Skipton Building Society bereavement: 0345 266 1209

Skipton Building Society is the UK’s second-largest building society by assets, with members across the UK holding savings accounts, ISAs, mortgages, and investment products. When a member dies, the accounts need to be notified to Skipton’s bereavement team: sole accounts are frozen to protect the estate, joint accounts pass to the surviving holder, and the process of releasing funds follows a tiered approach based on the total balance held. This guide explains each step – the phone number to call, which documents you will need, what happens to different account types, when probate is required, how to use the IHT423 Direct Payment Scheme, and what to expect in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Quick reference:

• Phone: 0345 266 1209 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm)
• Email: skiptondirect-bereavementnotification@skipton.co.uk
• Post: Bereavement team, Principal Office, The Bailey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1DN
• Probate required if: sole account balances total £50,000 or more
• Death Notification Service: Skipton is not a member – contact directly

How to notify Skipton Building Society of a death

Skipton does not currently participate in the Death Notification Service, so you will need to contact them directly. There are four ways to do this.

By phone – Call 0345 266 1209, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. This connects you to Skipton’s bereavement team, who are trained to handle these calls with care. Have the deceased’s full name, date of birth, home address, and date of death to hand. You do not need the death certificate before calling – Skipton will confirm what to send once they have registered the death and will write to you with account balances and required next steps.

By email – Send notification to skiptondirect-bereavementnotification@skipton.co.uk. This is useful if you prefer to notify in writing or if it is outside phone hours. For accounts with balances of £5,000 or under, Skipton can accept scanned copies of documents sent by email rather than originals.

By post – Write to: Bereavement team, Principal Office, The Bailey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1DN. Include the deceased’s full name, date of birth, date of death, any account numbers you have to hand, and your own name, address, and relationship to the deceased.

In branch – Skipton will accept notification in any branch, where staff can begin the process and provide the relevant forms.

What to have ready when you notify

At the point of initial notification, Skipton will need:

• The deceased’s full name, date of birth, and usual address
• The date of death
• Your full name, address, telephone number, and relationship to the deceased
• Any Skipton account numbers (helpful but not essential at first contact)

You do not need every document ready before making contact. Skipton will write to the personal representative confirming account balances and which documents are required to proceed.

What documents you will need

The documents required depend on the total balance held in sole accounts. Skipton uses a tiered approach:

Always required:

• Original or certified copy of the death certificate, Coroner’s interim certificate, or a death certificate verification form administered by a solicitor

For any balance, the personal representative’s identity may also need to be verified. Skipton will confirm what is needed for the specific accounts.

Source: Skipton Building Society bereavement notification page (verified June 2026)

What happens to savings accounts

Sole savings accounts

When Skipton is notified of a death, outgoing payments from the deceased’s sole savings accounts are frozen immediately. This protects the estate and prevents any further withdrawals. Interest continues to accrue on the balance until the account is closed.

The account cannot be accessed or closed until the relevant documentation has been submitted. For small balances, this can be resolved relatively quickly with a simple closure form. For larger balances, the process takes longer and may require probate (see section below).

Fixed-rate bonds – If the deceased held a fixed-rate bond, Skipton can close it early and pay out the accrued interest. Alternatively, it can remain in the deceased’s name until it matures naturally – the personal representative can then close it at maturity. Skipton will explain both options.

Funeral expenses and inheritance tax – Before the rest of the estate is released, Skipton can release funds for two specific purposes even before probate:

• Funeral expenses: Skipton can release funds directly to pay the funeral director once the death has been registered, provided you supply the funeral director’s invoice on headed paper.
• Inheritance tax: If HMRC requires a payment before probate is granted, Skipton can release the relevant amount using a completed HMRC IHT423 form and a Withdrawal Before Probate form. See the IHT423 section below for the full process.

Joint savings accounts

When one account holder dies, a joint savings account passes automatically to the surviving holder. This happens without the need for probate, regardless of the balance. The surviving holder retains full access to the account and needs only to submit the death certificate to have the account updated into their sole name.

