Father died with no Will

Deborah_51

Hello all,
My Father died suddenly 4 weeks ago. As there had to be a PM, & with obvious delays getting the death certificate, they have only just come in.  I did immediately notify DWP with regards to his attendance allowance and pension, so that side is sorted.  
My parents bought a Park Home in 2018 after selling their house.  It was in both my parents names. I contacted the Park Home manager to see if their was anything that needed to be done, but they said no, as Mum was a joint owner.
Private pensions have been a challenge and I'm getting nowhere.
As I said, he didn't leave a Will, but I am correct to assume that everything automatically reverts to my mother? The have a joint account with little in it, and about £18k in a savings account which I have discovered was in Dad's name only.  I haven't told the bank yet as I am concerned they will freeze the savings account, until mum can come in to sign the paperwork (currently 8 weeks left of isolation) Her income is restricted to a small pension, so the savings need to be accessed weekly.
I am the appointee, and have been dealing with as much stuff as I could (mum just not capable) 
What is my best course of action?

Many thanks

Brynsam

Given the size of the estate, it sounds as if everything will pass to your mum under the rules of intestacy.

Get yourself some free expert help to sort out the private pensions: https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/contacting-us
It should be pretty straightforward if you are able to locate any of the paperwork - try and find that before contacting TPAS, because it may tell you what you need to do next. If it doesn't, TPAS will still need to know relevant details  - was he drawing a pension and so forth.

Savvy_Sue

You say you are the appointee - do you mean you have power of attorney for your mother? Because any power you had over your dad's affairs has ended with his death. 

If you do have Power of Attorney, you could act on your mother's behalf to get the savings transferred into her name. Not telling the bank is inadvisable: would you be able to lend your mother any money to tider her over? 

xylophone

The joint account will simply become a sole account - the bank will remove your father's name when formally advised of the death by  you/your mother.

If the savings account is in your father's sole name, then neither you nor your mother may legally access it.

It is possible that the amount is below the bank's limit for requiring probate/letters of administration.
You (or your mother) should contact the bank's bereavement team for advice - it may be possible to deal with matters by post.

With regard to the pension (s), you need to establish where and what they are and to contact the administrator (s) for guidance as to how to proceed.

elsien

If you are an appointee for your mum, that is just forbenefits and won't allow you to manage larger sums on mum's behalf. Does she have capacity to grant a power of attorney as if not you may need to look at a deputyship further down the line.
In the meantime, look at this:
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/sorting-out-the-estate-when-there-isnt-a-will