Paying out money on a Death Certificate.

[Marciau]

My friend asked me to go for a breakfast with her in a local cafe yesterday.
Her mother has just passed away.
She had the death certificate and she will soon be applying for probate.
I said to her that I think she should visit her mothers bank and other financial institutions to stop the accounts and I went with her as she is not familiar with the city.
We were astonished that 4 of the institutions gave her cheques amounting to £ 30,000 in total just against the death certificates and her driving licence.
We are visiting some more today but I was thinking there must be a hgh risk of fraud.

Marcia

[factor-fiction]

^I thought POA ceased when the person died, though, hc4361

[dzug2]

It does, factor30

[LoftyLottie]

It certainly does, but the fact that I had had it before her death obviously made all the difference as hc states.

Perhaps marciau's friend had previous power of attorney, although she would have had to get the relevant form signed by a solicitor before withdrawing the money.

I don't think we should doubt Marcia or her friend, perhaps we haven't had enough detail.

To much inference of doubt sometimes on this site on new users!!

[LoftyLottie]

Oh, and thanks hc!!

[bednobs]

"new" users *Chortlesplutters*

[LoftyLottie]

I wouldn't know Boxtops - I don't keep my beady eyes on users - more to do in life!!

I take questions at face value unless they are obviously fake, and this once isn't.

[bednobs]

well obv that's where you and i disagree (i'm bednobs by the way, not boxtops)

[LoftyLottie]

Sorry Bednobs about changing your name.

[Marciau]

Hi LoftyLottie

My friend was her mother's POA.
Her mother passed away in hospital but there was talk of her being discharged into a nursing home so the POA may have had something to do with it.

Marcia

[Prudie]

While I applaud your open-mind LL it's just the facts that don't add up (irrelevant of new-user discussion). I just cannot believe that this woman has now gone into 5+ banks with just a death certificate and been given cheques there and then for £56k. Maybe there are other factors we don't know. Certainly when my mother died and we took the death certificate to the bank all they did was freeze everything.

[bednobs]

no probs LL. I just didn't want you to be cross with me, but really be cross with boxy because you thought i was her :)

[dotty.]

it's amazing that any bank had the people available to actually sign a cheque then and there! most banks i have used for such a thing,( including after dad died and i wanted a cheque for £5000, ) have winged and whined about needed to order it and then get it approved and double signed.

[dzug2]

Could be that because you previously had PoA the bank 'knew' you and were satisfied with your ID.

[LoftyLottie]

Maybe. But it wasn't my bank. It is obviously common place because the bank had a special form to give to my solicitor. There is a ceiling on what you can draw out and I believe that different banks, building societies have different banks.

Bednobs, I am in cross mode today - blame it on the Arthritis!! ;o(

[LoftyLottie]

Prudie. The amount taken out of the banks can add up. Each bank/building society has a different ceiling and is not aware of what other banks have on account. If Marcia's friend had previously had POA, and the relevant ppw then it is quite possible she could have drawn out what she did.

I must admit that I was quite surprised when I found this out.

[LoftyLottie]

Dotty, I was given a cheque on submitting the relevant solicitor signed paperwork.

[LoftyLottie]

http://www.direct.gov...eparation/DG_10029468

Accessing a deceased person's money, property and other assets

If the deceased person left a lot of money or property in his or her estate, the executor or the administrator may have to apply for a grant of representation to gain access to the money. An application for a grant is made to the Probate Registry.

If the deceased person left a valid will, the Probate Registry will grant probate of the will. If the deceased person left an invalid will or no will at all, the Probate Registry will issue a grant of letters of administration.

Small estates and dealing with immediate debts

If the deceased person left a small amount of money (usually £5,000 or less) in his or her estate, it may not be necessary to obtain a grant of probate or letters of administration to withdraw money from the deceased's account with a bank or financial institution. This can be useful if money is needed from the deceased’s estate to pay for immediate expenses such as the funeral, mortgage or house insurance. Each bank or financial institution has its own rules on what proof it requires and how much money it will release to the person acting in the estate of the deceased.

If the deceased person had several bank accounts, each holding only a small amount of money, but in total exceeding £5,000, then it may still be possible to access the money in those accounts without a grant of probate or letters of administration. Again, each individual bank or financial institution will decide whether or not to release the money to the person acting in the estate of the deceased.

If a bank or financial institution does not require a grant, it may ask the person acting in the estate of the deceased to sign an indemnity. The purpose of this to protect the bank or financial institution if it later turns out that the money has been paid to the wrong person.

[LoftyLottie]

(Last two paragraphs)

[bednobs]

trouble is the op hasn't bothered to do their research before making things up

[LoftyLottie]

Never mind, it at least made us delve into things. I don't mind who posts questions as long as they are polite and the questions are reasonable.