Zurich is a major UK insurance and financial services provider. Many people hold a Zurich life insurance or protection policy without fully realising it – policies are often taken out through employers, mortgage brokers, or financial advisers, so the Zurich name may not be prominent on bank statements. If the person you have lost held a life insurance policy, critical illness cover, income protection, or a workplace pension, there is a reasonable chance Zurich was the provider.
This guide covers how to make a bereavement claim on a Zurich life insurance policy, what happens with Zurich pensions and protection products, what documents you will need, and how long to expect the process to take. If you need to notify multiple organisations after a death, our guide to notifying companies after a death covers banks, utilities, government departments, and other major insurers.
Quick reference:
- Life insurance (non-PR policies): 0370 243 0827, Monday–Friday 8:30am–5:30pm
- Life insurance (PR policies): 0370 240 0073, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm
- Unknown policy type: 0370 333 1500, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm
- International: +44 1793 511 227
- Online claim form: zurich.co.uk – bereavement claim
- 24/7 support line: 0800 326 5061
How to notify Zurich of a death
Zurich operates two separate contact routes for life insurance bereavement claims, determined by whether the policy number begins with “PR”. If you are not sure which category applies, call 0370 333 1500 and Zurich will direct you.
If the policy number starts with “PR” (Life Protection policies): Call 0370 240 0073, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. You can also submit a claim online at zurich.co.uk/life-insurance/life-insurance-claim/lpp-bereavements-claim-form, or email zurichmulticlaims@uk.zurich.com.
If the policy number does not start with “PR”: Call 0370 243 0827, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm. The online claim form is at zurich.co.uk/life-insurance/life-insurance-claim/bereavements-claim-form, or email bereavements.zurich@uk.zurich.com.
If you do not have the policy number, Zurich can search their records using the deceased’s name, date of birth, and address. Do not delay calling just because you cannot find the paperwork.
Source: Zurich – make a bereavement claim, verified May 2026.
What to have ready when you call
You do not need everything before the first contact. Zurich will explain what they need at each stage. But having the following to hand speeds things up:
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Policy number | Starts with “PR” or doesn’t – this determines which team handles your claim |
| Deceased’s full name, date of birth, address | Standard identification |
| Date of death | Required for all claims |
| Original death certificate or coroner’s interim report | The key document for any claim |
| Your name, relationship, and contact details | Zurich will correspond with you throughout |
| Details of any will or named beneficiaries | Helps Zurich understand the estate |
Once Zurich has your initial notification, they will confirm what additional documents they need and keep you updated through the assessment process. Source: Zurich – make a bereavement claim, verified May 2026.
What documents you’ll need
The documents required depend on the product type. In almost every case, the death certificate is the first and most essential item.
| Document | When required |
|---|---|
| Original death certificate or coroner’s interim report | All claims – this is the starting point for every notification |
| Policy number | Helpful but not essential – Zurich can search by name and date of birth |
| Trust deed | If the life insurance policy was written in trust |
| Expression of wishes or nomination form | For pension death benefits – guides Zurich’s discretion on who receives the money |
| Will (if one exists) | Helps Zurich understand the estate |
| Grant of probate or letters of administration | Required for some claims – Zurich will confirm whether your specific claim needs it |
| Medical records | May be requested from the deceased’s GP for some life insurance claims |
Order several certified copies of the death certificate before you start. Each organisation you notify will need its own copy – you cannot pass a single certificate between them. If the deceased held multiple financial products across different companies, four to six copies is a practical starting point. Source: gov.uk – register a death.
Zurich’s claims team will return any original documents once reviewed.
What happens with life insurance claims
When a Zurich life insurance policyholder dies, the policy pays a lump sum. Who receives that money, and how quickly, depends on one critical question: was the policy written in trust? For a broader explanation of how life insurance works when someone dies, see our guide on what happens to life insurance when someone dies.
If the policy was written in trust
A policy held in a trust pays directly to the trustees named in the trust deed, who then distribute the money to the intended beneficiaries. This has two significant advantages. First, the money bypasses the estate entirely, which means it is generally not subject to inheritance tax under current HMRC rules. Second, the payout can be made once Zurich have approved the claim and received the required documents – there is no need to wait for probate to be granted.
