Does Legal & General Require Probate? Threshold and Bereavement Guide

Does Legal & General require probate?

1Legal & General investment bonds have a probate threshold of approximately £36,000; below this, funds can be released without probate.
2Legal & General pension death benefits bypass probate entirely and are paid to nominated beneficiaries at the trustees' discretion.
3Required documents include a certified death certificate, completed bereavement form, and (above the threshold) a grant of probate.
4Legal & General does not participate in the Death Notification Service; contact their bereavement team directly on 0370 010 4080.
5Fund release for non-pension products typically takes 4–8 weeks after all documents are received.

Legal & General applies a threshold of approximately £36,000 for investment bonds. Below this amount, probate is generally not required and funds can be released with a death certificate and completed claim form. Above £36,000, a grant of probate or letters of administration is required. Pension accounts bypass probate in all cases. Contact Legal & General's bereavement team on 0370 010 4080 for product-specific guidance.

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What Is Legal & General's Probate Threshold?

Legal & General (L&G) is one of the UK's largest insurance and investment groups. As of 2026, the probate threshold for Legal & General investment bonds is approximately £36,000.

The rules differ by product type:

Investment bonds: Approximately £36,000 threshold. Below this, Legal & General may release funds without a grant of probate. Above this, probate is required.
Pensions (workplace, personal, annuities): No probate required — death benefits are paid under pension trust law to nominated beneficiaries.
Life insurance (written in trust): Bypasses the estate — no probate required.
Life insurance (not in trust): Forms part of the estate; the £36,000 threshold may apply.
ISAs and cash savings: Form part of the estate; probate rules depend on total estate value.

For a cross-institution comparison, see the probate threshold guide for 2026–27.

What Documents Does Legal & General Require?

For all Legal & General products, you will need:

Certified death certificate — from the Register Office. Order multiple copies at registration.
Legal & General bereavement claim form — available on their website or sent in their bereavement pack.
Policy or scheme reference number — found on correspondence from Legal & General.
Your identification — photo ID and proof of address.

For investment bonds above £36,000, you will also need:

Grant of probate or letters of administration — see what documents you need for probate.
Copy of the will — to confirm executor authority.

The estate administration checklist will help you manage all required documents across multiple institutions.

How to Contact Legal & General's Bereavement Team

Legal & General provides a dedicated bereavement helpline:

Telephone: 0370 010 4080 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm)
Online: legalandgeneral.com/existing-customers/bereavement
Post: Legal & General, Customer Services, City Park, The Droveway, Hove, BN3 7PY

The bereavement team will freeze any relevant policies and send instructions for making a claim. Contacting Legal & General is part of the process of notifying financial institutions after a death.

Does Legal & General Use the Death Notification Service?

Legal & General does not currently participate in the Death Notification Service (DNS). You must contact Legal & General directly using the details above. As an insurer rather than a bank, Legal & General maintains its own separate bereavement notification process.

Does Legal & General Participate in the Direct Payment Scheme?

Legal & General does not participate in the Direct Payment Scheme (DPS). If inheritance tax is due on the estate, you must arrange a separate payment to HMRC before the grant of probate can be issued. Our guide on probate delays and IHT interest explains how to manage the funding challenge.

How Long Does Legal & General Take to Release Funds?

For claims below the £36,000 threshold (no probate required), fund release typically takes 4–6 weeks from receipt of all documents. For larger estates, add 8–12 weeks to obtain probate, then a further 4–8 weeks for Legal & General to process the claim.

For the full step-by-step timeline, see the complete UK probate guide for 2026.

Pensions vs Investments: Different Rules Apply

Legal & General pension death benefits — from workplace pensions, personal pensions, group income protection schemes, and annuities — are held in trust. They fall outside the estate and do not require probate. The pension trustees will follow any nomination of beneficiary form completed by the deceased.

Investment bonds and life policies not written in trust form part of the estate and are subject to the £36,000 threshold. For full details on claiming pension death benefits from any insurer, see our guide to claiming pension death benefits. If you are weighing up DIY administration against using a solicitor, our cost comparison guide will help.

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