Bankrupt beneficiaries want me to commit possible fraud

Mojisola

Get advice from a solicitor - the cost will come out of the estate funds. 
It may be worth getting the solicitor to write to the beneficiary, setting out the legal position.

MoneySeeker1

Is it legally possible to pay the money to the people they owe the money to?

MoneySeeker1

Definitely - whatever you do - do NOT do anything you personally disagree with on this one. They are not entitled to put your finances or your reputation at risk and that says a lot about them if they don't care about potential impact on you.

Definitely agree with seeing a solicitor on this and saying:
1. I intend to protect myself from any possible comeback - by anyone.
2. Money to cover any dispute they cause on this will come from the estate and not me (and that includes todays visit)
3. I'd personally be telling the solicitor absolutely everything I know/suspect about their own financial set-up.

Keep_pedalling

MoneySeeker1 said:

Is it legally possible to pay the money to the people they owe the money to?

No, that would be foolish and could cost you dearly. 

luvchocolate

If they are discharged from bankruptcy the debts are written off...if the money has to go to anyone it would be the official receiver. 
In the Gazette it gives the office who dealt with the bankruptcy. 
Definitely leave this to the experts..contact solicitors 

bradders1983

OP....go to the London Gazette website and do a text search in the following format....

SMITH "21/03/1977"

...this should bring up any bankrupcy announcements and you can find out how long ago they were. If you can find that out people on here may be able to tell you if they are entitled to the money or not.

Obviously if its a common surname you may have to include a first name in the search also.

MoneySeeker1

That's a good idea re looking up the "London Gazette".

On a totally different level I'd certainly (verbally of course) tell these pushy people that, if they didn't stop hassling me, I'd soon tell everyone I knew/they knew/etc/etc (up to and including the local pubs cat) exactly what they were doing - and why........

They might not be too keen on the fact that the local grapevine would soon send word back to the people they owed money to that they'd have some soon. Might hold them in check if they thought you wouldn't keep quiet about what they're doing...

bradders1983

Bankrupt-shaming people isn't really very classy, tbh. Just ignore them and contact a solicitor once you have 100% confirmed they did once declare bankruptcy. Not an expert on the rules but I suspect after a certain number of years the Official Receiver would have no claim.

TBagpuss

I agree with the previous advice to speak to a solicitor. As Executor, you are entitled to obtain legal or other professional advice about administering the estate, and the costs come out of the estate, the same way as paying the professional charges of (say) an estate agent to sell the deceased'd home would.
Explain to the solicitor that the beneficiaries have asked that you pay the money to their spouse but that you believe that they are or may be bankrupt / in an IVA , and ask what steps you need to  take to ensure that the money is paid to the correct person or individual. 
You can ask them to make the checks and to liaise with the trustee in bankruptcy, if you wish, and having them writ to beneficiary may well stop the harassment as well

xylophone

One is threatening action for my delay of a week!

Legal action via a solicitor? His solicitor would have to advise him as to the law relating to inheritance and bankruptcy?

Unless  "action"  means "sending the boys round".......eek!