Does this threshold apply to the whole estate?

No. It applies only to the balance held with NatWest at the date of death, not to the estate as a whole.

Bereavement · Bank thresholds

Skipton Building Society: bereavement contact and probate limit

Last reviewed 29 September 2026

Skipton Building Society publishes its own line: below £50,000 it closes a deceased customer’s accounts against its forms, and from £50,000 it wants to see a grant. Here is how to reach the bereavement team, what each tier requires, and what it can pay before probate.

Bereavement line

0345 266 1209

Grant needed from

£50,000

Checked

29 September 2026

How to tell Skipton Building Society about a death

Call the Skipton Building Society bereavement team on 0345 266 1209 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm). You can also report the death by email to the bereavement notification address on Skipton’s website.

By post: Bereavement Team, Principal Office, The Bailey, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 1DN.

Once notified, Skipton freezes accounts held in the deceased’s sole name and tells you which documents it needs. Joint accounts pass to the surviving holder.

How much Skipton Building Society releases without probate

Skipton Building Society publishes its threshold: a grant of representation is needed once the deceased’s sole balances with the society reach £50,000. The figure applies to the total held with Skipton, not to the estate as a whole.

Balance held	What Skipton asks for
£5,000 or less	Account Closure (up to £5,000) form. A personal representative who is not a direct relative needs a statutory declaration sworn before a solicitor or commissioner for oaths.
Over £5,000, below £50,000	Account Closure (over £5,000 and below £50,000) form, which includes a statutory declaration that must be sworn professionally.
£50,000 or more	Grant of representation.

Many guides still quote £30,000 for Skipton, from its 2023 forms. The current bereavement page uses £50,000.

What Skipton can pay before the grant

Skipton can pay a funeral director’s invoice once the death is registered, and release the amount shown on an HMRC IHT423 through its ‘withdrawal before probate’ form. This is worth using if the estate needs cash for the funeral or to clear inheritance tax before probate can be issued.

Skipton’s middle tier costs money

Between £5,000 and £50,000 the closure form includes a statutory declaration that has to be sworn before a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or licensed conveyancer. Budget a small fee for that; it is still far cheaper than a grant.

Questions

What is the Skipton Building Society bereavement phone number?+

0345 266 1209, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.

How much can Skipton Building Society release without probate?+

Up to £50,000 of sole balances, against its own forms. From £50,000 it needs a grant of representation.

Why do some sites say Skipton’s limit is £30,000?+

That was the figure on Skipton’s 2023 forms. Its bereavement page now says a grant is needed at £50,000 or more.

Does the Skipton limit apply to the whole estate?+

No. It applies only to what was held with Skipton Building Society at the date of death. Property in the deceased’s sole name usually needs a grant regardless.

Official sources

Skipton Building Society — bereavement support GOV.UK — Applying for probate GOV.UK — Tell Us Once

Sources. Skipton Building Society bereavement page, checked 29 September 2026: threshold, forms, phone line and hours as published by the society. Figures change; confirm with the bereavement team before relying on them.