Look for any paperwork referring to a “trust deed” or describing the policy as “written in trust”. If the deceased worked with a financial adviser, the adviser may hold a copy. Give it to Zurich early in the claims process.
If the policy was not written in trust
If the policy was not placed in a trust, the payout forms part of the deceased’s estate. In this case, the money cannot be distributed to beneficiaries until the estate has been administered – which may require a grant of probate, depending on the overall value and composition of the estate.
This is the key reason why, for higher-value policies, financial advisers often recommend writing life insurance in trust at outset. If probate is required, it can add several months to the timeline.
If there is not enough money available in the estate to cover immediate costs such as the funeral, it is worth asking Zurich whether any advance can be made against the policy while the claim is being assessed. Raise this directly when you call.
Inheritance tax
Life insurance payouts are subject to inheritance tax if they form part of the estate and the estate exceeds the inheritance tax nil-rate band (currently £325,000, or up to £500,000 with the residence nil-rate band for direct descendants inheriting the main home). Policies written in trust are generally outside the estate for inheritance tax purposes. Source: gov.uk – inheritance tax.
What happens with pension policies
Pensions are treated very differently from life insurance at death. Zurich pensions – including workplace pensions and personal pension policies – do not automatically pass to the estate. Instead, Zurich exercises discretion over who receives the death benefits, guided by any expression of wishes or nomination form the deceased completed during their lifetime.
This discretionary approach has an important consequence: under current rules, pension death benefits paid at Zurich’s discretion generally sit outside the deceased’s estate for inheritance tax purposes. For a broader explanation of how pensions work at death, see our guide on what happens to pensions when someone dies.
Expression of wishes forms
The expression of wishes form – sometimes called a nomination form or beneficiary nomination – is the single most important pension document to locate. It tells Zurich who the deceased wanted to receive the pension death benefits. Zurich is not legally bound by it, but takes it seriously. Without one, Zurich must investigate who might be appropriate beneficiaries, which takes considerably longer.
Check the deceased’s papers, any correspondence from a financial adviser, and any pension statements. If no form was ever completed, gather any other evidence of the deceased’s wishes – letters, emails, a will – and share it with Zurich.
Tax treatment by age
The age of the deceased at death affects the tax on pension death benefits significantly:
- Under 75 at death: Lump sum death benefits paid to a nominated beneficiary are generally tax-free, provided Zurich is notified and the payment is made within two years of death. Any amount above the Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance (£1,073,100 for 2025/26) is taxed at the beneficiary’s marginal income tax rate. Source: gov.uk – tax on a private pension you inherit.
- 75 or over at death: All pension death benefits are paid as income and taxed at the beneficiary’s marginal rate, regardless of the two-year notification window.
Changes from April 2027
The government announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 that, from 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will be included in the deceased’s estate for inheritance tax purposes. This is a significant departure from the current position. If you are dealing with a bereavement now, the existing rules still apply. Source: HMRC – inheritance tax on pension funds.
Probate and when it applies
Not every Zurich product requires a grant of probate before a claim can be settled.
Life insurance written in trust: Probate is not required. The policy bypasses the estate entirely and pays directly to the trustees.
Life insurance not written in trust: The payout forms part of the estate. If the estate requires probate – which depends on the estate’s overall value and the assets it contains – Zurich will need to wait for the grant before releasing the funds. They will confirm their requirements when you contact them.
Pension death benefits: Probate is not typically required. Zurich pays pension death benefits at its discretion, outside the estate administration process.
There is no fixed probate threshold Zurich applies to all policies. Whether probate is needed depends on the estate as a whole, and Zurich will advise based on the specific circumstances. For general guidance on when probate is and is not required, see our guide on do I need probate?. In Scotland, the equivalent process is confirmation from the Sheriff Court; in Northern Ireland, it is granted by the Probate Office of the High Court. Source: gov.uk – applying for probate.
How long does it take?
