Can i do this ?

mynameis?

Hi, Wondering if anyone could help with some answers for me.
I dont know if I have posted on the right board


My Husband died very recently and did not leave a will.


He was a gambler and had online betting accounts.


Before he died he had placed ante-post bets with these online accounts.


He gave me all accounts Usernames and passwords...dates of bets to run.. ie.. cheltenham Grand National..etc.


Does anyone know if these Betting Sites will Pay any winnings to me ?


I think I can do a bank transfer from the Betting site to his bank account.


If I withdrew to his bank account , is this ethical/legal ?


After all bets were run and finished I could then close the bank account.


Would I have a problem with the bank as the money would have gone in after his death.


I have searched the internet trying to find these answers and come up with nothing .


If the money sits in his betting accounts I have found out it would go to a charity if the account stays dormant . (after xx months of no use)


I do not want to phone these sites and be told the account has to be closed and I will lose the money.


Thankyou in advance for any helpful answers

thenudeone

Sorry for your loss.

AFAIK, any assets at the date of death are part of his estate and must be dealt with according the rules of intestancy.

If you log in and do anything with the accounts you would probably be committing fraud and possibly theft as well. The money does not legally belong to you until the relevant procedures have been followed.

I doubt very much that the amounts will be "given to charity" automatically upon death. The executor/adminstrator should write to the companies and and ask for any funds to be returned to them for distribution in accordance with the rules.

Thee's lots of advice about what to do, eg:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/Preparation/DG_10029802
If you are a diligent and thorough person there is no need to use a solicitor to administer an estate (except perhaps for any conveyancing of property) which will probably save thousands of pounds.
This might be worth a look as well: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Which-Essential-Guides-Administering-Independent/dp/1844900339/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332273760&sr=8-1

meer53

I'd call the betting companies and let them know whats happened. They must have come across this situation before. I would imagine that as he placed the bets before he died then if there are any winnings they will be paid into his betting account but as to how you will get access to the money i can't imagine. I think that any credits into his account after his death will be questioned by the bank when you ask them to close it.

You have enough to worry about without trying to do something which might come back and bite you on the bum ! I'd do it by the book if i were you. x