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.
Freetrade treats all investment accounts as requiring a grant of probate before assets can be transferred or liquidated on behalf of an estate. Because investments are regulated assets — not simply cash deposits — the platform has no discretionary small-estate limit. Contact Freetrade as soon as possible after the death to freeze the account and begin the estate claim process.
Unlike high-street banks that set a monetary threshold — say £25,000 or £50,000 — below which they will release funds without probate, Freetrade does not operate this way. Because Freetrade holds stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other securities on behalf of its customers, all estate claims require a valid grant of probate (or a grant of letters of administration if there is no will) before the account can be touched.
This applies regardless of the portfolio value — even if the account holds only a few hundred pounds, Freetrade will still request the grant before proceeding. This is consistent with how most investment platforms in the UK operate, and it differs from the approach taken by current account providers. For context on how thresholds work more generally, read our guide on the 2026–27 probate threshold.
If you are unsure whether probate is needed for other assets in the estate, our guide on when you don't need probate explains the exceptions that apply to banks, building societies, and joint assets — though these do not apply to Freetrade accounts.
When notifying Freetrade of a death and beginning an estate claim, you will typically need to provide the following documents:
Keep certified copies of the grant of probate rather than sending originals where possible. Our estate administration checklist can help you track which documents you have already obtained and which are still outstanding.
Freetrade does not currently have a dedicated telephone bereavement line. The best ways to get in touch are:
You do not need access to the deceased's account to begin the bereavement process — you can contact Freetrade using your own details and provide the account holder's name and date of birth to identify the account. This is the same approach described in our guide on notifying financial institutions after a death.
As of 2026, Freetrade does not participate in the Death Notification Service (DNS), which is the UK Finance scheme that allows executors and next of kin to notify multiple banks with a single online submission. DNS participation is largely limited to the major high-street banks and some building societies.
This means you will need to contact Freetrade separately, in addition to any DNS submission you make for the deceased's bank accounts. Similarly, Freetrade is not covered by the Tell Us Once government service, which handles HMRC, DWP, and the DVLA.
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The Direct Payment Scheme (DPS) allows certain financial institutions to pay inheritance tax directly to HMRC from the deceased's funds before probate is granted — helping executors avoid needing to fund the tax bill personally. Freetrade does not participate in the Direct Payment Scheme, as it is primarily a scheme for banks and building societies holding cash deposits.
If the estate has a large IHT liability, you may need to sell investments elsewhere or borrow funds to pay the tax before probate is granted. Our guide on probate delays and IHT interest explains the risks of delaying payment and what options are available. It is also worth reading our inheritance tax guide for 2026–27 to understand the thresholds and rates that apply.
Once Freetrade has received all required documentation — including the grant of probate — they will typically process the estate claim within four to twelve weeks. The exact timeframe depends on several factors:
For context, our complete UK probate guide for 2026 sets out typical overall probate timelines, which run from six to twelve months for most estates. Freetrade's own processing time sits within that broader window.
In most cases, Freetrade does not release investment assets without a grant of probate. However, if the account holds a very small cash balance (for instance, uninvested cash awaiting deployment rather than actual securities), Freetrade may exercise discretion on a case-by-case basis. This is uncommon and not a published policy — you should not rely on it.
If the estate is genuinely small and the total value of all assets falls below the inheritance tax threshold, our guide on when you don't need probate explains which institutions typically allow small-estate indemnities as an alternative to the full probate process — though Freetrade is unlikely to be among them.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of the probate application itself, including court fees and what to expect at each stage, see our guide to applying for probate. You may also find the DIY probate vs solicitor costs comparison helpful when deciding how to manage the process.
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