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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.
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) holds two very different types of asset, and they are treated differently on death. HL pensions and SIPPs (Self-Invested Personal Pensions) sit outside the estate — they are paid to the nominated beneficiaries and do not need a Grant of Probate. For other (non-pension) HL accounts — including Stocks and Shares ISAs, Lifetime ISAs, Fund and Share Accounts, and Active Savings cash — a grant is required where the value is £50,000 or more (as of July 2026). Below £50,000, HL can release the account on a Small Estates Declarationwithout a grant. HL is one of the UK's largest investment platforms, and its bereavement process reflects the complexity of investment portfolios.
Unlike banks that set a single cash threshold, Hargreaves Lansdown treats pensions and non-pension accounts differently:
This approach reflects the nature of investment platforms — investment assets need careful handling to ensure correct tax treatment and proper transfer to beneficiaries. For a comparison of probate requirements across all major UK financial institutions, see our probate threshold guide for 2026–27.
When dealing with an HL account after a death, you will need to provide:
For a full explanation of what documents are needed at this stage, see our guide on what documents are needed for probate. When applying for probate, request enough certified copies of the grant — HL will need the original, which they will copy and return.
HL has a dedicated bereavement support team:
HL will suspend the account and prevent further transactions upon notification. Any income payments (dividends, interest) may continue to accrue but will not be distributed until the estate is resolved. Our guide on notifying banks after a death covers notifying all types of financial institution.
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Yes, Hargreaves Lansdown participates in the Death Notification Service (DNS). You can submit a DNS notification to inform HL and other participating institutions simultaneously. HL will then contact you to collect their specific documentation requirements, which are more extensive for investment accounts than for cash accounts.
Hargreaves Lansdown does not typically participate in the Direct Payment Scheme (IHT423) in the same way as high street banks, as investment platforms are not cash deposit institutions. However, HL can assist with valuing the portfolio for IHT purposes and can facilitate the sale of investments to fund an IHT payment where required.
For estates with a large investment portfolio at HL, it is worth seeking advice on the most tax-efficient way to handle the portfolio during the estate administration period. Our guide on probate delays and IHT interest explains the consequences of delayed IHT payment and what options are available.
HL typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to process investment accounts after receiving the Grant of Probate and all required documentation. This is longer than the standard 10–15 working days for cash accounts at high street banks, reflecting the additional complexity of dealing with investment portfolios.
The timeline depends on whether investments are being transferred in specie (without selling) or sold and distributed as cash. In specie transfers can sometimes take longer, as the receiving investment platform must also process the transfer.
Our estate administration checklist covers investment accounts alongside bank accounts.
For non-pension HL accounts valued under £50,000, HL can release the assets on a Small Estates Declaration without requiring a Grant of Probate. At £50,000 or more, a grant is required. Pensions and SIPPs are separate again — they sit outside the estate and pass to the nominated beneficiaries with no grant needed at any value.
So the position depends on what the deceased held: a pension or SIPP needs no grant, a non-pension account under £50,000 can go through the Small Estates Declaration route, and a non-pension account of £50,000 or more needs a grant. Our guide on when you don't need probate explains the general rules that sit behind HL's £50,000 threshold and its Small Estates Declaration process.
For a comprehensive guide to UK probate, visit our complete UK probate guide for 2026. Given the complexity of investment accounts, our DIY probate versus solicitor costs guide may be particularly relevant — a solicitor experienced in estate administration can be helpful where significant investments are involved. For inheritance tax on investment portfolios, read our IHT guide for 2026–27. Use Farra's free estate tool to generate your personalised estate administration plan.
Before you assume you need probate
Do you actually need a grant — and what would it cost?
A Hargreaves Lansdown 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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