Building society probate thresholds
Last reviewed 29 September 2026
The building societies keep their own counsel on this, much as the banks do, and their thresholds cluster a little below the largest institutions.
What each society publishes
Four of the largest societies now print the same line on their own bereavement pages: a grant of representation is needed once the deceased’s sole balances reach £50,000. Below that, each releases funds against its own closure form, sometimes with a sworn declaration. Figures checked 29 September 2026.
| Society | Grant needed from | Bereavement line | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire Building Society | £50,000 | 0345 166 9229 | Published |
| Leeds Building Society | £50,000 | 03452 682 642 | Published |
| Coventry Building Society | £50,000 | 0800 587 4565 | Published |
| Skipton Building Society | £50,000 | 0345 266 1209 | Published |
| Nationwide | — | — | See Nationwide page |
Older guides put Yorkshire and Skipton at £30,000. Both have since moved to £50,000, and each society applies its figure to what it holds, not to the estate as a whole.
How to check
Ring the society’s bereavement team with the date-of-death balance. Jointly held accounts pass to the survivor, and a society can still ask for a grant below its threshold, particularly if one has been obtained for another asset.
Questions
What is the typical building society probate limit?+
Do joint building society accounts need probate?+
Sources. Each society’s own bereavement page, checked 29 September 2026.