Legal & General is one of the UK’s biggest financial services companies, and it’s common for someone to have held more than one product with them – a life insurance policy, an annuity, a pension, an investment account, or several at once. Each of these works differently when someone dies, with separate contact routes, different documents, and different rules about who receives what.
This guide covers every major L&G product type: how to make contact, what to prepare, what happens to each type of product, and the things that catch people out.
Quick reference:
- Life insurance: 0800 137 101, Monday–Friday 9am–5:30pm (free to call)
- Annuities and retirement income: 0345 766 0813, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm
- Workplace pension: 03450 708686, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm
- Defined benefit pension: 03450 778 778, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm
- Investments (opened 2022 onwards): 0345 678 0020, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm
- Online bereavement hub: legalandgeneral.com/existing-customers/bereavement
How to contact Legal & General
L&G does not have a single bereavement number that covers all products. Because their life insurance, pensions, and investment arms operate separately, you may need to contact more than one team. The right number depends on what the deceased held.
Life insurance
Call 0800 137 101 to notify L&G of a death on a life insurance policy. This line is free from UK mobiles and landlines. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm.
You can also email the claims team at life.claims@landg.com, or write to: Claims Department, City Park, The Droveway, Hove, BN3 7PY.
If you don’t know the policy number, L&G can search their records using the deceased’s name, date of birth, and address – don’t delay calling just because you haven’t found the paperwork yet.
Annuities and retirement income
Call 0345 766 0813 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm). L&G also has an online death notification form for annuity and retirement income products at legalandgeneral.com/existing-customers/retirement-support/contact-forms/death-notification. You can upload a copy of the death certificate through this form, which can help speed up processing.
For later life mortgages (lifetime and retirement interest-only mortgages), call 03330 048444, Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5pm.
Pensions
For a workplace pension, call 03450 708686, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm. L&G also has an online workplace death notification form at legalandgeneral.com/forms/retirements/workplace-death-notification.
For a defined benefit pension scheme, call 03450 778 778, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm. An online notification form is also available.
For a personal or self-invested pension (SIPP), call 0345 678 0020, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm.
Investments
For investment accounts opened in 2022 or later, call 0345 678 0020 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm). For older accounts opened before 2022, call 0370 050 0955 (UK) or +44 (0)1737 370 370 if calling from abroad.
What to have ready when you call:
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Deceased’s full name, date of birth, address | Standard identification |
| Date of death | Required across all product types |
| Policy, plan or account number | On any annual statements or welcome letters |
| Your name, relationship to the deceased, contact details | L&G will need to correspond with you |
| National Insurance number (annuities) | Needed for retirement income notification |
Source: Legal & General bereavement hub, verified April 2026.
What documents you’ll need
The core document for every notification is the death certificate. This is the certified copy issued by the register office after you have registered the death – not the medical certificate from the doctor or hospital. If a coroner’s inquest is underway, L&G can accept an interim death certificate to begin the process, though they may need to wait for the final one before paying out.
Order more certified copies than you think you need. Banks and financial institutions each require their own original or certified copy – you cannot pass a single copy between organisations. Four to six copies is a sensible starting point if the deceased held multiple accounts and policies. Source: gov.uk – register a death.
For all products:
- Death certificate (original or certified copy)
- Deceased’s full name, date of birth, usual address
- Date of death
- Your identity and your relationship to the deceased
For life insurance claims:
- The policy number (or enough details for L&G to find it)
- A completed claim form (L&G will send this once you notify them)
- Any additional medical or legal documents L&G requests
For annuity and pension notification:
- The plan or payment reference number
- The deceased’s National Insurance number
- A completed bereavement notification form (available online or by post)
For estate administration involving investments:
- Grant of probate (or letters of administration if there is no will) may be required depending on the value of the account – L&G will advise when you contact them
If probate is underway, providing the grant of probate as soon as it is issued keeps things moving. L&G return original documents once reviewed.
