When someone dies · joint accounts
What happens to a joint bank
account when someone dies?
A joint account normally passes automatically to the surviving holder and keeps working — no probate needed to use it. But the deceased's share can still count for inheritance tax.
It passes to the survivor — automatically.
Most joint accounts are held so that they pass by survivorship. On the death of one holder, the account and its balance belong to the surviving holder — it does not form part of the estate that is administered, and no grant of probate is needed to keep using it.
In practice: tell the bank, send a death certificate, and the account is moved into the survivor's sole name. Cards, standing orders and direct debits continue without interruption — unlike a sole account, which is usually frozen.
A married couple hold a joint current account. The husband dies. His wife keeps full use of the account throughout — the household bills keep being paid.
- Account passes to the wife by survivorship — no probate needed
- She notifies the bank and it is re-registered in her sole name
- Because she is his spouse, his share is exempt from inheritance tax
- A sole account in his name only would instead be frozen
Passing to the survivor is not the same as leaving the estate.
A joint account can still be counted for inheritance tax, even though the survivor takes it. HMRC looks at whose money it was: each holder is treated as owning the share they contributed. If the person who died provided all the funds, the whole balance can be included in their estate.
The deceased's share is reported on form IHT404 (jointly owned assets), the schedule to the main IHT400 return.
The important exception: if the account passes to a surviving spouse or civil partner, that share is exempt — so most married couples pay no inheritance tax on a joint account at the first death.
Not sure which accounts pass automatically and which need probate? A Valoren specialist reads your situation and writes the exact account-by-account plan — joint, sole, and what HMRC will want to see.
Get your executor's briefInformational, not advice. Confirm against GOV.UK before acting. Verified 17 Sept 2026.