After a relative dies, knowing the bank password does not create authority to withdraw money. Preserve documents and identify the proper representative before selecting the estate procedure.
What to have ready
Current service, eligibility and entry point
With a valid will and an appointed executor, check probate; without a will, letters of administration depend on the relevant entitlement and procedure. The Probate Registry handles applications and evidence. Being a spouse or child does not automatically confer unrestricted authority over every account and property.
HAD's small-estate confirmation route includes deaths on or after 11 February 2006 where all Hong Kong beneficial property consists of money not exceeding HK$50,000, with further conditions. Other assets or debts disqualify the route, and trustee or Tso/Tong-manager circumstances are excluded. A confirmation notice is not a grant; the bank retains discretion whether to release money.
From enquiry to follow-up
- Preserve the original will, death certificate and important statements. List banks, property, shares, insurance, MPF, vehicles and other property at death, alongside cards, loans and tax. Distinguish joint ownership, trusts and beneficiary arrangements instead of reporting only the current-account cash most familiar to the family.
- Identify the executor or person entitled to apply and check the Probate Registry's forms and evidence. Obtain appropriate legal advice if entitled persons disagree or the will is disputed. Do not alter an original will based on an informal family agreement, or assume possession of documents settles the legal authority.
- For small-estate confirmation, check HAD's complete conditions rather than just the cash ceiling. Shares, property, a vehicle, other assets or outstanding debt can prevent use even with little bank cash. Submit accurate evidence and ask about the proper route if the simplified procedure does not fit.
- For urgent funeral or former-dependant maintenance expenses, check HAD's relevant formal process and documents instead of operating the deceased's account yourself. Once the appropriate authority is obtained, follow each institution's requirements and retain receipts, payments and distribution records for estate administration and accountability.
Limits to understand before applying
Small-estate confirmation does not replace a grant or remove the administrator's responsibility. A bank releasing funds and the legal entitlement to inherit are separate matters. Money received for administration must not be treated automatically as the recipient's personal income to spend without an estate record.
The deceased's property, relatives' own assets, insurance beneficiary payments and retirement benefits may follow different procedures. Check the relevant jurisdiction and institution for complicated or cross-border estates rather than assuming Hong Kong authority automatically controls every overseas asset or beneficiary arrangement.
A practical support example
The bank balance is HK$40,000, but there are shares and a card debt. The family cannot rely only on being below HK$50,000 for small-estate confirmation. It inventories the estate and checks representation and probate procedures, asking separately about formal arrangements for urgent funeral expenses.
Inventory all assets and debts and establish representative authority before selecting the estate procedure.
Official information and enquiries
These are the reference and service entry points for this guide. Check current fees, eligibility, and schedules with the authority. The preparation date is not each source's official update date.