Zurich advise that timescales vary depending on the complexity of the claim and whether they need to gather additional information from third parties such as the deceased’s GP. Providing full information upfront is the most effective way to keep things moving.
| Product | Typical timeline |
|---|---|
| Life insurance (written in trust) | Once the claim is approved and documents received – no probate wait |
| Life insurance (not written in trust) | Depends on whether probate is required – straightforward probate applications currently take around 16 weeks in England and Wales |
| Pension death benefits | Several weeks once documents received; longer if no expression of wishes was on file |
| Income protection / critical illness | Depends on policy type – Zurich will advise |
The probate process itself currently takes an average of 16 weeks for straightforward estates in England and Wales, though complex estates take longer. Source: gov.uk – applying for probate. For more on what to expect, see our guide to how long probate takes.
The most common cause of delay is incomplete documentation. Each time Zurich needs to come back for additional information, the process pauses. Getting the death certificate, policy details, and any trust or nomination documents across as early as possible makes a meaningful difference.
Things to watch out for
PR vs non-PR policies determine which team handles your claim. Check the policy number. If it starts with “PR”, use 0370 240 0073 and the LPP claim form. If it does not, use 0370 243 0827 and the standard bereavement form. Using the wrong form does not necessarily cause a problem, but contacting the right team from the start avoids delays.
Check whether the life insurance was written in trust. This is the single most valuable thing to establish before calling. A policy in trust bypasses probate, can be paid out faster, and is generally outside the estate for inheritance tax purposes. Look for a trust deed or any paperwork describing the policy as “written in trust”. If you find one, have it ready when you call.
Locate the expression of wishes form for any pension. Without one, Zurich must determine on its own who should receive the death benefits, which takes considerably longer. Check papers, financial adviser files, and pension correspondence.
The two-year window for pension death benefits. If the deceased was under 75, pension death benefits paid within two years of Zurich being notified are generally tax-free. Delay in notification can cost beneficiaries significantly in income tax. Notify Zurich as soon as possible after the death.
The 2027 pension inheritance tax change. From April 2027, most pension death benefits will count towards the estate for inheritance tax. If the estate is large and a death occurs on or after that date, the pension trustees and personal representatives will have new reporting obligations. If the estate is close to or above the inheritance tax threshold, take advice from a solicitor or financial adviser. Source: HMRC – inheritance tax on pension funds.
Zurich may have provided cover through an employer. Group life insurance policies (death in service benefit) provided through an employer are separate from personal life insurance. If the deceased was employed, check with their HR department whether a group life insurance scheme was in place – the employer or their adviser, not Zurich directly, is typically the first point of contact for group schemes.
Free support is available around the clock. Zurich offer a 24/7 confidential support line at 0800 326 5061, providing access to emotional, legal, and financial guidance throughout the bereavement process – including probate support. This service is free and available 365 days a year. Source: Zurich – make a bereavement claim, verified May 2026.
Summary
Zurich’s bereavement claims team can be reached at 0370 243 0827 (Monday–Friday 8:30am–5:30pm) for most life insurance policies, or 0370 240 0073 for policies whose number starts with “PR”. If you are unsure which applies, call 0370 333 1500. You can also start the claim process online at zurich.co.uk – bereavement claim.
For life insurance: the most important question is whether the policy was written in trust. If it was, the payout goes directly to trustees, probate is not required, and the money is generally outside the estate for inheritance tax. If it was not in trust, the payout enters the estate and probate may be needed before funds can be released.
For pensions: the expression of wishes form is the key document. Zurich uses it to guide who receives the death benefits. If the deceased was under 75, notify Zurich promptly – the two-year window for tax-free payment is time-sensitive.
You do not need all of this in order before the first call. Zurich’s claims team will walk you through what they need at each stage. Keep a note of the date of each contact and any reference numbers given.
For help dealing with the wider estate – notifying HMRC, the DWP, and other financial institutions – see our guide to notifying companies after a death. If the deceased also held life insurance or pensions with another major insurer, see our guides to notifying Aviva, notifying Legal & General, notifying Royal London, and notifying Vitality.