Problems with Payment to Executor

rdwarr

Sadly my Mum died a few months back. She had a savings bond with the Newcastle Building Society which has since been taken over by Norwich Union.

Last week I received the Grant of Probate as Executor of her estate. I'd corresponded previously with NU and they'd said that they would just need this to release the funds to me. So I sent them a copy of it.

On Saturday I received a letter from them saying that there were some queries and they were not yet able to pass the money over because:
1) They had her name down as D~ Jean xxxx whilst it was really D~ Joan.
2) They had her date of birth as 23/mm/yy whilst it was really 13/mm/yy.

They are now asking for her Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and proof of residence in 1999. I don't have any of these!

What's the best thing to do? Are they within their rights here? I thought the Grant of Probate was equivalent to a Court Order and surely they're not seriously querying her identity. We're talking around £15,000 here - I need at least some of it ASAP to pay for the funeral etc.

dunstonh

Are they within their rights here?

Yes they are. You could potentially be giving them someone elses details to get this money. Had one thing been an error, they may have overlooked it. However, there is a date of birth and name error and its unlikely they would overule that.

rdwarr

Oh, fair enough. Seems completely mad to me though. Whose money is it then?

dunstonh

rdwarr wrote:

Whose money is it then?

That is what NU want to make sure. For all they know, it's potential identity fraud.

It's a pain but I can totally understand why its being done. For others reading this, you should always check your policy documents for spelling mistakes and date of birth errors. Correcting it whilst you are alive is so much easier than when you have died and someone else has to do it.

Robert_Sterling_3

NU are using due diligence.
They are trying to make sure that the money is going to the right person.
We should all applaud them for that.

cattie

I just wonder if it's wise to post a deceased persons full name & date of birth on a public forum in light of the problem of identity theft?

I'm sorry to learn of the difficulties you've encountered, as coping with bereavement is a hard enough thing as it is.

rdwarr

Thanks cattie. I have amended the OP to remove specifics.

Can anybody say what will happen to the money if I can't prove this? Do NU just get to keep it?

Bossyboots

Getting copies of her birth and marriage certificates is simple, particularly if you know the areas in which each event happened.

Are there no utility bills or anything in her name from 1999, I should think that is all you need. Or a letter addressed to her among her things?

If you cannot provide the paperwork, you will probably have to sign a declaration stating this. This would be signed in front of a solicitor and proof of your identity taken at the time.

NU won't simply get to keep the money but they have to be able to show they took all reasonable steps to ensure they are releasing it to the right person.

Robert_Sterling_3

https://www.1837online.com

Births Marriages and Deaths certificate available from this site.

montycat_2

You may be able to get proof of address from an old electorol register .I believe Librarys and local councils have to store these .
I too am going through this process and ,it is a pain but at least I know the right people will get the money .

Queenie

My sincere condolences to you rdwarr (and montycat) a very upsetting and confusing time

rdwarr - you've already been given the best advice re how to optain the documents they are now requesting - I wish you well with that, it's a fairly straightforward procedure.
As for the need of the money to pay for the funeral - do keep in contact with the funeral home and let them know that you are awaiting the release of funds before you can settle the bill. In my experience, they are usually most understanding. The trick is simply to keep them informed. All the very best.