Fidelity's bereavement process

• We'll put a hold on the account, stop any dealing and reinvest any income generated by the investments.
• We'll stop any regular savings or withdrawal plans. Please keep in mind that contributions made after the date of death will be returned as they cannot be accepted. This can happen if the account holder dies before their contribution is processed.
• We'll then register you as the primary point of contact for the estate so that you receive all communications and can notify other parties accordingly.
• If there is an adviser linked to the account who is receiving a fee, we'll stop the payments. 

• Once we’ve confirmed receipt of the death certificate, we'll send you a valuation. The valuation includes details on everything the person owned at the time of their death. You may need this for Inheritance Tax purposes or when applying for a grant of representation.
• We'll remove the deceased's name from any joint accounts. 
• Our bereavement team will support you each step of the way and tell you what you need to do next. 

• We'll notify you once we've received all the documents we need and tell you about your options.
• For pension accounts, the Trustees of the pension or Scheme Administrator (depending on the type of pension held) will decide who the pension benefits should be paid to. They’ll consider all the relevant information, including any Expression of Wish form that might have been filled in by the deceased.
• Once the trustees have made their decision, they'll be in touch to tell you what has been agreed and to also tell the beneficiaries what they need to do next.  

• Complete our identity verification checks.
• Carry out your instructions and keep you informed by letter.
• Send you confirmation of each sale or transfer, plus a closing statement.
• If you’ve asked us to sell the investments, we’ll pay the money to you, so you can pass it on to the beneficiary.

We can’t usually distribute any assets until we receive a court-sealed grant of representation. However, we can release monies directly to HM Revenue and Customs for Inheritance Tax, or to a funeral director (if you send us the invoice). You'll need to send us a completed Declaration and Indemnity Form, together with a certified copy of the will.

Yes, you can. Please send them to Fidelity International, PO Box 391, Tadworth, KT20 9FU.  If you send us any original documents, we'll send them back to you as soon as possible. 

A grant of representation is the general term for a legal document that shows you can deal with the estate of someone who has died. If you’re named on the person’s will as an executor, you will normally apply to the Courts for a Grant of Probate (or Certificate of Confirmation in Scotland). If there is no will, someone (usually next of kin) must apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration instead. Just to confuse matters, the whole process is often referred to as ‘Probate’.  For more bereavement terms, go to our bereavement terminology explained on this page. 

There are situations when Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax may be due. We can give you the figures you need to help calculate how much you might owe, but we can’t offer tax advice. It’s best to talk to a tax expert.

There’s a time limit for using allowances on some investments. Take ISAs for example, the tax-wrapper is removed three years from the date the account holder has died. Three years might sound lengthy, but the bereavement process could take months (or even years), from beginning to end. Particularly if the case is complex or Grant of Probate is needed. If this is relevant to your case, we’ll talk to you about it once you’ve started the process.

We don’t charge for selling or transferring accounts - but there may be charges for dealing in certain types of investments.

We will continue to charge a Service Fee and a Fidelity Adviser Solutions fee (if applicable) for the administration of the account until the assets are distributed and the account is closed. However, if there is a financial adviser linked to the account, any regular fees to them will stop when we receive a death certificate or grant of representation.

As the assets can’t usually be touched, they will remain invested – which means the value could go down as well as up. If you’re worried about a possible loss in value, stocks and shares ISAs and general investments (but not pensions) can be switched to cash. To switch to cash, you’ll need to send us a completed Declaration and Indemnity Form, plus the original or certified copy of the will.

In most cases, no. But if the will mentions a trust, call our bereavement team on 0800 41 41 16 and they’ll do their best to help.

No, you don't. If the person who died is the registered contact for a Junior ISA, we will send you a form that allows someone else to take over that role.

If the person who’s died is a child, the payment will be made to the child's parent or legal guardian.