Sorting finances after my dad's death | What do I write in the letter to all the banks and firms?

Autumn868

Hello and thankyou so much for all your messages.

Just to answer a few questions:

The will had 2 executors named, 1 of them is a person who is more helpful and so we (my mum) is using them as the nominated executor.

However, whilst she has said she is happy to 'help out' by signing off forms which she needs to sign... ect,
she wouldn't be in a position to spend hours & hours contacting every single bank and firm where my dad had money, nor posting things to them herself.

Ultimately my mum is in-charge of deciding how things are done in regards to this matter, and she is adamant that we as a family will do all the 'donkey-work' of sifting through documents, finding the phone number and contacting all the banks + posting certificates... ect
Rather than dumping that work onto the executor to do.
(I personally cannot change her view on that | So instead simply have to try making it work as best as I can by what actions I physically can do).

1. I will contact my sister to findout the death registration reference number, and then use that number to order more certificates from the website.

2. I have seen in this guide (https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/guide-to-probate/#needtoknow-1) that probate application form 'PA1P' + 'IHT form 205' need to be filled in for a 'grant' to be granted to the executor.
But so if I get the executor's email address and details can I submit those forms on their behalf?

3. Once probate has been granted to them, can I then contact all the banks and companies (on the executor's behalf),
findout what forms & documents they need us to send them + the address they need them sent to, and then send those forms to them (again on behalf of the executor)?

sheramber

You can advise the relevant people- they normally have a bereavement department who deal with things.
They will advise  what they need.
My sons dealt with that   but any communication was addressed to the executor and   signed by me ( as executor)
Some wanted  originals of certificates, some accepted emailed copies, some wanted sight of the will, pensions coming to me wanted my birth certificate, and marriage certificate as well.
We had a notebook with a list of each and noted against it  when my son phoned, what they needed and then when it was sent.
Thee executor is legally responsible  for  ensuring things are done correctly so it is not a good idea for them to not be in control of what is happening.

Bobziz

This "Thee executor is legally responsible  for  ensuring things are done correctly so it is not a good idea for them to not be in control of what is happening."

And if there are two executors named in the will then you can't chose which one to use, they will both need to sign any paperwork and will both be legally responsible....unless they formally renounce.

molerat

The will had 2 executors named, 1 of them is a person who is more helpful and so we (my mum) is using them as the nominated executor.

I am afraid it is not up to you / your mother to decide who deals with things.  has the other executor been contacted ? To not be involved the other executor must renounce their right, they cannot be cut out of the loop.

Ultimately my mum is in-charge of deciding how things are done in regards to this matter

Wrong again.  Everything is up to the executors unless they both renounce their duties.  Your mother's responsibility is to assist them by doing as they ask of her.  If she does something wrong she could be held personally liable to the courts  / HMRC etc. Trying to bypass the legal system may end in tears.

xylophone

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6135653/to-process-my-fathers-will-does-my-mum-need-to-post-copies-of-all-financial-documents-to-executor/p1

Your previous posts indicated only one executor but it now appears that there are two.

Your mother cannot choose which executor to use.

It is up to the executors to decide whether or not they wish to accept the role - they may each renounce or they may renounce individually or they may agree "power reserved" etc.

I'd suggest you read
https://death-duties.co.uk/executors-and-administrators/

badger09

xylophone said:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6135653/to-process-my-fathers-will-does-my-mum-need-to-post-copies-of-all-financial-documents-to-executor/p1

Your previous posts indicated only one executor but it now appears that there are two.

Your mother cannot choose which executor to use.

It is up to the executors to decide whether or not they wish to accept the role - they may each renounce or they may renounce individually or they may agree "power reserved" etc.

I'd suggest you read
https://death-duties.co.uk/executors-and-administrators/

2 Executors were mentioned in this thread. So now there are 3 threads - again context is needed.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6132667/clarification-on-what-these-terms-in-my-passed-away-fathers-will-mean/p1

OP - do BOTH of the Executors know they are one of two Executors? Do they both know the size of your late father's estate? If not they need to be informed ASAP so they can decide whether they are going to act, renounce or reserve their powers.

Executors have legal duties and there can be severe personal repercussions for them if they don't carry out those duties correctly. It is totally unacceptable for your mum to decide who gets to know which bit of information.

