What happens to the savings and investments of a deceased person?
General information and guidelines for dealing with claims to accounts held in the name of a deceased depositor
On the death of an account holder the funds in the account(s) held with An Post will be repaid/transferred as follows:
Accounts held in Sole Name
Where there is a will in existence and the value of the estate (e.g. the principal and interest accrued on the account(s) held with An Post at the date of death) does not exceed €10,000, a claim for the funds in the account(s) may be submitted by the executor(s) named in the will. However, if a Grant of Probate has been obtained in respect of the deceased person's estate, the Grant of Probate must be noted by An Post before the repayment/transfer of the funds can be completed.
If the value of the estate at the date of death exceeds €10,000, a Grant of Probate of the deceased person's will must be obtained in order to release or transfer the funds.
Where there is no will in existence and the value of the estate at the date of death does not exceed €10,000 the funds in the account are released in accordance with the Succession Act 1965. A Claim for the funds in the account(s) may be submitted by the next of kin.
If the value of the funds in the account at the date of death exceeds €10,000, Letters of Administration to the deceased person's estate must be obtained to release or transfer the funds.
Download Deceased Claim Form (pdf, 54k, new window)
Accounts held in Joint Names
Where the sole surviving holder of the account is the spouse of the deceased holder, the funds in the account will be transferred to the survivor subject to:
- Completion of a claim form by the survivor
- Production of the Death Certificate
- Production of the Savings Documents
Where the surviving holder of the account is a person other than the spouse or where there is more than one surviving holder remaining, the funds in the account will be transferred to the survivor(s) subject to:
- Completion of a claim form by the survivor(s)
- Production of the Death Certificate
- Production of a Certificate of Tax Clearance for the deceased person, where the value of the Investment(s) at the date of death exceeds € 31,743.45 (IT8 Form - available from the Revenue Commissioners, Capital Taxes Branches)
- Production of the Savings Documents
Download Deceased Joint Account Claim Form (pdf, 33k, new window)
Forms
Deceased Claim Form (pdf, 54k, new window)
Deceased Joint Account Claim Form (pdf, 33k, new window)
Glossary
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