What happens to ISAs

When a Skipton ISA holder dies, the tax-free wrapper on their ISA does not disappear immediately. The account continues to shelter the funds from income tax and capital gains tax during estate administration – for up to three years from the date of death, until the account is formally closed, or until 180 days after the estate administration is complete, whichever is later.

For the purposes of closing the account and releasing funds to the estate, ISAs are treated the same as other savings accounts: the balance is counted toward the probate threshold and the relevant documentation tier applies.

The Additional Permitted Subscription for surviving spouses

If the deceased held an ISA and was married or in a civil partnership, the surviving spouse or civil partner is entitled to an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) allowance. This is a one-off allowance – separate from the normal annual ISA limit – equal to the value of the deceased’s ISA at the time of death.

The APS allowance means the surviving partner can move that same amount of money into their own ISA without it counting toward their annual subscription limit, preserving the tax-free status of those savings.

Skipton offers a dedicated account for this purpose: the Legacy Cash ISA. This account is available exclusively to surviving spouses and civil partners. Key features:

• Earns 2.05% AER variable, with interest paid annually on 5 April
• Minimum balance of £1; maximum of £1 million
• Easy access with no notice or penalties
• FSCS-protected up to £120,000
• Contributions must be made within three years of the date of death, or within 180 days of estate administration completing, whichever is later
• You cannot pay in your own ISA savings or use your annual ISA allowance – only the inherited APS is eligible

The APS allowance can also be split across multiple ISA providers if you prefer: you are not required to place everything with Skipton’s Legacy Cash ISA. HMRC rules permit multiple subscriptions provided the total does not exceed the APS entitlement.

To apply, download the Legacy Cash ISA application form from Skipton’s website, or call 0345 266 1209 to request a paper form by post. Applications can also be made in branch.

You can choose which date to use for calculating the APS allowance – the date of death, estate completion, or three years post-death. Once chosen, that date cannot be changed.

For more information on ISA inheritance rules, see the what happens to an ISA when someone dies guide.

Source: Skipton Legacy Cash ISA page (verified June 2026)

IHT423: paying inheritance tax from Skipton accounts

Many estates face a practical problem: probate cannot be granted until inheritance tax is paid, but inheritance tax cannot be paid without accessing estate funds that are locked until probate is granted. The HMRC Direct Payment Scheme breaks this deadlock.

Skipton Building Society participates in the Direct Payment Scheme. This means the executor or administrator can instruct Skipton to pay the inheritance tax amount directly to HMRC, before the Grant of Probate is issued, using a completed IHT423 form.

The IHT423 process, step by step

1. HMRC issues the IHT400 and IHT421. The executor completes the main inheritance tax account (IHT400). HMRC issues a payment reference (IHT421) and, if IHT is due, confirms the amount.

2. The executor completes the IHT423. Form IHT423 is available from gov.uk. It identifies the specific Skipton account(s) from which the funds should be released, the amount to be transferred, and the executor’s authority.

3. The IHT423 is sent to Skipton, not to HMRC. This is a common source of confusion. The form goes directly to Skipton’s bereavement team at the usual postal address (Principal Office, The Bailey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1DN). Skipton then transfers the funds directly to HMRC.

4. A Withdrawal Before Probate form is also required. Skipton requires this alongside the IHT423. The bereavement team will provide the form when you notify them.

5. HMRC stamps the IHT421 once payment is received. With the stamped form, the executor can proceed with the probate application. Probate is then granted in the normal way.

Timing note: Allow at least three weeks between requesting a payment reference from HMRC and the probate application submission, as HMRC needs time to process the payment confirmation.

If you are unsure whether inheritance tax is due on the estate, see the HMRC inheritance tax guidance. Not all estates are liable – the threshold in 2025–26 is £325,000 for a sole estate (higher with a residence nil-rate band or transferred allowance).

What happens to mortgages

If the deceased held a Skipton mortgage, the outstanding balance does not disappear on death – it becomes a debt of the estate. What happens next depends on whether the mortgage was held in a sole name or jointly.

For mortgage-specific queries, Skipton operates a separate number: 0345 850 1766 (credit management team).

