Probate Query

SIRENS

Hi, my stepfather died on Monday and I am trying work out what to do next, we are waiting on the death certificate but I think I may need to apply for probate, from what I can gather he has around 60k in his current account, no savings in his sole name and no will. My mum and he always kept their finances separate despite being together for over 40 years. I don't think he had any life insurance so it would only be his savings. I believe it's if the amount is over 50k?
i remember having to apply for letters of administration when my husband died but that was solely because of his life policy (it was a bit of a blur at the time) 
thanks so much

Flugelhorn

I suspect that at 60k you will have to get probate, totally depends on the bank limit so would need to ask  them

SIRENS

Thank you, once I have the death certificate I will go down and find out for certain, I think he was with the Nationwide, but will double check with my mum 

RAS

It depends whether he has £60k in one account, which may require administration if it's over that bank's release amount, or the £60k is spread over several accounts, all of which permit release without administration. It's probably going to be your mum who's got to sign and provide evidence of the relationship, and to apply for administration if needed.

poppystar

SIRENS said:

Thank you, once I have the death certificate I will go down and find out for certain, I think he was with the Nationwide, but will double check with my mum 

Much better to contact the bank’s bereavement department than to go into a branch because it is a specialist area and they will be able to give you a definite answer. There should be a number for them on the Nationwide website ‘contact us’ page.

kipsterno1

As @poppystar said contact dedicated bereavement departments for any companies you need to deal with. If their finances were separate it may be useful to have 13 months of bank statements, that would allow you to identify if anything like life insurance was being paid or any services that need cancelling/ transferring.

lisyloo

Nationwide probate limit is £50k
Bereavement step 1 | Nationwide

Apply for probate is not difficult. I would recommend DIY and don't use a solicitor - you'll have to provide all the info and they will just slow things down. It's not necessary and your case is simple.

If he died before retirement age then did he have any pension funds?
If after did he have any private pensions that might have benefits for his wife?

SIRENS

Thank you all, he was receiving state pension as he had just turned 70 this year, I found an old statement from 2021 that showed a small private pension that my mums knows nothing about so I'll give the bank a call, I believe all the money was in his current account, I will have to request info from the bank, as the problem is all his statements are online and we can't access them to check the exact balance as well as the bills he paid as I will need to switch them to my mums name and account. My mums not very good with paperwork so I will complete it all for her and she can just sign it. Everything should go to my mum as I was his stepdaughter and he had no children of his own. I did do letters of administration for myself when my husband died a couple of years ago so should be fine to do direct on the gov site just need to wait to find the out the right balance.
thanks everyone so much for all your help

ProbateNewbie

@SIRENS

You say in your OP that he has no savings in his sole name? Are the savings in a joint a/c then? If they are, then will probate still be needed?

SIRENS

No as far as I can see he had no savings at all, all his money was in his sole named current account, he had his own current account and my mum has hers, they have no joint accounts.