Bereavement

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Help & Support: Bereavement

If you have recently lost a loved one, please accept our deepest sympathies.

We understand that it can be a distressing time when a family member or someone close to you dies. It can be hard to cope with the loss of a loved one and to deal with legal and financial issues at the same time.

To help you sort out the financial affairs of one of our deceased customers, we’ve set up a Bereavement Support Unit dedicated to providing you as much help as possible.

Frequently asked questions

• Glossary of terms and bereavement booklet

  See our Bereavement booklet

  Check out our glossary of legal terms on page 25

• What ID and address requirements do I need?

  How to get certified copies of original documents

  1. Photocopy the original document.
  2. Bring the original and photocopy to someone who can certify it. This means they will stamp and sign the copy. People who can certify documents include:
  • Accountant
  • Barrister
  • Solicitor
  • Bank or building society official
  • Commissioner of oaths
  • Notary public
  • Justice of the peace
  • FCA or Central Bank of Ireland registered broker or financial advisor
  • Attorney-at-law. 

  A staff member at one of our branches can also certify documents for you.

  Documentation Requirements for Non-Bank of Ireland Account Holders

  If you are not a Bank of Ireland account holder and are acting on behalf of a deceased estate, you will need to provide identification for verification.

  What You Need to Do

  Choose one of the following options for ID submission:

  Option 1:

  Photo of your Current Passport

  Photo of your Current Driver’s License (Ireland/UK)

  Proof of Address

  Option 2:

  Photo of your Current Passport

  Selfie holding your Passport (with the photo page open)

  Proof of Address

  Option 3:

  Photo of your Current Driver’s License (Ireland/UK)

  Selfie holding your Driver’s License

  Proof of Address

  Acceptable vs. Unacceptable Forms of ID

  Acceptable Forms of ID:

  Current Passport

  Current Driver’s License (Ireland & UK)

  Unacceptable Forms of ID:

  PPS Cards

  International Driver’s License

  Acceptable vs. Unacceptable Proof of Address

  Acceptable Proof of Address:

  Statements from Financial Institutions

  Utility Bills and Connection Letters

  Motor Tax Documents

  Insurance Renewal Documents (Home and Health Insurance)

  Property Tax Documents

  Mortgage Statements

  Unacceptable Proof of Address:

  PPSN Letters

  All Types of Driver’s Licenses (including cards)

  Mobile Phone Bills

  Insurance Quotes (including car insurance)

  Tenancy Agreements

  Pay Slips

  P60 / P45

  Invoices

  Motor Insurance

  Address Verification Timeline

  Documents must be dated as follows:

  Within the Last 12 Months:

  Current Motor Tax Document

  Current Health or Home Insurance Policy

  Current National Electoral Register Entry

  Within the Last 6 Months:

  Statements from Financial Institutions

  Utility Bills and Connection Letters

  Insurance Renewal Documents (Home and Health Insurance)

  Property Tax Documents

  Mortgage Statements

  Document Image Requirements

  Passport or Driving License:

  • Your face and details, including the document number, must be clearly visible
  • You must be able to see all four corners
  • It must be in date
  • The name on it must be the same as on your other documents, for example the will or Grant of Probate

  Current utility bills, current financial statements, and insurance renewal documents (home and health insurance):

  • The address must be clearly visible
  • You must be able to see all four corners
  • It must be in date
  • The name on it must be the same as on your other documents, for example the will or Grant of Probate

• What Happens After You Notify Us?

  Account Management

  Upon notification of a death, we will search our systems for accounts and products held by the deceased.

  Receiving Account Information

  This happens when we have checked the identity of the correct person to get the account information of the person who has died. If a solicitor is managing the estate, please give us their contact details and we will send the information to them directly.

  Accounts in Sole Name

  We will block any accounts solely in the deceased’s name and deactivate associated debit cards.

  Joint Accounts

  For joint accounts, the surviving holder usually retains access and can continue transactions. We will rename the account after receiving a certified proof of death. In some cases, the deceased’s share may belong to their estate.

