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.
first direct publishes two limits rather than one. Where there is a will, it will normally release funds without a Grant of Probate up to £50,000; where there is no will, the limit for Letters of Administration is £25,000. It also says plainly that it may still ask for a grant even where the balance is below those limits, so neither figure is a guarantee.
There are two, and which applies depends on whether there is a will: £50,000 where there is one and a Grant of Probate would be needed, £25,000 where there is not and the document would be Letters of Administration. first direct attaches an explicit caveat to both: it may still ask for a grant even if the balance is below the limit, before it will release any money or close accounts.
first direct is part of HSBC UK Bank plc and applies the same limits as HSBC — the idea that it runs a separate, lower threshold is wrong. In Scotland the document is a certificate of confirmation rather than a grant of probate or letters of administration. For a comparison of what other institutions publish, see our probate threshold guide for 2026–27.
First Direct is a telephone and internet bank — there are no First Direct branches, so all interactions are by phone or online.
When notifying First Direct of a bereavement, you should have the following ready:
Above £50,000 with a will, or £25,000 without one, first direct will require the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. Documents can be posted to first direct, Bereavement Support Team, 40 Wakefield Road, Leeds, LS98 1FD, or submitted the way first direct directs you during the bereavement call.
First Direct operates exclusively by phone and online. There are no physical branches:
When you first contact First Direct, they will freeze the deceased's sole accounts and stop any standing orders and direct debits; a joint account is changed into a sole account in the surviving holder's name. For guidance on managing notifications across multiple institutions, see our guide on notifying banks after a death.
Yes, First Direct participates in the Death Notification Service (DNS). You can submit a single notification via the DNS to inform First Direct and other participating banks simultaneously. First Direct will then contact you to collect the required documentation.
Yes, First Direct participates in the Direct Payment Scheme (IHT423). As part of HSBC Group, First Direct can facilitate direct payment of inheritance tax to HMRC from the deceased's account before probate is granted, provided sufficient funds are available.
To use this scheme, complete HMRC form IHT423 and submit it to First Direct alongside the IHT400. For more on IHT timing, see our guide on probate delays and IHT interest.
first direct does not publish a timescale for releasing funds, and no official source publishes one for it. Any figure quoted elsewhere is an estimate rather than a commitment by the bank.
Use our estate administration checklist to track submissions and responses across all financial institutions in the estate.
Below £50,000 with a will, or £25,000 without one, first direct will normally deal with the accounts on the death certificate and its own paperwork rather than a grant. Read its caveat carefully though: it reserves the right to ask for a grant below those limits anyway, so confirm before you assume the estate can avoid one. It publishes no timescale for this route either.
Even if First Direct does not require probate, you may still need a Grant of Probate for other parts of the estate. Our guide on when you don't need probate will help you understand which other assets require formal authority.
For a full overview of UK probate, see our complete UK probate guide for 2026. If you are considering whether to handle probate yourself, our DIY probate versus solicitor costs guide is a helpful starting point. For inheritance tax questions, read our IHT guide for 2026–27.
Before you assume you need probate
Do you actually need a grant — and what would it cost?
A First Direct 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.
Related guides