Sole borrowers

The mortgage becomes an estate liability and must be repaid in full. The most common routes are:

• Life insurance – if the deceased had a life insurance policy attached to the mortgage, the insurer pays the outstanding balance directly to Skipton
• Estate funds – the estate can repay the mortgage from other savings or assets
• Property sale – if the estate includes the mortgaged property, it can be sold to repay the debt
• Remortgage – a family member or beneficiary can apply for their own mortgage with Skipton (or another lender) to take over the property

Skipton’s guidance is explicit that monthly mortgage payments must continue to be made by the estate in the interim, to prevent arrears from accumulating. If the mortgage is not repaid within 12 months, Skipton may begin further recovery action. Contact the bereavement team as early as possible to discuss the options – Skipton can agree a plan to avoid this situation.

Joint borrowers (joint beneficial tenants)

In most joint mortgages, both parties are joint tenants. When one dies, their share passes automatically to the surviving borrower. Skipton can update the mortgage into the surviving borrower’s sole name on receipt of the death certificate alone – no Grant of Representation is needed in this situation.

Joint borrowers (tenants in common)

If the mortgage was held as tenants in common, the deceased’s share passes according to their Will or the rules of intestacy – not automatically to the surviving borrower. In this case, a Grant of Representation is required before the estate share can be transferred or the mortgage restructured.

If you are unsure whether the mortgage is held as joint tenants or tenants in common, check the property title at HM Land Registry or the original mortgage deed. Skipton’s bereavement team can also advise.

For further guidance on mortgages and death, see the what happens to a mortgage when someone dies guide.

Probate and when it is required

Probate is the legal process that grants someone the authority to deal with a deceased person’s estate. In England and Wales this is called a Grant of Probate (if the deceased left a Will) or Letters of Administration (if they did not). In Scotland, the equivalent is Confirmation. In Northern Ireland, it is handled by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS).

Skipton requires a Grant of Representation when the total balance in sole accounts is £50,000 or more. If the total is below this threshold, they may be able to process the account closure without it – though this is subject to there being no other assets elsewhere that also require probate.

Below the threshold, Skipton uses its own forms:

• Under £5,000: Account Closure up to £5,000 form (with or without a Statutory Declaration depending on the relationship to the deceased)
• £5,001 to £49,999: Account Closure form plus a Statutory Declaration administered by a solicitor, commissioner of oaths, or licensed conveyancer

The £50,000 threshold applies only to balances held with Skipton. If the deceased also held funds with other institutions and those funds require probate, you will need to obtain a Grant of Representation regardless of the Skipton balance.

For a full explanation of the probate process, see the how to apply for probate guide. For timelines, see how long does probate take?. If you are unsure whether probate is needed, see do I need probate?

Scotland: Confirmation and the small estate procedure

In Scotland, the equivalent of probate is Confirmation, granted by the Sheriff Court. The process and terminology differ from England and Wales.

Full Confirmation

Where the estate is above the small estate threshold (see below), the executor must submit an inventory of the estate to the Sheriff Court using form C1. Once the court grants Confirmation, the certificate can be sent to Skipton to release funds held at or above the £50,000 threshold. Skipton accepts a Certificate of Confirmation in the same way as an English or Welsh Grant of Probate.

Small estate procedure (estates of £36,000 or less)

Where the total estate value does not exceed £36,000, a simplified procedure applies using form C5 (the small estate summary). This can be completed without a solicitor, at the Sheriff Court in the area where the deceased lived. The fee is significantly lower than for a full Confirmation.

Note that the £36,000 figure is the Scottish small estate threshold, set by the Scottish Government – it differs from Skipton’s own £50,000 probate threshold. It is possible for an estate to qualify for the Scottish small estate procedure while still requiring Skipton’s own tiered documentation for balances above £5,000.

Joint accounts in Scotland

In Scotland, property held jointly generally passes to the surviving co-owner under the doctrine of survivorship (the same principle as in England and Wales). For joint Skipton savings accounts, the surviving holder can have the account transferred into their sole name on receipt of the death certificate, without needing Confirmation.

However, where property is held as tenants in common in Scotland (known as common property or pro indiviso shares), the deceased’s share passes under their will or intestacy rules, not automatically to the co-owner.

