Unexpected winfall

fozmcfc

In short, one of my mums best friends of 30 years died recently, she had no family and therefore didn't bother with a will, so my mum has been looking after her for a quite a while.

In that time, she said to my mum, when she was gone, the money left in her safe was for my mum.

My mum has opened it and it contains £1000's.

My mum is concerned at putting so much money into her bank account, as she feels she may be questioned about where all the money has come from.

So I'm really asking is my mum right to be concerned or will she be fine in putting in a lump sum of over £20k in notes and/or a few thousand each month over the next year to two years.

chili1496

bingo, lottery, gift, sold an antique lots or things spring to mind put some in the bank each month.

dr_adidas01

fozmcfc wrote: »

In short, one of my mums best friends of 30 years died recently, she had no family and therefore didn't bother with a will, so my mum has been looking after her for a quite a while.

In that time, she said to my mum, when she was gone, the money left in her safe was for my mum.

My mum has opened it and it contains £1000's.

My mum is concerned at putting so much money into her bank account, as she feels she may be questioned about where all the money has come from.

So I'm really asking is my mum right to be concerned or will she be fine in putting in a lump sum of over £20k in notes and/or a few thousand each month over the next year to two years.

First off if she hasn't got it in writing that the money in the safe is for your Mum, then it can be classed as theft.

You will find that although you say that she had no family 9 times out of 10 there will be an aunt or uncle or brother or sister you don't know about that is legally entitled to the estate of the deceased person.

Since she left no will all money from the estate legally belongs to the crown and not your Mother.

She will have to apply to the Crown for any money she thinks she is entitled and they will make a decision as to whether she has a legal claim to the money she is trying to claim

You might want to check the government site below to check these facts:

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

Your mother should have made sure the friend she looked after put it in writing that she was entitled to the Money in the safe.

whitewing

I think your mum should go and see a solicitor about this. Otherwise it may turn into a very huge nightmare for her.

wiseshark

fozmcfc wrote: »

In short, one of my mums best friends of 30 years died recently, she had no family and therefore didn't bother with a will, so my mum has been looking after her for a quite a while.

In that time, she said to my mum, when she was gone, the money left in her safe was for my mum.

My mum has opened it and it contains £1000's.

My mum is concerned at putting so much money into her bank account, as she feels she may be questioned about where all the money has come from.

So I'm really asking is my mum right to be concerned or will she be fine in putting in a lump sum of over £20k in notes and/or a few thousand each month over the next year to two years.

Your Mum needs to be very careful. Can she prove that the cash is legally hers? She could be accused of theft.

You say that your Mums friend had no family and never made a will, therefore her assets should go to the state.

It will be up to your Mum to challenge this. She should take legal advice. Good luck.

fozmcfc

Ok thanks very much, I'll let her know.

It's certainly not worth taking any chances, as my mum isn't poor anyway, so the money isn't vital anyway.

st999

She should just hide it under her mattress, after all, she won't get much interest from a bank account

pqrdef

fozmcfc wrote: »

she had no family and therefore didn't bother with a will

Of course that's exactly the reason for bothering.

But the will business has been made so off-putting that people find the most unbelievable excuses for not bothering.

Herbalus

st999 wrote: »

She should just hide it under her mattress, after all, she won't get much interest from a bank account

Yeah, because that would help if there was an accusation of theft....

opinions4u

It's not Mum's money and it never will be legally.

Sorry.

antrobus

fozmcfc wrote: »

....In that time, she said to my mum, when she was gone, the money left in her safe was for my mum....

Possibly a case of Donatio Mortis Causa - a gift made in prospect of death. See this HMRC summary here, http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ihtmanual/ihtm14900.htm

To be valid, it would appear that it would be neccessary for your mother to demonstrate that the cash had been delivered to her, i.e. that her friend had given her the key/combination to the safe.

A proper lawyer might well be able to offer a more definitive answer.

fozmcfc wrote: »

...So I'm really asking is my mum right to be concerned or will she be fine in putting in a lump sum of over £20k in notes and/or a few thousand each month over the next year to two years.

Your mum is right to be concerned. Paying in 20k of cash in one lump sum, or dribbling it in over a period, might trigger a money laundering investigation by the bank.