How to Notify Charles Stanley of a Death: Investment Platform Bereavement Guide 2026

How to notify Charles Stanley of a death — step by step

1. Contact Charles Stanley by phone or email

   Call 020 7739 8200 or email bereavement@charles-stanley.co.uk. Charles Stanley provides a dedicated bereavement service and will assign a case manager to guide you through the process.

2. Provide the account holder's details

   You will need the deceased's Charles Stanley account number (from any correspondence or statements), full name, date of birth, and date of death. If the deceased had a discretionary managed portfolio or advisory service, the client relationship manager may also need to be informed.

3. Obtain probate if required

   For most estates, grant of probate or letters of administration will be required before Charles Stanley can release or transfer assets. They will advise on the threshold for their small estate procedures.

4. Transfer or liquidate the portfolio

   Beneficiaries can choose to transfer investments in specie to their own accounts or request that the portfolio be liquidated and the proceeds paid to the estate. Charles Stanley will advise on tax implications of each approach.

What documents does Charles Stanley need?

• Death certificate (certified copy)
• Charles Stanley account number
• Grant of probate or letters of administration
• Completed bereavement claim form (provided by Charles Stanley)

Have multiple certified copies of the death certificate ready. Banks and financial institutions each require an original or certified copy — you cannot usually pass a single copy between organisations. See our guide to how many death certificates you need.

How long does Charles Stanley take?

Charles Stanley typically takes 4–8 weeks to process a bereavement notification once all required documents have been received.

During this period, accounts or services will typically be frozen until the estate is administered. This means no new transactions can be authorised.

Charles Stanley merged with Raymond James UK in 2022. Branding may be transitioning — accounts may show as Charles Stanley or Raymond James. Use the same contact details.

What happens after you notify Charles Stanley?

Once Charles Stanley receives your notification and confirms receipt, the account or service will be frozen and no new transactions will be authorised. Estate administration can then begin.

Charles Stanley will freeze the account and write to you with the documents required to transfer or encash the investments. You will typically need to provide a grant of probate (or letters of administration) and certified copies of the death certificate before assets can be released to the estate. ISA investments lose their tax-free wrapper on death but may benefit from an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS) allowance for a surviving spouse or civil partner.

What cannot wait