Barclays as automatic Executor?

Beenie

Briefly, a relative died with an account at Barclays.

The Next-of-Kin, due to old age and intermittent confusion, asked me to act as executor. I have done various financial things (claim rebates, organise funeral etc.) but I have not yet obtained Letters of Admin.

NOK rang this morning to complain that Barclays have taken ££££s from the frozen account belonging to the deceased and also sent the NOK a blank probate and IHT form for completion (as though the bank has taken over the executor duties). We surmise that the ££££s taken from the account is the bank's fee to act as administrators/executors.

NOK absolutely denies giving the bank permission to do this (still wants me to act) so my question is does anyone know if this is normal procedure by a bank? It seems unlikely to me and I think that NOK is confused but wanted to check here to see if anyone had come across this situation themselves.

SevenOfNine

No, Barclays merely froze the a/c's of the deceased when NoK went in with the death cert. Though it has to be said they were quite pushy about sending someone from their 'bereavement team' to see elderly NoK to discuss probate.

I made sure I was present & when he gave an estimate I announced that Barclays had jumped the gun given that deceased wasn't even in the ground yet & chucked him out.

Are you absolutely POSITIVE NoK hasn't had a conversation with anyone at the bank? If so you may have to lug NoK to the bank to clarify what this deduction was & confirm that YOU will be dealing with probate. Perhaps NoK has enough lucid moments to draw up a letter to this effect?

Beenie

Sadly, nothing is positive with the NoK. It wouldn't surprise me if she had been visited by the Simplify team and signed something - probably thinking it was just a confirmation that team had been.

On the other hand, it is also possible that she is totally confused and only thinks that ££££s have been deducted. After all, until Letters of Admin/Probate is granted, the bank shouldn't say anything - even to close family members - about the account of a deceased person. The only one entitled to that info is the person with the probate surely?

Ziggazee

Could it be that the bank have deducted monies direct from the account to settle the funeral bill? It's common practice for the bank to release funds for this purpose.

getmore4less

Beenie wrote: »

Sadly, nothing is positive with the NoK. It wouldn't surprise me if she had been visited by the Simplify team and signed something - probably thinking it was just a confirmation that team had been.

On the other hand, it is also possible that she is totally confused and only thinks that ££££s have been deducted. After all, until Letters of Admin/Probate is granted, the bank shouldn't say anything - even to close family members - about the account of a deceased person. The only one entitled to that info is the person with the probate surely?

Financial institutions need to respond to enquiries as the information is needed for the application. Most will reply to a request at the time of notification and the death certificate.


Is there is a will with named executors?

Beenie

No will. This is an intestacy case.

From my point of view, it is less work and worry for me if the bank does take over and act as executor, even if it costs the beneficiary (which is not me) money. All I was querying was if banks do it automatically within a certain time after the death of the account holder.

SevenOfNine

No, the bank wouldn't simply 'take over'. They wouldn't send her the forms for completion either, no doubt they would visit to gather the info FOR completion though (if they are acting as Exec on NoK's authority).

Is it a simple estate with just the one beneficiary? If so, completing the forms isn't a particularly onerous task.