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Post Office Savings will release funds without probate if the total balance is below £30,000 (as of 2026). It is important to understand that Post Office savings accounts and ISAs are provided by Bank of Ireland UK — the Post Office acts as an intermediary. This means the bereavement process involves dealing with Bank of Ireland UK rather than the Post Office itself for most products. For estates above £30,000, a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is required.
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The probate threshold for Post Office savings products is £30,000 as of 2026. Post Office savings accounts (including ISAs and savings bonds) are underwritten and managed by Bank of Ireland UK. When dealing with a bereavement, you will typically need to engage with Bank of Ireland UK directly, as the Post Office acts as a distribution partner only.
If the deceased also held a Post Office current account (provided through a different banking partner), that may be dealt with separately. Always confirm which entity holds each product when you first make contact. For a comparison of probate thresholds at all major UK institutions, see our probate threshold guide for 2026–27.
When notifying Post Office Savings (or Bank of Ireland UK) of a bereavement, you will typically need:
For estates above £30,000, the original Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration will be required. Ensure you request sufficient certified copies when the grant is issued.
Because Post Office savings are provided by Bank of Ireland UK, the bereavement process is managed by Bank of Ireland UK's team:
On notification, the account will be frozen to prevent further transactions. Our guide on notifying banks after a death explains how to manage the process across multiple financial institutions.
Post Office Savings products operated through Bank of Ireland UK participate in the Death Notification Service (DNS). Using the DNS allows you to notify multiple institutions simultaneously. After DNS notification, Bank of Ireland UK will contact you to collect the specific documentation needed.
Post Office savings products (provided by Bank of Ireland UK) may participate in the Direct Payment Scheme (IHT423), but you should confirm this directly with Bank of Ireland UK when you first make contact. If inheritance tax is owed on the estate, it is important to establish early on whether the Direct Payment Scheme can be used via these accounts.
For more on IHT timing and how to pay inheritance tax before probate, see our guide on probate delays and IHT interest.
Post Office Savings (via Bank of Ireland UK) typically releases funds within 10 to 15 working days of receiving all required documentation. Straightforward cases may be resolved more quickly.
Our estate administration checklist will help you stay on top of multiple submissions and their timelines.
For balances under £30,000, Bank of Ireland UK will use a simplified small estates process for Post Office savings accounts. You will be asked to complete a declaration confirming your entitlement to the funds. This process is typically completed within 5 to 10 working days.
Even where probate is not required for the savings account, you may still need a Grant of Probate to deal with other parts of the estate. Our guide on when you don't need probate explains the triggers for requiring a formal grant.
For a comprehensive overview of UK probate, see our complete UK probate guide for 2026. If you are considering whether to manage probate yourself, our DIY probate versus solicitor costs guide compares the options. For inheritance tax queries, read our IHT guide for 2026–27. Start your personalised estate plan with Farra's free estate tool.
Barclays probate threshold is £50,000 (as of 2026). Find out what documents Barclays requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes to release funds.
Lloyds Bank probate threshold is £50,000 (as of 2026). Find out what documents Lloyds requires, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes to release funds.
Halifax probate threshold is £50,000 (as of 2026). Part of Lloyds Banking Group with its own bereavement process. Learn what documents Halifax requires and how long it takes.
NatWest probate threshold is £25,000 (as of 2026) — lower than many high street banks. Find out what documents NatWest requires and how to contact their bereavement team.
HSBC probate threshold is £50,000 for most accounts (as of 2026), with some account types lower. Learn what documents HSBC requires and how to use the Direct Payment Scheme.
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