Bank account frozen after a death: how to pay the bills?

Why does the bank freeze the account after a death?

The freezing of a bank account after a death is a legal protective measure, not a sanction. As soon as it is informed of the death, the bank must freeze all the deceased's accounts to protect the estate.

This procedure has three main objectives:

• Prevent unauthorised withdrawals by third parties
• Preserve the assets for all legitimate heirs
• Avoid conflicts between heirs before the official division

The frozen account after death remains in this state until the estate is completely settled. This period generally lasts several weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the situation.

Banks have a strict legal obligation: they cannot unfreeze the funds without the agreement of all heirs or a certificate of inheritance. This rule protects your rights in the estate. To understand how the deceased's debts are managed, consult our guide on a deceased person's debts.

What happens in practice with the deceased's accounts?

The bank freeze has immediate consequences on all the deceased's accounts:

• Bank cards: deactivated immediately, impossible to withdraw or pay
• Direct debits: stopped (rent, insurance, subscriptions)
• Scheduled transfers: suspended, including standing orders
• E-banking: access blocked for all users

All types of accounts are affected: current accounts, salary accounts, savings accounts and securities accounts. The estate bank account enters a state of total freeze.

Crucial point: any power of attorney granted by the deceased automatically becomes void at the time of death. Even if you had a valid power of attorney, you can no longer act on the accounts. To learn more about this subject, read our article on power of attorney after death.

The crucial exception: paying funeral and medical expenses

Good news: the law provides an important exception to the bank freeze. Banks can partially unfreeze the account to pay for the funeral from the deceased's account.

This legal exception covers two categories of expenses:

• Complete funeral expenses (funeral directors, ceremony, burial plot)
• Final medical and hospitalisation expenses not reimbursed

The amounts accepted vary according to the bank, but generally correspond to the actual and reasonable costs of funerals in Switzerland (between 5,000 and 15,000 CHF depending on the services).

Essential condition: you must present the original invoices to the bank. Without these documents, no account unfreezing is possible. The bank verifies that the amounts correspond to the services invoiced.

This procedure helps to relieve families financially without waiting for the end of the estate settlement, which can take several months.

Which expenses can be paid from the frozen account?

Here is the precise list of expenses accepted by banks for a partial account unfreezing:

Accepted expenses:

• Funeral director's invoice (coffin, transport, body preparation)
• Religious or civil ceremony expenses
• Cemetery plot and burial or cremation fees
• Flowers and wreaths for the ceremony
• Printed death notices (or opt for an online notice at 180 CHF on Wolky)
• Final unpaid medical or hospital bills

Refused expenses:

• Deceased's current debts (credit cards, personal loans)
• Rent arrears
• Ordinary bills (electricity, telephone)
• Repayment of loans between individuals

The bank examines each invoice individually. It systematically refuses requests that do not correspond to direct funeral or medical expenses.

Which documents should be provided to the bank?

To partially unfreeze the estate bank account, prepare these essential documents:

Mandatory documents:

• Original death certificate (not a copy) issued by the civil registry
• Original invoices from funeral directors and medical expenses with detailed information
• Proof of your status as heir or relative: family record book, certificate of inheritance if available, will
• Valid identity document of the applicant (identity card or passport)
• Bank details for the transfer of funds if necessary

Processing times:

Banks generally process these requests within 5 to 10 working days. Anticipate this delay for payment to the funeral directors. Some banks agree to pay the funeral service provider directly, which speeds up the procedure.

Contact your bank adviser as soon as possible after the death to find out the exact procedure for your institution.

Special case: joint accounts

Joint accounts follow different rules depending on their type. The distinction is crucial to know whether you retain access to the funds after a death.

There are two types of joint accounts in Switzerland:

• "Or" joint account: each holder can act alone, without the other's agreement
• "And" joint account: any transaction requires the signature of both holders

This difference, often unknown, radically changes the situation when one of the holders dies. Check immediately which type of account you hold by consulting your bank contract or by calling your bank.

The type of account determines whether the surviving spouse retains immediate access to the funds or whether everything is frozen. The financial consequences can be significant for current expenses and funeral costs.

The "or" joint account: access maintained for the surviving spouse

The "or" joint account offers the best protection to the surviving spouse. Here is how it works:

Immediate access: The surviving holder retains access to 50% of the account balance without any particular formalities. This half belongs to them personally and does not enter the estate.

Partial freeze: The other half of the balance (50%) is considered to belong to the deceased. It enters the estate and is frozen until complete settlement.

