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.
Zurich is an international insurance group with a significant presence in the UK pension market, providing personal pensions, workplace pensions, and SIPPs. When a Zurich pension holder dies, the fund value can be paid to a nominated beneficiary or eligible dependant. These funds fall outside the estate and do not normally require probate.
In most cases, no. Zurich pension funds are held in a discretionary trust, so they fall outside the deceased's estate. Zurich can pay the death benefit directly to the nominated beneficiary without a Grant of Probate.
If there is no nomination and no suitable beneficiary, the fund may be paid to the estate, potentially triggering the need for probate.
The death benefit for defined contribution pensions and SIPPs is the full fund value at the date of death. Zurich typically offers beneficiaries these options:
Some Zurich pension policies (particularly older group pension schemes) may also include a death-in-service benefit. Check the specific policy documents or ask the HR department of the employer.
Zurich pension holders should complete an expression of wishes form. This tells Zurich's trustees who should receive the fund. The trustees consider the nomination carefully but are not legally bound by it — this discretionary structure keeps the fund outside the estate for IHT purposes. In practice, Zurich almost always follows a valid, current nomination.
Need to know if probate is also required?
1 in 3 applications are sent back. In 2 minutes, we'll tell you whether you need probate and what to do alongside these notifications.
Members should update their expression of wishes after any major life event such as marriage, the birth of a child, or separation.
See GOV.UK for the latest guidance on tax on pension death benefits.
Currently, Zurich pension funds fall outside the estate and are not liable to inheritance tax. From 6 April 2027, proposed changes will bring unspent pension funds within the scope of IHT.
Read our full guide to pensions and inheritance tax from April 2027.
Without a nomination, Zurich trustees will use discretion and typically pay to the surviving spouse or civil partner. If no suitable beneficiary is found, the fund may be paid to the estate, making it subject to the probate process.
1 in 3 probate applications are sent back — usually because executors didn't know what they didn't know.
Answer 5 questions in under 2 minutes. We'll tell you whether probate is needed for this estate and, if so, exactly what to do — so nothing gets missed.
Free to check · 2 minutes · No account needed · £179 for your full probate pack