Transfer money from USA to UK

NorthernChap

Hi all!

Due to a bereavement, I need to go over to the USA and sell my late father's property and possessions. The legal side of this is in hand.

I do not have a US bank account, and I've been told I can't get one without a social security number. Therefore not sure how I can receive the cash at that end and get it back to the UK.

Does anyone know the best way to sort this out because I will obviously have house sale money and they're not just going to give me a wad of cash and wave me off at the airport!

Thanks in advance!

KayTM

Presumably you have a lawyer in the USA working on the sale of the house and other assets of the estate. Can you not have the proceeds paid into their client account? Then you make arrangements with them for the transfer of funds to the UK.

Beware of doing currency transfers via banks. They are notorious for giving bad rates.

In your situation, I'd ask the lawyer to receive the funds into their client account, then send it to a forex company to have them convert it to sterling and then forward it to your bank account in the UK.

You have to jump through hoops to open a forex trading account (to prevent money laundering), but it's not too onerous if you can prove who you are and that the money has come from a legitimate source.

Try asking the lawyer who is dealing with the estate if they can facilitate such a transaction for you.

chrisjdw

If you don't have a solicitor etc dealing with it, get one. If you do, get him to facilitate the transfer

NorthernChap

Haven't instructed anyone over there yet - we have to travel over with a sealed copy of probate (which we have) and get the ball rolling on that side. There are other things to do as well such as sell his car (which he already put in my name) so I was wondering about those - guess I will just ask the legal people at that end once we have some. Cheers!