Does Hargreaves Lansdown Require Probate? Threshold and Bereavement Guide

Does Hargreaves Lansdown require probate?

1Hargreaves Lansdown always requires probate for investment accounts (Stocks and Shares ISAs, SIPPs, Fund and Share Accounts)
2For HL Active Savings cash accounts, probate is generally required for balances above £10,000
3HL requires a certified death certificate and the original Grant of Probate for investment accounts
4HL has a dedicated bereavement team and participates in the Death Notification Service
5The process for investment accounts can take longer than for cash accounts — typically 4–6 weeks from receipt of the Grant of Probate

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) always requires probate for investment accounts — including Stocks and Shares ISAs, SIPPs (Self-Invested Personal Pensions), Lifetime ISAs, and Fund and Share Accounts. There is no threshold below which HL will release investment assets without a Grant of Probate. For HL Active Savings cash accounts, probate is generally required for balances above approximately £10,000 (as of 2026). HL is one of the UK's largest investment platforms, and its bereavement process reflects the complexity of investment portfolios.

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What Is Hargreaves Lansdown's Probate Threshold?

Unlike banks that set simple cash thresholds, Hargreaves Lansdown treats investment accounts and cash accounts differently:

Investment accounts (Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP, Lifetime ISA, Fund and Share Account): Probate is always required, regardless of the value. HL will not transfer or liquidate investment assets without the original Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
HL Active Savings cash accounts: Probate is generally required for balances above approximately £10,000 (as of 2026). For smaller balances, HL may use a small estates process.

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.

What Documents Does Hargreaves Lansdown Require?

When dealing with an HL account after a death, you will need to provide:

Certified copy of the death certificate
Your proof of identity — passport or driving licence
Original Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration — for all investment accounts, and for cash accounts above £10,000
Completed HL bereavement form — HL has its own form that must be completed alongside the standard documentation
Instructions on how to deal with the portfolio — whether to transfer investments to a beneficiary in specie (in their current form) or to sell and distribute cash

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.

How to Contact Hargreaves Lansdown Bereavement Team

HL has a dedicated bereavement support team:

By phone: Call 0117 900 9000(Monday to Friday 8am–5pm, Saturday 9:30am–12:30pm)
By post: Write to Hargreaves Lansdown, One College Square South, Anchor Road, Bristol BS1 5HL
Online: HL provides a bereavement notification form at hl.co.uk

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.

Does Hargreaves Lansdown Use the Death Notification Service?

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.

Does Hargreaves Lansdown Participate in the Direct Payment Scheme?

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.

How Long Does Hargreaves Lansdown Take to Release Funds After Probate?

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.

Small Estates: When Hargreaves Lansdown Releases Without Probate

For HL Active Savings cash accounts with balances under £10,000, HL may use a simplified process without requiring a Grant of Probate. However, for all investment accounts — regardless of value — probate is always required.

Even where the HL cash balance is small, the investment portfolio will almost certainly require probate to deal with properly. Our guide on when you don't need probate explains the general rules, though HL's policy effectively means probate is required in the vast majority of cases involving an HL account.

Related Guides

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.