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Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
abrdn (formerly Aberdeen Standard Investments, previously part of Standard Life Aberdeen) holds pensions as well as platform investments. A SIPP passes to nominated beneficiaries outside the estate, so no grant of probate is needed to release it. For platform investments and ISAs, abrdn applies a threshold of approximately £75,000. Below this, abrdn may release funds without requiring a grant of probate. Above £75,000, probate is required. Contact abrdn's bereavement team on 0345 279 1000 to confirm the position for the specific account.
abrdn (pronounced “Aberdeen”) is a major UK and global investment company formed from the merger of Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life Investments. It is distinct from Phoenix Group (which owns Standard Life's insurance and pensions business). abrdn manages investment platforms, ISAs, SIPPs, and funds. A SIPP is a pension: it passes to nominated beneficiaries outside the estate, so it does not need a grant of probate at all. As of July 2026, for platform investments and ISAs abrdn applies a threshold of approximately £75,000.
The rules by product type:
Note: If the deceased held a Standard Life pension (now administered by Phoenix Group), the relevant guide is our Standard Life probate threshold guide. For the broader context, see our probate threshold guide for 2026–27.
Our estate administration checklist can help you manage all document submissions across institutions.
Contacting abrdn is part of the wider task of notifying financial institutions after a death. The bereavement team will confirm what is needed and send a claims pack.
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abrdn does not currently participate in the Death Notification Service (DNS). You must contact abrdn directly. The DNS primarily covers high-street banks and building societies; investment managers such as abrdn maintain their own bereavement processes.
abrdn does not participate in the Direct Payment Scheme (DPS). If inheritance tax is due on the estate, you will need separate funding to pay HMRC before probate is granted. See our guide on probate delays and IHT interest.
For platform accounts below the £75,000 threshold, abrdn typically releases funds within 4–6 weeks. For larger estates requiring probate, add 8–12 weeks to obtain the grant, plus 4–8 weeks for abrdn to process the claim. See the complete UK probate guide for 2026 for the full timeline.
The abrdn group has a complex history involving multiple mergers and rebranding exercises. The key distinctions for estate administration are:
If you are unsure which entity the deceased held an account with, look at the company name on any correspondence or policy documents. For help deciding how to administer the estate, see our DIY probate versus solicitor cost guide.
Before you assume you need probate
Do you actually need a grant — and what would it cost?
A abrdn balance is only part of the picture. Whether the estate needs probate at all depends on the whole picture — property, other accounts, and how everything was owned — not a single threshold. It is worth checking before you start filling in forms.
Guide reviewed July 2026. Bank thresholds change and can vary by account type — always confirm the current figure with the provider before relying on it.
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Where they normally lived, even if they died somewhere else.
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