What to do

[Deleted User]

Hi all

My wife died suddenly last week and now the funeral is over I have to deal with her will. We reside in Northern Ireland.

Her will names me as sole beneficiary, there is no property involved, only bank accounts, all of which are in joint names.

Do I have to apply for anything like probate or is it a simple matter of just changing any bills/utilities in her name to mine and removing her from the bank accounts?

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

msb1234

If the accounts are all in joint names, probate wont be needed. Contact the bereavement teams at the bank and they will talk you through the process. 
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/probate#:~:text=If%20the%20deceased%20left%20a%20Will%2C%20a%20Grant%20of%20Probate,20%2C000%20in%20any%20one%20account

Brie

Likely the banks will want to see the death certificate in order to take her name off the accounts.  Hopefully you can do this at a local branch otherwise you'll need to post them an original or certified copy (check what they want).

Likewise if there are any utilities etc that are just in her name they'll need to know why they can't talk to her to remove her name or change the account to you.  Again they may need sight of the death certificate.   (I had a credit card co that insisted that my recently deceased FiL present himself at a bank branch in order to shut his account and didn't seem to get that this was not going to be possible!)

Sorry for your loss.  

Newly_retired

If you are able to scan the death certificate, most organisations will accept a scanned copy to save you posting it or having to go in person.

[Deleted User]

Brie said:

Likely the banks will want to see the death certificate in order to take her name off the accounts.  Hopefully you can do this at a local branch otherwise you'll need to post them an original or certified copy (check what they want).

Likewise if there are any utilities etc that are just in her name they'll need to know why they can't talk to her to remove her name or change the account to you.  Again they may need sight of the death certificate.   (I had a credit card co that insisted that my recently deceased FiL present himself at a bank branch in order to shut his account and didn't seem to get that this was not going to be possible!)

Sorry for your loss.  

I'm hoping that's the case. All 3 banks we have have branches in the City centre so fingers crossed one trip will get it all sorted once I get the death certificate.

p00hsticks

Newly_retired said:

If you are able to scan the death certificate, most organisations will accept a scanned copy to save you posting it or having to go in person.

I agree, I've found recently that most were either satisfied with a scan or even just me quoting the number of the death certificate. The only one that has actually required me to send of an original  death certificate by post is a private pension company.  

And I didn't even need to speak to someone from the bank (although I could have done - they do have a dedicated bereavement team). I just completed a form I form on their website to let them know my dad had died and within a week or so they had amended the joint account to be only in my mothers name.

NlghtOwl

To avoid getting overwhelmed, write a list of all the different companies you need to contact and update with a note on progress as these things can take time. Good luck

[Deleted User]

NlghtOwl said:

To avoid getting overwhelmed, write a list of all the different companies you need to contact and update with a note on progress as these things can take time. Good luck

So far everyone has been especially helpful. Banks notified, house tenancy changed, benefits stopped (and a Bereavement Support Payment claim started - an unexpected bonus), gas and electric changed into my name. Only the Credit Union left to deal with on Friday then I think I'm sorted.