Aunt has 2,000 of dead father's money

FrankR

Not sure where to post this

Seethingly angry with my aunt, who is a stranger to me.

Basically, my dad died last January 2015.

As I was at university, I was unable to recover his possessions myself, so I gave the council lady my permission for my aunt to take my dad's stuff out of his flat.

I'm his son...next in kin and blood line.

I have just found out, by reading my uncle's email history, that my aunt has about £2,000 of my dad's money in her bank account. She confirms this in an email to my uncle, and even writes that it is my dad's/my money.

Now, I was not told of this money, and had to do a little snooping to find out about it.

I have taken 6 photographs of the email as proof, so if I confront her about it, and she denies, or deletes her email history, I have the photos of her proving she has it, and proving that it is my dead father's and mine.

I have no idea how she managed to recover this money from my dad's bank account without my permission.

I also have no idea where I stand legally. My dead dad did nominate me to have a pension, which I have since received, but I'm not sure if he wrote a will, as I had little contact with him, as did my aunt. He lived a sheltered lonely life.

Should I confront my aunt about the £2,000, and show her the photographs if she denies, and maybe even threaten her with a lawyer?

I would like to know where I stand legally before I talk to her, so I'm hoping I can get some advice here to begin to understand my situation.

Thanks

whitewing

I guess it is possible that she is waiting until you are 21? (Not too likely, I agree).

I don't think at the moment that you should confront her. Sometimes it is best to wait for a few days.

I think you should go back to uni and seek advice from the student union or welfare team (whatever you have these days). It seems likely that there would be people at the university who would be able to help you but who would also have some greater experience than you. In some ways it doesn't matter what the legal situation is, it is just going to boil down to how you handle it.

Also, is it possible that that money has gone on paying for the funeral? They don't tend to come cheap.

I am sorry that your father died while you were so young and I am sorry that you are in such an awkward position now.

antrobus

FrankR wrote: »

...I have no idea how she managed to recover this money from my dad's bank account without my permission....

At a guess, by contacting the bank concerned. Banks will customarily release small balances (as in £2k) to someone who presents themselves as the next of kin and produces a death certificate.

FrankR wrote: »

....I also have no idea where I stand legally. ....

In the absence of a will, you inherit everything under the intestacy laws, assuming that you are an only child, and that there is no wife anywhere.

FrankR wrote: »

....Should I confront my aunt about the £2,000, and show her the photographs if she denies, and maybe even threaten her with a lawyer?...

Who paid for the funeral? Did your father have any debts? By all means approach her, but not with all guns blazing.

p00hsticks

Could it have been cash that she found in the flat ? Some people do still keep money 'under the mattress...'

missbiggles1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70218042#Comment_70218042

antrobus

missbiggles1 wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70218042#Comment_70218042

Oh, I see what you mean.:)

Random sample quote from the OP;

FrankR wrote: »

Hello,

My Son received just over £22,000 in inheritance when his father died in May......

FrankR is proof of life after death.:)

NotRichAtAll

I'd be sneaky and just casually say " thanks for sorting my dads stuff, oh by the way do you know what happened to the 2k he had?" see if she admits or deny's its existance.

Chadsman

missbiggles1 wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/70218042#Comment_70218042

I have for a long time thought many trolls on here are from the website management trolling to promote discussion and/or their own articles. If people are not going to be honest about their motives I am not going to waste time replying.
Which is why I rarely post here now.

Fruittea

So sorry to hear your news. I agree with NotRichAtAll but be prepared for her to say she had to use it for the funeral. I think the cheapest funeral you can get nowadays is around £4k. So she may have just gone ahead and dealt with it as your are so young. Hope it goes well for you.