single savings account, then what if the account holder dies?

betabraga

My partner has 3 savings accounts
.regular saver with halifax
.isa with halifax
.fixed term with natiowide
I don't know where the law stands, if he dies, can I have the money in total?
how can I proof Iam is wife, I merried in Portugal and the law is very diferent,there are 3 types of merriage, to give you a clear say what belongs to you after death.
All this accounts say only one account holder is permited.
Is the bank going to take some of my (ours) money?

zincoxide

Are you planning on bumping him off?

rach29

Has your partner made a will? This would make things very simple for the Bank as if his estate on death is worth less than £15000 & you are sole beneficiary the Bank will simply need you to produce the will & death cert & sign a simple form. If the estate is over £15k you would need to go for probate, but once this is done the bank would pay the money to you as beneficiary.

betabraga

rach29 wrote:

Has your partner made a will? This would make things very simple for the Bank as if his estate on death is worth less than £15000 & you are sole beneficiary the Bank will simply need you to produce the will & death cert & sign a simple form. If the estate is over £15k you would need to go for probate, but once this is done the bank would pay the money to you as beneficiary.

Can you explain me what "to go for probate" means, as if I have to spend more money in lawers to get the money out, forget the interest we are getting.
To make things easy, we could have the money in a portuguese bank and earn less interest , and that it will be in both names, as we have join accounts in there, but in england I dont work, and because of tax, is better the money on his name or both, but this types of accounts don't let you to do that.
The banks are not very clear on the "small print, bit"
thanks