Simplified procedures: Simply present the death certificate to the bank. The spouse can continue to use the account for current expenses with their share.

Warning: Avoid excessive or suspicious withdrawals. Other heirs can contest significant withdrawals made just after the death. Good faith and transparency are essential to prevent family conflicts.

The "and" joint account: total freeze

The "and" joint account poses many more difficulties when one of the holders dies:

Complete freeze: As any transaction required the signature of both holders, the account is entirely frozen from the death. The survivor can no longer carry out any transaction, even for their own share.

Intervention required: Unfreezing requires the agreement of all the deceased's heirs. If the heirs are numerous or in disagreement, the situation can quickly become complicated.

Lengthy procedure: Unfreezing requires a certificate of inheritance and often the intervention of a notary. Allow several weeks, or even several months depending on the complexity of the estate.

Temporary solution: In the meantime, the surviving spouse must use their personal accounts or request partial unfreezing for funeral expenses with the original invoices.

How to definitively unfreeze the account?

The definitive account unfreezing follows a procedure in several mandatory steps:

1. Obtain the certificate of inheritance
Issued by the competent cantonal authority, this official document lists all the heirs and their shares in the estate. Time to obtain: 4 to 8 weeks on average.

2. Agreement between heirs
All heirs must agree on the division of the bank assets. In case of disagreement, a mediator or notary can intervene.

3. Presentation of documents
Submit to the bank: certificate of inheritance, identity documents of all heirs, signed division agreement if necessary.

4. Division of assets
The bank transfers to each heir their share according to legal or testamentary quotas.

Total timescales: Allow 2 to 6 months depending on complexity. A notary or executor can accelerate and secure the procedure.

What to do whilst waiting for unfreezing?

The freezing of the bank account after death creates immediate financial difficulties. Here are the practical solutions:

Temporary financing solutions:

• Use your personal funds or those of the surviving spouse (you will be reimbursed from the estate)
• Request a payment plan from the funeral directors (many accept)
• Apply for cantonal financial assistance for funeral expenses if your situation is difficult (see our guide to financial assistance)
• Use death insurance if the deceased had taken out a policy

Management of current bills:

Contact all creditors quickly (landlord, energy suppliers, telephone operators) to explain the situation and negotiate deadlines. For online accounts and digital subscriptions, consult our guide to managing digital accounts.

Common mistakes to avoid

Certain mistakes can have serious legal consequences. Here are the most common pitfalls:

Using the deceased's bank card after death
This is illegal, even if you know the PIN code. You could be accused of theft or breach of trust by the other heirs.

Withdrawing significant sums just before or after death
These suspicious withdrawals can be contested and cancelled. You will have to justify each expense before the heirs and potentially a judge.

Not informing the bank quickly
You have a legal obligation to report the death. A delay can complicate the estate and create problems with direct debits.

Forgetting to report direct debits
They continue until the actual freeze. You risk overdrafts and bank charges.

Confusing power of attorney and inheritance rights
A power of attorney gives you no rights over the estate. It becomes void at death.

Summary: your banking procedures after a death

Here is your chronological checklist to manage the frozen account after death effectively:

Days 0 to 3 (immediate urgency):

• Inform all the deceased's banks by telephone then in writing
• Request the blocking of bank cards and e-banking
• Note all current direct debits

First week:

• Gather the documents: death certificate, funeral invoices, identity documents
• Identify all the deceased's accounts (statements, bank correspondence)
• Check the type of joint accounts ("or" or "and")

First weeks:

• Present the original invoices to pay for the funeral from the deceased's account
• Manage access to joint accounts according to their type
• Contact creditors to negotiate deadlines

First months:

• Obtain the certificate of inheritance from the cantonal authority
• Organise the meeting of heirs for the division
• Finalise the definitive unfreezing with the bank

The freezing of a bank account after a death is a legal protection, but it does not prevent the payment of funeral expenses and final medical bills. By presenting the required documents to the bank, death certificate, detailed invoices and proof of your status as heir, you can obtain these payments quickly.

"Or" joint accounts remain accessible to the surviving spouse, which facilitates day-to-day management. For other situations, definitive unfreezing requires a certificate of inheritance or a declaration of succession. In the meantime, use your own resources or request a payment plan from creditors.

The administrative procedures after a death are numerous and sometimes complex. Wolky supports you during this difficult period by allowing you to publish an online death notice quickly and at low cost, to inform your loved ones and honour the memory of your deceased with dignity.