Do I need probate for Premium Bonds?

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated: 09:27 EST, 20 April 2010

My father recently passed away and left the house and everything to my mother whom he lived with for just over 50 years.

He also had £30,000 worth of Premium Bonds which he purchased several years after making his will.

As an executor, do I still have to seek probate for these bonds? A.S., Cambridge

Daniel Howard from Skipton Financial Services replies: In a word, yes. The only scenarios where a grant of representation [probate] may not be needed is where the person who died left less than £5,000 or where that person owned everything jointly with someone else and everything passes automatically to the surviving joint owner.

To establish whether the assets can be obtained without a grant, the executor or administrator would need to write to each institution informing them of the death and enclosing a photocopy of the death certificate (and the will if there is one).

National Savings can be used to pay an inheritance tax bill or funeral expenses before probate is granted. However, proof of either bill would be required.

You may want to visit direct.gov.uk, the Government's public services website and National Savings & Investments for further information.