifies HMRC, DWP, DVLA, the Passport Office, and local councils – but it does not cover private companies, including insurers. You must contact Aviva separately. Source: gov.uk – Tell Us Once.

Is Aviva part of the Death Notification Service? No. The Death Notification Service is a banking industry scheme for banks and building societies. Aviva is an insurer and pension provider, not a retail bank, so it is not a member. Notify Aviva directly using the numbers in this guide.

How does Aviva bereavement work in Scotland? The process is the same as in England and Wales, but where a grant of probate would normally be required, Aviva will instead ask for a certificate of confirmation issued by the Scottish Sheriff Court. For pension death benefits, no confirmation is required because pensions fall outside the estate. For small Scottish estates under £36,000, a simplified confirmation procedure may apply.

How does Aviva bereavement work in Northern Ireland? In Northern Ireland, probate is handled by the Probate Office in Belfast (part of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service, or NICTS). Where Aviva would normally require a grant of probate – for example for investment accounts over £50,000 – they will ask for a grant issued by the Belfast Probate Office. Northern Ireland has a small estate limit of £10,000; below this threshold, Aviva may be able to deal with the estate without a formal grant. Pension death benefits fall outside the estate and require no grant, as in the rest of the UK.

What happens to Aviva health insurance when someone dies? The policy ends at death. Any unused premium after the date of death is refunded to the estate pro-rata. If the policy covered a family and the deceased was the main policyholder, remaining members may be able to continue cover in their own name – contact Aviva on 0800 015 1142 to discuss options.

Summary

Aviva covers multiple product types and each one works differently at death. The key contact numbers:

• Life insurance, pensions, annuities, and protection: 0800 015 1142 (Monday–Friday 8am–6pm, free to call)
• Aviva Investors (investment accounts, ISAs): 0800 051 2003 (option 4 for bereavement)
• Home insurance: 0800 092 5367
• Equity release: 0800 158 4177
• Online notification: aviva.co.uk/help-and-support/contact-us/notify-us-of-a-bereavement

For life insurance: contact Aviva, provide the death certificate, and if the policy was in a trust you can expect a payout within five working days of approval.

For pensions: the expression of wishes form is the key document. Aviva pays death benefits at its discretion, guided by that form. Act promptly – if the deceased was under 75, a two-year window applies for tax-free payment.

For annuities: do not assume income simply stops. Check whether the policy had a guaranteed period, joint life provision, or value protection – each of these may mean further payments are due.

For equity release: notify the dedicated equity release team (0800 158 4177) promptly. Interest runs daily and the estate has 12 months to repay the mortgage, normally through property sale.

For investments and ISAs: a small estates process is available for Aviva Investors holdings under £50,000. Above that threshold, probate is required.

For home and car insurance: notify Aviva promptly, particularly for home cover, as unoccupied property conditions can affect cover quickly.

You are dealing with a lot of complexity at a difficult time. Take it one product at a time, keep notes of every reference number and call date, and ask Aviva directly if anything is unclear – they have a dedicated bereavement team for exactly this, and the support services they offer (including counselling sessions) are worth asking about from the start.

If the deceased also held products with another large insurer, our guide on how to notify Legal & General when someone dies covers their separate contact teams and processes. For pensions and life insurance held with Scottish Widows, see our guide to notifying Scottish Widows.

If the deceased held a Direct Line insurance policy – car, home, pet, or travel – see our guide to notifying Direct Line when someone dies. Note that Direct Line life insurance sold between July 2019 and May 2025 is underwritten by Aviva, so Aviva is the correct contact for those claims.

If the deceased held an Admiral policy – car, home, travel, or MultiCover – see our guide to notifying Admiral when someone dies. Admiral also includes sub-brands Bell, Diamond, and Elephant Auto.

If the deceased held an LV= policy – car, home, pet, travel, or life insurance – see our guide to notifying LV= when someone dies.

If the deceased held an AXA policy – car, home, travel, life insurance, or AXA Health private medical insurance – see our guide to notifying AXA when someone dies.

If the deceased held a SAGA policy – car, home, travel, or health insurance – or held a SAGA Savings account, see our guide to notifying SAGA when someone dies.

If the deceased held investments, an ISA, or a SIPP through the Hargreaves Lansdown platform, see our guide to notifying Hargreaves Lansdown when someone dies.

If the deceased held a Zurich life insurance policy, critical illness cover, income protection, or a Zurich pension, see our guide to notifying Zurich when someone dies.

If the deceased held a Vitality life insurance policy, critical illness cover, income protection, or Vitality health insurance, see our guide to notifying Vitality when someone dies.

If the deceased held a BUPA health insurance policy, dental plan, or BUPA cash plan, see our guide to notifying BUPA when someone dies.

If the deceased held a Canada Life annuity, workplace group life insurance, or pension – or held an individual protection policy with Canada Life before February 2025 – see our guide to notifying Canada Life when someone dies.

If the deceased held a Sun Life over-50s plan, funeral plan, or Guaranteed Inheritance Plan, see our guide to notifying Sun Life when someone dies.

If the deceased held an NFU Mutual policy – car, home, farm, equine, or life insurance – see our guide to notifying NFU Mutual when someone dies. Note that NFU Mutual life insurance policies issued from August 2016 onwards are administered by Aviva.