How to Notify Marcus by Goldman Sachs After a Death in the UK

How to Notify Marcus by Goldman Sachs After a Death in the UK

If someone who died held savings with Marcus by Goldman Sachs, you can notify Marcus by phone first, then send the death certificate and bereavement form when you are ready to settle the account. Marcus says it freezes the account after notification, continues to pay interest on the balance, and may ask for probate or letters of administration depending on the balance and circumstances.

This guide explains the practical order to follow, what to prepare, and how to avoid delays when you are dealing with a Marcus savings account as part of UK estate administration.

Before you contact Marcus

You do not have to sort every financial account immediately. In the first few days, focus on the legal basics: obtain the medical certificate, register the death, order death certificate copies, and find the will if there is one.

Marcus's own bereavement guidance points families towards three early steps: get the medical certificate, register the death, and locate the will. The will matters because it names the executors. If there is no will, the estate is handled by administrators under the intestacy rules.

It is sensible to gather:

• the deceased person's full name, address and date of birth
• their date of death
• any Marcus account details you can find
• your own contact details
• the original or certified death certificate
• the will, if available
• details of the executor, administrator or solicitor handling the estate

If you are still waiting for the death certificate, you can still make a note of Marcus as an account to deal with later. A tool such as GetPassage can help you keep a secure list of organisations to notify, so nothing is missed while you wait for documents.

How to notify Marcus of the death

Marcus says you can notify it of a death by phone. Its bereavement page directs customers to the Customer Care Team on 0800 085 6789, or +44 203 901 3353 if calling from abroad. Published opening hours are 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.

When you call, ask Marcus to explain the next steps for the specific account. You are likely to be asked for details about the deceased and your relationship to them. Marcus says that once notified, it will freeze the account and continue to pay interest on the balance.

Freezing the account is normal. It protects the estate while Marcus confirms who has authority to receive information or settle the money. It does not mean the money disappears, and it does not remove the need to deal with the account properly.

Documents Marcus may ask for

Marcus's bereavement guidance says that, when you are ready for the account to be settled, it will need:

• an original or certified death certificate
• the Marcus bereavement form

It may also ask for a Grant of Probate, Confirmation in Scotland, or Letters of Administration in some circumstances. Marcus's published guidance says this may apply if the account balance, including interest, is £20,000 or more; if the balance is £50,000 or more and you are using a solicitor; or if six months or more have passed between the date of death and Marcus receiving the death certificate.

Do not assume this list is the final word for every case. Banks can ask for further evidence if the estate is complicated, if there are multiple executors, if documents do not match, or if fraud checks are triggered.

When probate may be needed

Probate is the legal authority to deal with someone's estate in England and Wales. If there is a will, the document is usually called a Grant of Probate. If there is no will, it is usually called Letters of Administration. In Scotland, the equivalent process is Confirmation.

For a Marcus account, probate is not always required. Marcus says that in most cases, if the linked account is still open and accepting funds, it will not require Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to settle the funds. However, the published thresholds and timing rules above can still bring probate into the process.

This is why the linked account is important. Marcus savings accounts are usually connected to another bank account for transfers. If that linked account has been closed too early, settlement may become harder. Before closing the deceased person's main current account, check whether any savings providers, including Marcus, need to return money to it.

Joint accounts

If the Marcus account is joint, the process may be different from a sole account. Joint accounts often pass to the surviving account holder, but the provider still needs to update its records and may need evidence of death.

Do not move money or close linked accounts until Marcus has confirmed what it needs. Ask specifically whether the account is sole or joint, whether the surviving holder can continue using it, and whether any forms or signatures are required.

Where to send documents

Marcus's bereavement page says documents can be emailed to LifeEventsUK@gs.com. If you cannot email copies, it also lists a postal address: Marcus UK, PO Box 74787, London, EC4P 4JG.

If posting original documents, use a tracked service and keep a record of what you sent. Marcus notes that only original versions of supporting documents will be returned, so avoid sending documents without understanding whether copies would be accepted.

Practical checklist

1. Register the death and order at least a few certificate copies.
2. Find the will and identify the executor or likely administrator.
3. Check whether there is a Marcus savings account and whether it is sole or joint.
4. Phone Marcus to notify the death and ask for the next steps.
5. Do not close the linked account until you know where Marcus will send the funds.
6. Complete the Marcus bereavement form when ready.
7. Send the death certificate and any required authority documents.
8. Keep copies of all emails, letters and reference numbers.

Common problems that cause delays

The biggest delay is usually uncertainty over authority. If several executors are named on the Grant of Probate, Marcus says they may all need to sign the bereavement form. If one executor is unavailable, or the family is unsure who is acting, settlement can stall.

Another common issue is probate timing. If the estate needs probate, you may be able to notify Marcus and get balance information before probate is granted, but the money may not be released until the right authority exists.

Finally, check whether the deceased also had Saga Savings accounts under the same Goldman Sachs International Bank arrangements. Marcus's bereavement form refers to accounts held under Marcus or Saga Savings, so the family may need to consider both brands.

A final word

Savings accounts are only one part of the administration. Work through them methodically: notify, freeze, confirm authority, settle, then record the outcome for the estate accounts. If the estate is large, disputed, or includes many financial products, get legal or financial advice before making irreversible decisions.