Death and Wills

Miss_Y2J

Hi
Chances are this question has been answered somewhere but the forum has a lot of post so sorry if It has already been posted.
When a person dies, exactly what happens to their estate/money etc. How does the bank or or insurances know to out a hold on things if no will has been made.
The scenario is this. My uncle died 3 weeks ago unexpectedly, he had fallen and broken his hip and was in rehabilitation. When I went to see him he told me he had go 40k from a pension he didn't realize he had and the money was in his account. He also had another private pension plus all his years of savings and earnings. He never married, never had kids, his parents are dead and all that's left is his brothers and sisters. He lived frugal to be honest. The kind of man who didn't have a phone nor a TV that went past the basic channels.
There was a big split in the family and brothers and sisters haven't spoken in years but one of my aunt's always took to his affairs like doing his shopping, laundry housework etc.
He told me through out the years he didn't have a will, don't think he was wise enough to realise the reason to have one and would just laugh and say it'll not matter to him anyway he'll not be here.
My aunt took control of his funeral but and believe me she is a nasty one and a scammer and I fear she has took off with his money.
My question therefore is, in the event of a death, what exactly the process of her not being able to take his money or his insurance policies if there is no will? I have to add he never owned property.
How do governing bodies know he has money and has inheritance there for his brothers and sisters?

Keep_pedalling

His nearest relatives will need to apply for letters of administration. With no will with named executors the banks will not release any money without LoA.

Yorkshireman99

Miss_Y2J wrote: »

Hi
Chances are this question has been answered somewhere but the forum has a lot of post so sorry if It has already been posted.
When a person dies, exactly what happens to their estate/money etc. How does the bank or or insurances know to out a hold on things if no will has been made.
The scenario is this. My uncle died 3 weeks ago unexpectedly, he had fallen and broken his hip and was in rehabilitation. When I went to see him he told me he had go 40k from a pension he didn't realize he had and the money was in his account. He also had another private pension plus all his years of savings and earnings. He never married, never had kids, his parents are dead and all that's left is his brothers and sisters. He lived frugal to be honest. The kind of man who didn't have a phone nor a TV that went past the basic channels.
There was a big split in the family and brothers and sisters haven't spoken in years but one of my aunt's always took to his affairs like doing his shopping, laundry housework etc.
He told me through out the years he didn't have a will, don't think he was wise enough to realise the reason to have one and would just laugh and say it'll not matter to him anyway he'll not be here.
My aunt took control of his funeral but and believe me she is a nasty one and a scammer and I fear she has took off with his money.
My question therefore is, in the event of a death, what exactly the process of her not being able to take his money or his insurance policies if there is no will? I have to add he never owned property.
How do governing bodies know he has money and has inheritance there for his brothers and sisters?

If you know the bank tell them on Monday. They will freeze the account. In the absence of a will the laws of intestacy apply. Try googling for the .GOV site about what happens and who inherits.

Yorkshireman99

PS,

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

Yorkshireman99

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

If you know the bank tell them on Monday. They will freeze the account. In the absence of a will the laws of intestacy apply. Try googling for the .GOV site about what happens and who inherits.

PS.You should start by reading the stickies on the forum.

elsien

She can't be that nasty if she spent the last few years supporting him with money, shopping etc.

Yorkshireman99

elsien wrote: »

She can't be that nasty if she spent the last few years supporting him with money, shopping etc.

Not helpful to make that sort of guesswork. It is not unknown for the helpful relative fleecing someone one that is just as likely. The OP needs to some research and facts .

HampshireH

Also the OP didn't say it as the same aunt

SevenOfNine

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

His nearest relatives will need to apply for letters of administration. With no will with named executors the banks will not release any money without LoA.

From my experience I beg to differ. They will release funds if it is below their threshold on sight of a certified copy of the death certificate. That, some ID & the signing of a disclaimer has been more than enough to satisfy Lloyds & Santander.

That threshold varies from one financial organisation to another but often in the region of £50k, though for Nationwide you are correct, they insist on LoA or probate for even a trivial amount. Pensions & other investments will be strict as well.

OP - did this aunt register the death?

Yorkshireman99

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

His nearest relatives will need to apply for letters of administration. With no will with named executors the banks will not release any money without LoA.

Banks are far too ready to release funds on presentation of death certificate and an identity check. They often don’t want to see the will. They will require and indemnity. If it turns out the have paid the wrong person they will then pay the executor and recover the funds using the identity.