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Fidelity requires probate for all investment accounts, regardless of the amount held. As of 2026, there is no threshold below which Fidelity will release investment assets without a grant of probate or letters of administration. For small cash balances under approximately £5,000, Fidelity may exercise discretion, but executors should not assume this will apply. Contact the bereavement team on 0800 368 1732 to confirm the position for the specific account.
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Unlike high-street banks that apply a fixed small-estate threshold (often £25,000–£50,000), Fidelity does not publish a standard small-estate limit for investment accounts. Because investment accounts hold funds and securities that can fluctuate in value, Fidelity's policy is to require formal legal authority — a grant of probate or letters of administration — before transferring or liquidating any holdings.
This means that even if the deceased held only a modest ISA or SIPP with Fidelity, you will generally need to apply for probate before funds can be released. The only potential exception is a pure cash account with a very small balance; call the bereavement team to establish whether this applies in your case.
For guidance on whether the overall estate requires probate, see our guide on when you do not need probate and our overview of probate thresholds for 2026–27.
When notifying Fidelity of a death and ultimately claiming assets, you will need the following documents:
A full estate administration checklist can help you track all the documents you need across multiple institutions.
Fidelity has a dedicated bereavement support team. Do not use the general customer service number — the bereavement team has the authority and specialist knowledge to handle account freezes, valuations, and fund releases.
When you call, have the deceased's Fidelity account number or National Insurance number to hand. The bereavement team will freeze the account and send you a bereavement pack with full instructions. This is one of the key steps in notifying financial institutions after a death.
Fidelity does not currently participate in the Death Notification Service (DNS), which allows executors to notify multiple banks and financial institutions in a single submission. This means you must contact Fidelity directly — you cannot use the DNS portal to inform them of the death.
The DNS is useful for mainstream high-street banks. However, investment platforms and fund managers such as Fidelity typically require direct engagement with their own bereavement process. Always check the DNS website for the latest list of participating institutions, as this can change.
Fidelity does not participate in the Direct Payment Scheme (DPS), which some financial institutions use to pay inheritance tax directly to HMRC from the deceased's account before probate is granted. This means you cannot arrange for Fidelity to pay any inheritance tax liability directly on behalf of the estate.
If inheritance tax is due on the estate, you will need to arrange separate funding to pay HMRC before probate is granted. See our guide on probate delays and IHT interest for practical tips on managing this. Our overview of the inheritance tax rules for 2026–27 explains whether tax is likely to be due.
Once Fidelity receives the grant of probate and all required documents, fund release typically takes 4–8 weeks. This timeline can vary depending on:
The overall probate process — from death to final fund release — typically takes 9–12 months when accounting for the time to apply for and receive probate (typically 8–12 weeks at the Probate Registry). See the complete UK probate guide for 2026 for a full timeline.
If the deceased held a self-invested personal pension (SIPP) with Fidelity, the rules are different from investment accounts. Pension death benefits are paid at the discretion of the pension trustees and do not form part of the estate for probate purposes. This means Fidelity can pay pension death benefits to nominated beneficiaries without waiting for probate.
However, investment accounts — including ISAs, general investment accounts (GIAs), and any cash held outside a pension wrapper — do form part of the estate and require probate before release. If you are unsure which type of account the deceased held, ask the Fidelity bereavement team to confirm this during your initial call.
For broader context on claiming pension death benefits, see our dedicated guide. The DIY probate vs solicitor cost guide can help you decide whether professional help is worth it for an estate with Fidelity holdings.
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