How to Notify Leeds Building Society of a Death: Bank Bereavement Guide 2026

How to notify Leeds Building Society of a death — step by step

1. Tell the society

   Use the free Death Notification Service, which tells Leeds Building Society and other participating banks and building societies at once, or contact the society by phone or email. Branch appointments are also available.

2. Send the documents for the balance

   Below £50,000, where there is a will, the society asks for its account closure form with an original or certified copy of the will or the grant of probate, plus ID for the person signing. Without a will, it asks for the account closure form and ID for the first-named personal representative. At £50,000 and above, with or without a will, it asks for an original or certified copy of the grant of probate and ID for each executor.

3. Ask about funeral costs or tax

   The society says it can arrange to pay inheritance tax, probate fees or funeral expenses from the person's accounts.

What documents does Leeds Building Society need?

• Below £50,000 with a will: account closure form, original or certified copy of the will or the grant of probate, and ID for the person signing the form
• Below £50,000 without a will: account closure form and ID for the first-named personal representative
• £50,000 and above: original or certified copy of the grant of probate, and ID for each executor

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 Leeds Building Society take?

Leeds Building Society does not publish a processing time, so we do not give one. Ask when you notify them, and ask for a reference so you can chase it.

Accounts or services are usually frozen until the estate is administered, which means no new transactions can be authorised. Frozen bank accounts cannot send or receive money, so it is important to ensure the estate has an accessible source of funds for ongoing costs such as funeral expenses.

Using the Death Notification Service for Leeds Building Society

Leeds Building Society is a member of the Death Notification Service (DNS). The DNS lets you notify multiple banks and building societies at once, saving time if the deceased held accounts at several institutions. You can use the service online at deathnotificationservice.co.uk or by telephone on 0800 158 2227.

However, notification via the DNS is the first step only. You must still contact Leeds Building Society directly to close accounts, transfer funds, and release assets to the estate. The DNS does not replace the full bereavement process — it simply triggers an initial notification.

For more on services that help manage death administration, see our complete guide to UK death administration services.

What happens after you notify Leeds Building Society?

Once Leeds Building Society 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.

Leeds Building Society will write to you with a bereavement reference number and a list of the documents they require to proceed. At that stage you will need to provide the grant of probate (or letters of administration) along with certified copies of the death certificate before funds can be released to the estate. Once the grant is in hand, you can proceed to close the deceased's bank account and release funds to the estate.

What cannot wait