Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
Standard Life (now part of Phoenix Group, which also owns abrdn's insurance operations) applies a threshold of approximately £36,000 for investment bonds. Below this, probate is generally not required. Above £36,000, a grant of probate or letters of administration is needed. Pension death benefits bypass probate in all cases. Contact Standard Life's bereavement team on 0800 028 4586 to confirm the position for the specific product held.
Have more questions on UK death administration? Let Farra help.
Standard Life is a long-established UK pension and investment provider, now owned by Phoenix Group. As of 2026, the probate threshold for Standard Life investment bonds is approximately £36,000.
Product-specific rules:
For context on how Standard Life's threshold compares to other providers, see our probate threshold guide for 2026–27.
Use the estate administration checklist to manage submissions across all institutions at once.
The bereavement team will guide you through the claims process and send the necessary forms. This is a key step in notifying financial institutions after a death.
Standard Life does not participate in the Death Notification Service (DNS). Contact Standard Life directly using the number or postal address above. The DNS covers high-street banks; pension and insurance providers such as Standard Life maintain their own bereavement processes.
Standard Life does not participate in the Direct Payment Scheme (DPS). If inheritance tax is owed, you will need to arrange payment to HMRC separately before probate can be granted. Our probate delays and IHT interest guide explains how to manage this.
For investment bonds below the £36,000 threshold, fund release typically takes 4–6 weeks. For larger estates requiring probate, add 8–12 weeks for the grant of probate, plus 4–8 weeks for Standard Life to process the claim. Total from death to payment is typically 9–14 months.
For a complete step-by-step timeline, see the complete UK probate guide for 2026.
Standard Life pension death benefits — from workplace pensions, personal pensions, and SIPPs — are held in trust and bypass the estate entirely. The trustees pay death benefits to nominated beneficiaries without requiring probate, often within 4–8 weeks of a complete claim.
Investment bonds and other non-pension products form part of the estate and are subject to the £36,000 threshold described above. For guidance on claiming pension death benefits, see our pension death benefit guide. For help deciding between DIY and solicitor-led administration, see our cost comparison guide.
Prudential bonds have a ~£30,000 probate threshold; pensions bypass probate. Learn what documents Prudential need and how to contact their bereavement team.
Aegon investment accounts always require probate; pensions bypass probate. Learn what documents Aegon need, their bereavement contact details, and fund release timelines.
Fidelity always requires probate for investment accounts. Find out what documents they need, how to contact their bereavement team, and how long it takes.
AJ Bell always requires probate for investment accounts. Discover their bereavement process, required documents, DNS status, and typical timelines.
Scottish Widows pensions bypass probate; savings and bonds have a ~£50,000 threshold. Find out what documents to send and how to contact their bereavement team.
Your AI companion for UK death administration—combining practical guidance with emotional support, available 24/7.
Your AI companion for UK death administration
Free to start • £129 for full access • 30-day guarantee