Small estate query.

horseymom1991

Hello,

Dad died just over 2 weeks ago, and as his previous POA it was agreed in the family for myself to inform his bank and apply to distribute his money etc under the small estate policy they hold.

Called the bank this afternoon for an update, to be told that someone else has also registered his death and applied to be the same person to distribute the money.

They couldn't tell me who, but once I had rang my sister and my mom (dads ex wife) who both confirmed it wasn't them, it only left one person. This person being his son, my estranged brother who had no contact with dad but was concerned he wasn't going to get his share of money!

What happens now?

Will be ringing the bank tomorrow to see what they say, but just wondered if anyone had any advice.

Edited to add, Dad had no will.

Keep_pedalling

Both of you have an equal right to administer the estate, so it is likely that they will freeze his account until you can sort this out with your sibling.

Flugelhorn

I think the bank will be concerned that there is some disagreement over who should administer the estate and hence they will want clarity before they release any money.

about 15 years ago I was involved in an intestate estate and we had to provide a small family tree to indicate who we were and why the immediate beneficiaries where not applying themselves (advanced age )

BikingBud

Estranged brother? His son?

So you have a very limited relationship with your brother but was he an estranged son?

It seems that he knows the bank and sufficient detail to try to get access to the accounts, perhaps the bank might consider that that relationship is more appropriate to administer the estate.

Nothing is ever clear cut in family machinations especially when you are embedded and have a very limited perspective.

Reed_Richards

Because there contention over who should distribute the funds held in the bank, I wonder if the bank will ask for a more formal authority to release those funds? That would not surprise me.

Keep_pedalling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82074152#Comment_82074152

That may very well bell be the case. Whatever the amount in the account they can demand letters of administration be obtained before they will release the funds.