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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.
TSB does not publish a fixed probate threshold on its own bereavement page. Instead, it assesses each estate individually and tells you whether it needs a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration before releasing funds. A figure of around £25,000 is widely cited by secondary sources as a working guide, but TSB does not publish or confirm it — so treat it only as a rough indication and confirm the requirement with TSB directly.
TSB does not publish a fixed probate threshold on its own bereavement page. Rather than applying a single cut-off, it looks at the combined balance across the deceased's sole TSB accounts — current accounts, savings accounts, and ISAs — alongside the wider circumstances of the estate, and then tells you whether it needs a formal Grant of Probate. A figure of around £25,000 is widely cited by secondary sources as a working guide to where TSB may release smaller balances without a grant, but this is not published or confirmed by TSB — so use it only as a rough indication and confirm directly.
TSB was formerly part of Lloyds Banking Group but is now owned by Sabadell Group and operates independently. Because it sets no published threshold, the only reliable way to know whether a grant is needed is to ask TSB about the specific accounts. For a full comparison of how UK banks approach probate thresholds, see our probate threshold guide for 2026–27.
When notifying TSB of a bereavement, you should provide:
Where TSB decides a grant is needed, it requires the original Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. As with all financial institutions, ensure you order sufficient certified copies when the grant is issued.
TSB provides dedicated bereavement support via:
TSB will freeze the deceased's accounts upon notification. Our guide on notifying banks after a death provides a complete guide to managing this process.
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Yes, TSB is a member of the Death Notification Service (DNS). The DNS allows you to notify TSB and other participating institutions simultaneously. After the DNS notification, TSB will contact you to request specific documentation.
Yes, TSB participates in the Direct Payment Scheme (IHT423). Where inheritance tax is owed on the estate, TSB can pay HMRC directly from the deceased's account before probate is granted. This requires the completion of HMRC form IHT423 alongside the IHT400.
For more on IHT timing and the consequences of delays, read our guide on probate delays and IHT interest.
TSB typically releases funds within 10 to 15 working days of receiving all required documentation. Simpler estates are sometimes processed more quickly, while complex cases may take longer.
Our estate administration checklist is a useful tool for tracking progress across multiple financial institutions.
For smaller balances, TSB may use a simplified small estates process rather than insisting on a grant. Because there is no published threshold, whether your estate qualifies is decided case by case — so contact TSB with the account details to confirm. Where it does apply, you will be asked to complete a declaration or indemnity form to confirm your entitlement to the funds, typically completed in 5 to 10 working days.
Even where TSB does not require probate for the account balance, you may still need a Grant of Probate to deal with property or other assets in the estate. See our guide on when you don't need probate to understand the full picture.
For a full overview of the UK probate process, visit our complete UK probate guide for 2026. If you are weighing up whether to handle probate yourself, our DIY probate versus solicitor costs guide sets out the options. For inheritance tax, read our IHT guide for 2026–27. Use Farra's free estate tool to get your personalised checklist.
Before you assume you need probate
Do you actually need a grant — and what would it cost?
A TSB balance is only part of the picture. Whether the estate needs probate at all depends on the whole picture — property, other accounts, and how everything was owned — not a single threshold. It is worth checking before you start filling in forms.
Guide reviewed July 2026. Bank thresholds change and can vary by account type — always confirm the current figure with the provider before relying on it.
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Where they normally lived, even if they died somewhere else.
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