What happens to each product
Life insurance
When a life insurance policyholder dies, the policy pays a lump sum. Who receives it – and how quickly – depends on whether the policy was held in a trust.
If the policy was in a trust: The payout goes directly to the trustees, who distribute it to beneficiaries without waiting for probate. This is the fastest route and keeps the money outside the deceased’s estate for inheritance tax purposes. Once L&G have everything they need and the claim is approved, payment is made to the trust.
If the policy was not in a trust: The payout forms part of the estate. It can only be distributed once probate is granted (or, in Scotland, confirmation from the Sheriff Court). This can add months to the timeline compared to a trust-based policy.
Check any policy documents or correspondence for mention of a trust deed. If you find one, give it to L&G when you call – it may make a significant difference to how quickly the money can reach the people it was intended for.
L&G paid out £583 million in life claims in 2024, covering more than 14,000 people. Source: Legal & General life claims information, verified April 2026.
Funeral Payment Pledge: L&G offers to advance up to £10,000 against a valid life insurance claim to help cover funeral costs before the full claim is settled. If money is tight in the immediate period after the death, ask about this when you first call. Source: Legal & General bereavement claim page, verified April 2026.
For more on how life insurance works at death, see our guide to what happens to life insurance when someone dies.
Pensions
Pensions do not automatically form part of the estate. L&G exercises discretion over who receives pension death benefits, guided by any nomination or expression of wishes form the deceased completed.
This discretionary structure means pension death benefits are generally outside the estate for inheritance tax purposes under current HMRC rules – though the government has announced changes that will bring most pension death benefits into scope for inheritance tax from April 2027. Source: HMRC – pension inheritance tax changes.
Age at death matters for tax:
- If the deceased was under 75, lump sum pension death benefits paid to a nominated beneficiary within two years of notification are generally tax-free.
- If the deceased was 75 or over, death benefits are paid as income and taxed at the beneficiary’s marginal income tax rate.
Source: gov.uk – tax on a private pension you inherit.
If the deceased completed a nomination form with L&G, find it and provide it. If no form was completed, L&G will make enquiries to identify appropriate beneficiaries – which takes longer. Any paperwork the deceased completed, financial adviser correspondence, pension statements, or references to the pension in a will can all help.
For a broader explanation of how pension death benefits work, see what happens to pensions when someone dies.
Annuities
Annuities are particularly important to notify promptly, because payments to the deceased should stop on the date of death. Whether any payment continues to a surviving spouse or dependant depends entirely on the specific policy terms.
Some annuities include a spouse or dependant’s pension – a reduced income paid to a partner after the annuitant dies. Others include a guarantee period – meaning payments continue for a set number of years even if the annuitant has died. Others simply stop. Review the original policy document or ask L&G directly when you call.
If payments to the deceased’s bank account continue after death, the executor will need to repay them. Act quickly to avoid this.
Investments and ISAs
L&G investment accounts opened from 2022 onwards are administered by the same team as pensions (call 0345 678 0020). Older investment accounts use a different line (0370 050 0955).
Investment assets form part of the estate and are distributed according to the will or the rules of intestacy. Probate may be required depending on the total value – L&G will advise when you contact them.
For stocks and shares ISAs, the account passes to the estate. If the deceased was married or in a civil partnership, the surviving spouse or civil partner receives an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) – an extra ISA allowance equal to the value of the deceased’s ISA at the time of death. This must be claimed within three years of the date of death, or 180 days after estate administration is complete, whichever is later. Source: gov.uk – ISA allowance when someone dies.
Probate and when it’s required
Not every L&G product requires a grant of probate. It depends on the type of product and the value of the estate.
Life insurance in trust: No probate needed. The trust bypasses the estate entirely.
Life insurance not in trust: The payout forms part of the estate. If the estate requires probate to administer, then probate will be required before L&G can release the funds to the estate.
