Solicitor asking for national insurance number.

Legacy_user

Hello

My mother passed 8 months ago and seems like solicitor is close to finalising the will and inheritance.

She has asked me (the benificary) for my national insurance number and the executors also for theirs.

What would they need this for. When the executor asked she got a very unclear answer.

Yorkshireman99

Probably something to do with the money laundering rules. It is quite bizarre really because although solicitors, quite rightly, have to carry out identity checks, as far as I know there is no way for them to check the validity. I would press the solicitor for an uniquivocable answer. Having said that in reality what difference does it make disclosing it to a solicitor who, presumably is not going to misuse it? I could understand if the asked for the deceased's NI number as it is used by the DWP and HMR&C.

System

The executor could have pressed more I dont have much contact with the solicitor.

I'm not worried really I just wondered why. As i live and work abroad I was afraid maybe that would show up im not working in the UK and may complicate something or limit a particular part of my entitlement.

The estate is smallish. Around 120k.

Yorkshireman99

cclem345 wrote: »

The executor could have pressed more I dont have much contact with the solicitor.

I'm not worried really I just wondered why. As i live and work abroad I was afraid maybe that would show up im not working in the UK and may complicate something or limit a particular part of my entitlement.

The estate is smallish. Around 120k.

Noted. The ML regulations are quite draconian and the individual solicitor can be liable if they get it wrong hence their apparanetly paranoid behaviour. Even worse if you are abroad. Bast thing is just to be open with them.

Malthusian

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

Probably something to do with the money laundering rules. It is quite bizarre really because although solicitors, quite rightly, have to carry out identity checks, as far as I know there is no way for them to check the validity.

Surely most solicitors would have access to the same electoral roll and other database checks that most financial services firms use. They aren't expensive.

That said you can't do any kind of identity check using a National Insurance number alone so my answer to the OP's question is no idea. Probably a "standard procedure" that is in reality a pointless ritual.

Margot123

I have been told it was with regard to inheritance tax, should there be a claim by HMRC once the estate had been distributed. Sometimes large amounts of investments can surface long after the executors think they have finalised everything.

Spelunthus

I can't regard my NI number as confidential;. You need to supply it in lots of places to do with money, savings, even applying for a temporary bar license ! It's Money Laundering checks, and because UK has a weak concept of Legal Identity (cf ID Cards), then the NI number is often used as a poor substitute. It's often got NOTHING to do with employment.

Yorkshireman99

Malthusian wrote: »

Surely most solicitors would have access to the same electoral roll and other database checks that most financial services firms use. They aren't expensive.

That said you can't do any kind of identity check using a National Insurance number alone so my answer to the OP's question is no idea. Probably a "standard procedure" that is in reality a pointless ritual.

They do but AFAIK there is no access to the NI records and numbers.

System

No worries just wanted to know as I was worried due to me not working in the UK or being a UK resident I was afraid for example my mums pension from civil service wouldn't pay out or something similar.

This is where we are at with the Soliciotor now. Anyone have any idea how long it should take if we are at this point.

She said shortly but we all know particular professions shortly could be months.

Yorkshireman99

Eight months is not unusual given that they will have waited to publish the statutory notices and may well be waiting for the DWP to confirm they have no claim fo overpaid benefits.

System

Yeah it's just when my mother died and we were at the early stages of sorting things the solicitor was very confident it would take no more than 6 months.

Having acted very promptly it now seems she is taking her time. It may not be her maybe it's the organisation's she's dealing with but she tends to forget to get people to sign things until they are abroad. However when it comes to taking money or receiving money for say car sale it's always demanded they get it straight away. Only money released was for rates of house, car finance (which they recieved 3 days later which was significantly more than paid) and funeral which is normal.

They refuse to give any time frames or updates where they are. Everything just " a few things to sort" then should be finalised and in the their bill is increasing with every second and every email we send back and forth.