Northern Ireland: grants from NICTS

In Northern Ireland, probate is issued by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS), based at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast. The grant types are the same as in England and Wales – Grant of Probate (with a Will) or Letters of Administration (without).

A grant from NICTS is accepted by Skipton in exactly the same way as a grant from the Probate Registry of England and Wales. There is no difference in Skipton’s process. Application information is available at nidirect.gov.uk.

Tell Us Once: what it does and does not cover

Tell Us Once is a free government service that lets you notify multiple central and local government departments of a death in a single step. Departments it covers include DWP (for pensions and benefits), DVLA (driving licence), HM Passport Office, and the local council (for council tax).

Tell Us Once does not cover Skipton Building Society or any other bank or building society. It is a government-only service. You must notify Skipton directly, using the phone, email, post, or branch methods described above.

If the deceased received state pension, pension credit, or other DWP benefits, Tell Us Once is the fastest way to stop those payments and avoid an overpayment recovery request later.

How long does it take

There is no single answer – the timeline depends on the complexity of the estate and whether probate is required.

Joint accounts can typically be transferred to the surviving holder within a few days of submitting the death certificate.

Sole accounts under £5,000 can often be closed and the balance paid to the estate within a few weeks of submitting the death certificate and the relevant form.

Sole accounts between £5,001 and £49,999 take longer because a Statutory Declaration needs to be prepared and administered by a solicitor or commissioner. Allow several weeks to a few months.

Sole accounts of £50,000 or more cannot be closed until probate is granted. The probate process itself typically takes four to eight months from application, though it can be longer in contested or complex estates. The account will remain open in the meantime, with interest continuing to accrue.

Skipton will write to the personal representative after initial notification to confirm account balances and the documentation required. That letter is a useful reference for planning the process.

Things to watch out for

Mortgage payments must not stop. This is the most time-sensitive issue on this list. If the deceased had a sole Skipton mortgage, the estate is responsible for maintaining monthly payments. Missed payments create arrears that can complicate the estate administration. Contact Skipton’s bereavement team as soon as possible to agree interim arrangements.

The Statutory Declaration is not the same as an affidavit. The Statutory Declaration that Skipton requires for accounts between £5,001 and £49,999 must be administered in person by a solicitor, licensed conveyancer, or commissioner of oaths. It cannot be done remotely by post. Solicitors typically charge £5–£15 for this service.

Fixed-rate bonds: decide before interest terms change. If the deceased had a fixed-rate bond, the interest rate may change at maturity. If you intend to close it early rather than wait for maturity, discuss this with Skipton’s bereavement team promptly.

The APS time limit is strict. The Legacy Cash ISA and APS allowance must be used within three years of the date of death (or 180 days after estate administration completes, if later). If you miss this window, the allowance is lost permanently. If you are a surviving spouse or civil partner, ask Skipton about the Legacy Cash ISA early in the process, even if you do not intend to use it immediately.

Scanned documents are accepted for smaller balances. For accounts under £5,000, Skipton will accept scanned copies of documents sent by email rather than originals or certified copies. This can save time if posting feels difficult during the early days of bereavement.

The IHT423 goes to Skipton, not HMRC. A common mistake is to send the IHT423 to HMRC. The form must be sent to Skipton’s bereavement team. Skipton then transfers the funds directly to HMRC.

For guidance on what happens to savings accounts more broadly, see what happens to savings accounts when someone dies.

Summary: what to have ready

For a complete checklist of who to notify after a death, return to the what to do after someone dies hub.

If you also need to notify other building societies, see our guides to notifying Coventry Building Society, notifying Yorkshire Building Society, notifying Leeds Building Society, and notifying Nationwide.

Sources: Skipton Building Society bereavement support page (skipton.co.uk, verified June 2026); Skipton Building Society notify us of a bereavement (skipton.co.uk, verified June 2026); Skipton Legacy Cash ISA (skipton.co.uk, verified June 2026); Death Notification Service (deathnotificationservice.co.uk); HMCTS probate service (gov.uk); IHT423 Direct Payment Scheme (gov.uk); NIDirect probate (nidirect.gov.uk).