Pensions: Probate is not typically required, because pensions are paid at L&G’s discretion to nominated beneficiaries outside the estate.
Investments: Probate requirements depend on the value of the account. L&G will advise when you make contact.
For a general guide to when probate is and isn’t required, see do I need probate?
If the estate does need probate, apply through gov.uk/applying-for-probate. The average time from application to grant is around 16 weeks for straightforward estates in England and Wales, though complex ones take longer.
In Scotland, the equivalent process is applying for confirmation from the Sheriff Court. In Northern Ireland, probate is granted by the Probate Office of the High Court.
How long does it take?
L&G does not publish fixed timelines for all claims, because processing time depends heavily on what documents are available and whether the claim is contested or straightforward.
| Product | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Life insurance (in trust) | Payment made once claim approved – can be within days |
| Life insurance (not in trust) | Depends on probate – typically 16+ weeks from probate application |
| Pension death benefits | Several weeks; longer if no nomination form was in place |
| Annuity | L&G will advise; depends on policy type |
| Investments | Depends on probate if required |
The single biggest cause of delay is incomplete paperwork. If L&G have to contact you multiple times for additional documents, each exchange adds time. Providing the death certificate, plan number, and any nomination or trust paperwork as early as possible is the most effective thing you can do to keep things moving.
L&G aim to acknowledge notifications promptly and will let you know what additional information they need.
Things to watch out for
L&G covers multiple product types – and they use separate teams. One call to 0800 137 101 notifies the life insurance team, but it does not automatically flag the annuity team, the pension team, or the investments team. If the deceased held more than one product, contact each team separately. When you call, ask whether they can see any other L&G products on file.
Look for an expression of wishes or nomination form. For pension death benefits, this form is the most important document. If the deceased had a financial adviser, the adviser may hold a copy. Without it, L&G must make their own enquiries about who should receive the pension – and that process takes considerably longer.
Check whether the life insurance policy was in a trust. A trust can mean the difference between payment within days and payment after many months of waiting for probate. Look for a trust deed among the deceased’s papers. If you’re not sure, ask L&G directly.
Annuity payments can continue in error. If the deceased’s annuity income was paid to a joint bank account, the bank may not automatically stop it once the account holder dies. The executor is responsible for returning any overpayments. Notify L&G as soon as possible.
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 L&G being notified. Don’t delay notification.
L&G may have acquired older policies. L&G has historically acquired a number of businesses and policy books. If the deceased held a policy with a former provider that L&G now administers, contact L&G directly – they will search their records.
Former premiums. Any premium payments due after the date of death should cease. If premiums were being paid by direct debit, the bank account executor should cancel it once they are managing the estate. Any overpaid premiums should be refunded to the estate.
If you need to understand your broader obligations when dealing with finances after a death, see our guides on notifying HMRC and notifying DWP, which typically also need to be contacted early in the process.
Summary
Legal & General covers several distinct product types, each with its own contact team. The life insurance bereavement line is 0800 137 101 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm, free to call). For annuities and retirement income it’s 0345 766 0813. Workplace pensions use 03450 708686, and investments use 0345 678 0020.
For life insurance: notify L&G, provide the death certificate, and ask whether the policy was held in trust – if so, payment can be made directly to trustees without waiting for probate. L&G also offer to advance up to £10,000 towards funeral costs on valid claims.
For pensions: the nomination or expression of wishes form is the key document. Act within two years if the deceased was under 75 to preserve the tax-free status of the death benefit.
For annuities: contact the retirement team promptly, and check the original policy for any survivor benefit that may apply.
You do not need to have all the paperwork before you make the first call. L&G’s teams will guide you through what they need. Take it one product at a time, keep a note of every reference number and call date, and don’t hesitate to ask directly if anything is unclear.
If the deceased also held products with LV= – car, home, pet, travel insurance, or life insurance – see our guide to notifying LV= 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 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.