Savvy_Sue

Robin9 said:

You don't actually need 30-40 copies -  if you send the organisation a certified copy then that will be returned to you  quite quickly. You then send that one to the next on your list.
Be very very methodical. Take your time.

I know this will be more difficult right now, but what we did was TAKE an original death certificate to a branch of each bank where an account was held, and asked them to take a certified copy for their records. They were also happy to confirm how many accounts were held with that bank. 

Note that this was branches local to me, not where the accounts were actually held. 

it not only reduces the number of original certificates needed, but also the risk of an original certificate being lost, and it is usually the fastest way of getting information into the bank's systems. 

Keep_pedalling

Autumn868 said:

Hello and thankyou so much for all your messages.

Just to answer a few questions:

The will had 2 executors named, 1 of them is a person who is more helpful and so we (my mum) is using them as the nominated executor.

However, whilst she has said she is happy to 'help out' by signing off forms which she needs to sign... ect,
she wouldn't be in a position to spend hours & hours contacting every single bank and firm where my dad had money, nor posting things to them herself.

Ultimately my mum is in-charge of deciding how things are done in regards to this matter, and she is adamant that we as a family will do all the 'donkey-work' of sifting through documents, finding the phone number and contacting all the banks + posting certificates... ect
Rather than dumping that work onto the executor to do.
(I personally cannot change her view on that | So instead simply have to try making it work as best as I can by what actions I physically can do).

1. I will contact my sister to findout the death registration reference number, and then use that number to order more certificates from the website.

2. I have seen in this guide (https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/guide-to-probate/#needtoknow-1) that probate application form 'PA1P' + 'IHT form 205' need to be filled in for a 'grant' to be granted to the executor.
But so if I get the executor's email address and details can I submit those forms on their behalf?

3. Once probate has been granted to them, can I then contact all the banks and companies (on the executor's behalf),
findout what forms & documents they need us to send them + the address they need them sent to, and then send those forms to them (again on behalf of the executor)?

Does the executor truly know what they are taking on? Most people would not touch this with a long barge pole.

The size of estate means using IHT400 not 205. Filling it in on behalf of the executor is not on unless they have given you power of attorney to do so, but it would be far better for them to drop out and hand the whole thing over to you and your sister.

AnotherJoe

Autumn868 said:

1. I will contact my sister to findout the death registration reference number, and then use that number to order more certificates from the website.

2. I have seen in this guide (https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/guide-to-probate/#needtoknow-1) that probate application form 'PA1P' + 'IHT form 205' need to be filled in for a 'grant' to be granted to the executor.
But so if I get the executor's email address and details can I submit those forms on their behalf?

3. Once probate has been granted to them, can I then contact all the banks and companies (on the executor's behalf),
findout what forms & documents they need us to send them + the address they need them sent to, and then send those forms to them (again on behalf of the executor)?

1. They are about £10 each ! And many institutions will require probate (depending upon the amount) not a DC so you'd be wasting your time / money .

2. Only if the executor(s) is a complete idiot. They are legally liable and would be mad to just take your word for it.

If you are doing all the work and they arent up to it, for goodness sake get them to renounce and do it yourself with your sister.

3. No !!  You should do this NOW to find out which require DCs and which probate so you dont have to wait for the ones that only need DCs.  And yes at a later point you could pretend to be the executor but the monies will be paid to them so then they will have to pay it to your mum. Why not cut out the intermediate step?.

Its insanity to have these part time executors in the frame. Why are they there? If you mum is so intent on keeping control why isnt it you and your sister becoming executors?

NinjaTune

My father died in late April.  I notified all the financial institutions my late father had money with either by phone or via the Death Notification Service within 3 days of his passing.  They need to freeze the accounts and protect the assets as soon as possible.   

All of them required an original death certificate sent to them.  We ordered 6 at the time of registering his death; according to the Registrar that was the average number families usually ordered.  We could have managed with 5 in the end but I can't imagine only having one and having to wait for its return before forwarding to the next person.  It took around 2 weeks to get them back.

If your executors aren't up to the job then they need to renounce so that someone more capable can take over responsibility.  Sounds like your late father had quite a large and complex portfolio which will take some sorting out.  I'm an executor and my late father's finances were/are relatively straightforward but it hasn't been as easy as I thought it would be.

Edited to add:  The death certificates were £11 each