Closing a deceased relative's Post Office account

Eviesmummy

Has anyone recently closed a Post Office Card Account after the death of a relative? I completed the forms and gave ID etc this afternoon, but forgot to ask how long it would take for the balance to be transferred to me.
The funeral director has already been waiting weeks for payment, due to our solicitor being incredibly slow, he's actually done nothing. I'd like to be able to give the funeral director a rough timescale of when we'll be able to pay.

Box28

Not sure of PO but all other accounts I sorted for the same were done either instantly or in roughly a week.

G_M

as Probate been granted and are you the Executer?

Is the 'Grant of Probate one of the forms, or did you provide just a Death certificate?

The answer to your quesion will depend on what stage you are at.

Katiehound

This is possibly a silly question, but aren't you allowed to withdraw the money to pay for the funeral? I had a feeling that that was the case with bank accounts anyway- they were frozen and only funeral costs were allowed to be paid out.
( I'm pretty sure that's what I did with my mother's funeral- but we are talking a long time ago.)

Eviesmummy

G_M wrote: »

as Probate been granted and are you the Executer?

Is the 'Grant of Probate one of the forms, or did you provide just a Death certificate?

The answer to your quesion will depend on what stage you are at.

I just have a death certificate, the estate is very small, not likely to be enough to cover the cost of the modest funeral, so our solicitor said probate would not be required.

My husband was next of kin and is the main beneficiary (if you can call it that seeing as all we'll get are the bills to pay) the executor died before my Aunt did. We're sorting through the paperwork together as he has a hard time getting time off work for things like this.

Eviesmummy

Katiehound wrote: »

This is possibly a silly question, but aren't you allowed to withdraw the money to pay for the funeral? I had a feeling that that was the case with bank accounts anyway- they were frozen and only funeral costs were allowed to be paid out.
( I'm pretty sure that's what I did with my mother's funeral- but we are talking a long time ago.)

To be honest I didn't think to ask that. I guess it's a bit late now though.

jamei305

I've acted as executor twice,both sizeable estates. In both cases the Post Office Card Account was the easiest to close. Unlike other bank accounts they never asked for the grant of probate and simply sent me a cheque within a week of me sending of the form with the death certificate.

Unlike the rest of the Post Office accounts which are Bank of Ireland products and suffer from poor customer service, the card account is operated by JP Morgan.

PeacefulWaters

Eviesmummy wrote: »

I just have a death certificate, the estate is very small, not likely to be enough to cover the cost of the modest funeral, so our solicitor said probate would not be required.

My husband was next of kin and is the main beneficiary (if you can call it that seeing as all we'll get are the bills to pay) the executor died before my Aunt did. We're sorting through the paperwork together as he has a hard time getting time off work for things like this.

I wouldn't have thought you'd be liable for somebody else's bills.

Eviesmummy

jamei305 wrote: »

I've acted as executor twice,both sizeable estates. In both cases the Post Office Card Account was the easiest to close. Unlike other bank accounts they never asked for the grant of probate and simply sent me a cheque within a week of me sending of the form with the death certificate.

Unlike the rest of the Post Office accounts which are Bank of Ireland products and suffer from poor customer service, the card account is operated by JP Morgan.

Thanks, that's very helpful, and a relief. No they didn't ask for grant of probate - the form stated that I only needed that for accounts holding more than £10,000.

Camster

I dealt with closing my mums Post Office card account about a year ago.

I was advised that provided the balance was less than £5,000 it could be closed by sending them a copy of the death certificate, but probate documents are required if it's over £5,000.

Eviesmummy

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

I wouldn't have thought you'd be liable for somebody else's bills.

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I meant the bill for the funeral and solicitor.