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Bereavement Notification Letter

A completed notification to a bank after death, requesting secure account handling, balance confirmation and probate guidance.

Jurisdiction: England and Wales - completed fictional worked example

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Important: This sample provides general legal information only and is not legal advice. Check the law, prescribed forms and signing requirements that apply to your exact jurisdiction and circumstances before use.

# BEREAVEMENT NOTIFICATION LETTER

Date: 3 March 2032

Parties: Naomi Evans, the estate of Gareth Evans and Calder Bank

## 1. Purpose and parties

Naomi Evans of 11 Meadow Lane, Chester CH2 4RD writes to Calder Bank's Bereavement Team to notify it that her husband Gareth Evans, born 9 May 1958, died at home on 16 February 2032. His last address was 11 Meadow Lane, and his Calder current-account reference ends 6628. The original death certificate has been registered and a certified copy is enclosed.

## 2. Facts, scope and terms

Naomi is the surviving spouse and the executor named in Gareth's will dated 7 June 2020; she has applied for probate but no grant has yet issued. She asks Calder to place appropriate protective restrictions on the account, stop new card use and confirm the balance and accrued interest as at 16 February. She does not ask the bank to release funds to her personally before it confirms the authority required.

## 3. Process and responsibilities

The account is believed to have held £4,860.40 at the date of death, subject to reconciliation. Naomi asks Calder to identify standing orders and direct debits, stop only those that cannot properly continue as estate expenses, and send a final statement to her. She authorises no payment instruction in this letter and asks Calder to explain its small-estate or probate route, including any limit, indemnity or original-document requirement.

## 4. Evidence, records and safeguards

Naomi requests that statements, tax forms and future correspondence be addressed to her as executor at 11 Meadow Lane, rather than treated as ordinary customer marketing. She provides her telephone number 07700 900456 and email naomi.evans@example.test for administration, and asks Calder to use secure channels for account details. She encloses her passport and council-tax bill as proof of identity and address and will supply the grant when issued.

## 5. Review, escalation and outcome

Calder may disclose necessary account information to Naomi for estate administration and to HMRC, utilities or professional advisers where lawful and necessary. Naomi asks the bank to tell her whether any joint account, loan, overdraft, ISA or nominated beneficiary is recorded, while recognising that a joint account may have different legal treatment. She does not request a data subject access disclosure about unrelated people and asks the bank to minimise copies retained.

## 6. Reservations and practical protections

If Calder needs clarification, Naomi will respond within ten working days; if the bank does not acknowledge this notice by 17 March 2032, she will contact its bereavement complaints route. She will use the Government's Tell Us Once service where available and separately notify insurers, pension providers and utilities. She will not close the account, distribute assets or pay herself executor expenses until the estate position and creditors have been checked.

## 7. England and Wales law and completion

This completed fictional notice is dated 3 March 2032 and concerns England and Wales. It is not a grant of representation, a request to bypass probate or a waiver of Calder's verification duties. Naomi asks for a written case reference, confirms that the enclosed copy may be retained securely, and keeps the original death certificate, will, delivery proof and a dated estate administration log.

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