  Accounts Over €50,000

  For joint savings/deposit accounts exceeding €50,000 (and where holders are not married or civil partners), we will stop transactions and require an IT8 Form from the Revenue Commissioners.

  Direct Debits and Standing Orders

  For accounts solely in the deceased’s name, all payments will cease. The surviving account holder(s) can continue payments in joint accounts in most cases.

  Credit Cards

  We will stop any credit card that belongs to the person who has died. This includes:

  • The main credit card
  • Any credit card used by an additional cardholder on the same account. If you are an additional cardholder, you should apply for your own credit card.

  Under succession law, the estate of the person who has died must be used to pay any debts they still owe. This includes any money owed on a credit card.

  We will use money from any account that was only in the name of the person who died to pay off the credit card debt, or as much of it as possible.

  If the credit card is covered by insurance, we will make a claim on the insurance to help pay off the debt.

  We will stop charging interest on the credit card account from the date the main cardholder dies. If any interest is charged after that date, we will refund it when we close the account.

  Loans and Overdrafts

  We will take steps to stop any loans or overdrafts in the name of the person who has died. We will also use money from their accounts to help pay off these debts.

  • If the person who died had an account in their name only, we will use the money in that account to repay what they owed on a loan, or as much of it as possible.
  • We will do the same for any overdraft debt. If we need your agreement to do this, we will ask you first.

  If the person who died had a loan or overdraft in their name only, and the account is closed on or after 19 July 2021, we will stop charging interest from the date of death. If any interest is charged after that date, we will refund it when we close the account.

  If you shared a loan or overdraft with the person who died, you are responsible for paying back the full amount.

  In rare cases, if we believe the surviving account holder will not repay the debt, we may ask for the money to be paid from the estate (the money and property) of the person who has died.

  Mortgage Loans

  If the person who died had a mortgage, we will tell our mortgage department.

  Any other people named on the mortgage must carry on making payments. If any of these people think they might not be able to afford the payments, they should contact our mortgage department on 01 6113333.

  Other Bank Products

  If the person who died had other products with Bank of Ireland, we will contact the department on your behalf. This includes Bank of Ireland Life, New Ireland Life, Bank of Ireland Finance, Global Markets, or Private Banking accounts. You can also contact them directly.

  Bank of Ireland Life or New Ireland Life product 01-5239813 or email claim@bankofirelandlife.ie or claim@newireland.ie.

  Bank of Ireland Finance 0818 66 44 66

  Private Banking 0818 365 121

  To close an account when the total amount at date of death in the Republic of Ireland is over €35,000 a Grant of Probate /Administration is required. The Global Markets department will need a Grant of Probate / Administration if the total amount at date of death is:

  • Over $30,000 in US Dollar accounts
  • Over £20,000 in Sterling accounts.

• How do I pay the funeral director and funeral related expenses?

  How to Pay Funeral Expenses.Paying funeral and related expenses from a deceased person’s Bank of Ireland account is straightforward. Here’s what you need:

  To Pay the Funeral Director

  A certified proof of death (e.g., death certificate).

  Completed Payment Authorisation Form for Funeral Director Expenses (Form BSU_1.1).

  To Pay Funeral-Related Expenses: You can pay up to €25,000 for additional expenses (refreshments, flowers, memorial cards). You’ll need:

  A certified proof of death.

  A copy of the will (if applicable).

  Completed Form BSU_2.1.

  If there’s no will, the next of kin must sign Form BSU_2.1. Non-Bank of Ireland signers must provide certified proof of identity and address. Existing customers should provide their Bank of Ireland account number; we may also require updated ID and address proof. For Other Expenses: Executors or administrators are responsible for non-funeral expenses (e.g., nursing home fees, bills). Consider opening an executor’s or administrator’s bank account at any Bank of Ireland branch to manage these affairs.

• Useful checklist and forms

  Useful checklist and forms