The probate office never asked any questions .
I'm puzzled.Hi,
We had a recent passing, I hope to do probate myself as properties etc. were transfered before death, only two bank accounts to resolve (Approx 60k). What is the situation if direct debits (TV phone etc) continue to leave the deceased accounts? I am not executor but I have full access in terms of PIN no's etc. to the accounts. Would the probate office look dimly if I were to shut some of these down?
Re : pudds & mathepac
Thanks for your input, so far I've shut down direct debits with cable tv & phone etc. via the relative companies ( who have been surprisingly quick & courteous) but I've made no direct interventions with the bank accounts. While I accept the principle of what your saying the reality is like 1dave123 in that our executor doesn't care.
I am in a similar situation to the OP. My question is does the freezing of the accounts by the bank apply to each account balance or the combined total held by the bank ? There are two accounts in the bank (same branch) and the balances are 45,000 and 11,000. Freezing the latter would be a nightmare as all pensions and direct debits operate from this account. Both accounts are in joint names (deceased and surviving spouse). There is no requirement for probate.
Surely these accounts won't be frozen as they are joint accounts with one person alive. Just on pension payments, I was told recently by someone that a pension provider stopped a deceased person's pension on checking the death notices! Relative phoned to inform of death and was told, "oh yes we check the death notices".
I have been told of a number of cases where the accounts were frozen even though they were joint accounts and the second name was the surviving spouse. It may be that the banks interpret this in different ways, or it may be that I haven't been told the full circumstances.
Would it be a case the account was originally set up to require two signatures for everything rather than just one, especially for withdrawals.
But I have learned, by dint of some annoying experiences, that branch officers in banks do not all know how to handle matters in death cases. And rather than go up the line for advice, some of them make decisions that are questionable. Be prepared to challenge decisions made in the bank, but carry the hope that you won't need to.
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