When someone dies, families often need to access money in a bank account before the formal legal process is complete. Urgent bills do not wait. This guide, part of our wider overview of dealing with assets after death in Ireland, explains when that is possible for smaller balances, the thresholds involved, and the paperwork you will need.
It pairs with our explainer on whether you need probate at all. Here we focus on one common question: when will a bank release the money without requiring a grant?
When a bank releases funds without a grant
A bank may release a deceased person's funds without probate when the account is in their sole name and the balance is small. The Courts Service notes that where a sole account holds under €20,000, the bank may not require a grant of representation — the legal authority to deal with the estate — before releasing the money. This is a practical convenience for modest balances, not a legal right.
Citizens Information confirms the same position: if the amount is small, the bank may release it to the personal representative (the person managing the estate) or the next of kin without probate. The decision rests with the bank. It can ask for a grant even on a smaller balance if it has any doubt about who is entitled to the money.
This route covers only the money at that one bank. It does not deal with property in the deceased's sole name, shares, or accounts elsewhere. A bank's informal release is a way to free up a small balance — it is not the same as administering the whole estate.
Thresholds are set by each bank, not by law
There is no single legal threshold in Ireland below which probate is never needed for a bank account. Each bank sets its own limit for what it will release on an indemnity rather than a grant. That is why the figure you see in one place may differ from another — it is bank policy, not legislation.
The published thresholds differ across the main Irish banks. The table below shows the limit below which each will release funds without a grant, and the form involved. These are the banks' own stated figures and can change — always confirm the current limit with the bank directly.
AIB
Balances less than €25,000
Indemnity for release of balances
Bank of Ireland
Funds up to €35,000 at date of death
Deceased account release form (BSU_3.1)
PTSB (permanent tsb)
Funds less than €30,000
Small Balance Claim Form (with indemnity)
Examples of Irish bank thresholds for releasing a deceased customer's funds without a grant. Each bank sets its own limit; figures are the banks' own published amounts and may change. Sources: AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB.
| Bank | Releases without a grant up to | Form involved |
|---|---|---|
| AIB | Balances less than €25,000 | Indemnity for release of balances |
| Bank of Ireland | Funds up to €35,000 at date of death | Deceased account release form (BSU_3.1) |
| PTSB (permanent tsb) | Funds less than €30,000 | Small Balance Claim Form (with indemnity) |
Because the figures vary, the safest first step is to ask each bank its current threshold and which form it uses. The Courts Service advises contacting banks directly, as their standards differ. The actual balance at the date of death — not an estimate — is what determines which route is open to you.
The paperwork: indemnity forms and the death certificate
An indemnity form is the document a bank uses to release funds without a grant. By signing it, the person claiming the money promises to repay the bank if someone with a stronger legal claim comes forward later. Where there is no will, banks commonly require two next of kin to sign the indemnity together.
Many banks also offer a separate, faster release for funeral expenses. They will often pay a funeral bill directly to the funeral director from the deceased's account on production of the invoice — even before the main balance is dealt with. If a funeral account needs settling quickly, ask the bereavement team about this option at the first call.
How to release bank funds without probate
Where the balance is below the bank's threshold, these five steps take you from notifying the bank to receiving the funds.
Notify the bank and register the death
Contact each bank where your loved one held an account and tell them about the death. Most Irish banks have a dedicated bereavement support team that becomes your single point of contact. They will register the death, freeze the sole account, and tell you which forms apply to the balance held.
Confirm the balance and the bank's threshold
Ask the bank for the balance at the date of death and the threshold below which it will release funds without a grant. That threshold is set by each bank, so it varies — AIB releases balances under €25,000, Bank of Ireland up to €35,000, and PTSB under €30,000. The balance decides which route is open to you.
Complete the bank's release or indemnity form
If the balance is under the threshold, the bank will ask you to complete its deceased-account release form. This usually includes an indemnity — a promise to repay the bank if someone with a better claim comes forward later. Where there is no will, banks often require two next of kin to sign.
Supply the death certificate and supporting documents
Give the bank an original or certified copy of the death certificate, photo identification for the person claiming, and details of the will or next of kin. The bank checks these against its records before releasing the money. Keep copies of everything you submit for the estate's records.
Receive the funds and account for them
Once approved, the bank releases the funds to the personal representative (the person managing the estate) or the next of kin. That money still forms part of the estate: use it to settle debts, funeral costs, and any tax before distributing what remains to the people who are entitled. Make sure to record the amount when you value the estate.
Joint accounts pass differently
A joint account usually does not need probate at all. Where an account is held in two names, the balance generally passes automatically to the surviving account holder — a legal rule called survivorship — and the bank transfers it on production of the death certificate. It does not normally form part of the estate.
How a joint account is treated can depend on why it was set up and what the holders intended. We cover the detail, including accounts opened for convenience rather than as a gift, in our guide to joint bank accounts after death in Ireland.
When you still need a grant of probate
Once the balance rises above the bank's threshold, you will need a formal grant before the bank releases the money. The same applies where the estate includes other assets in the deceased's sole name. The Courts Service explains that a grant of representation — the court document that authorises someone to deal with the estate — is usually required to transfer or sell property and money held in one person's sole name.
In practice, the bank threshold is useful for a single small account. If your loved one owned a home in their sole name, held shares, or had substantial savings, the estate will most likely need a grant regardless of any one account's size. Our guide to whether you need probate walks through how the whole estate is assessed.
If you cannot trace the bank or it no longer exists
If a bank has closed or merged and you are not sure where to make a claim, the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) can point you in the right direction. BPFI is the representative body for banks in Ireland and provides assistance with tracing accounts and deceased-customer enquiries.
Every main Irish bank now has a dedicated bereavement support team who act as your single point of contact for your loved one's affairs. If you are unsure which forms apply or how to begin, that team is usually the quickest route to clear, account-specific guidance.