Lloyds TSB

[Samdy Gray]

Letters of Administration are granted by the probate registry. They set out the administrators of the deceased's estate, the same way that a Will would name the executors.

If the amount in the bank is as small as you say then they probably will release it without Letters of Administration, but you will have to satisfy whatever requirements the bank ask of you. In this case; an indemnity from your brother in law - the bank are protecting themselves.

I would suggest you get Letters of Administration arranged asap. Unfortunately it's not just the bank you'll have to deal with, there's the utility companies and the pensions service (assuming she was receiving a state pension). If there's a property involved then you'll need Letters of Administration before you can sell it or do whatever else.

As she was intestate, your brother in law will be entitled to half of the estate by law so he'll need to be involved in the process.

[janaage]

Good for tax avoidance too.

See that's the problem with daily mail campaign against IHT, for the majority IHT was/is a very avoidable tax, in fact a voluntary tax, a bit of planning and other than the very well off would have an IHT liability to pay on death.

Professionally I love IHT and trusts, makes things very interesting, would be good to see the back of the transferable nil rate band, but that won't happen in the near future, I doubt.

[Phil_S]

when my wife died, the Halifax were fine, & released her accounts with just the death certificate. Other banks needed cletters of Admin. Getting this can be speeded up by going to the main probate office rather than a sub office. I got seen a month quicker by going to Oxford.
I understand that funeral expenses are generally released without any letters of probate. The funeral people may well know the answer. Why not get them to send the bill to Lloyds TSB ?

[Family at War]

IHT is the pits. When my parents died I managed to sort everything pretty easily, NWB and First Direct were fine they just wanted the death certificate and copy of probate but this was made easier for me as I had Enduring Power of Attorney. I have heard this is a lot more difficult and far more exspensive now. HMRC stung us for nearly 24K in IHT.

[ronnie21]

Letters of Administration are granted by the probate registry. They set out the administrators of the deceased's estate, the same way that a Will would name the executors.

If the amount in the bank is as small as you say then they probably will release it without Letters of Administration, but you will have to satisfy whatever requirements the bank ask of you. In this case; an indemnity from your brother in law - the bank are protecting themselves.

I would suggest you get Letters of Administration arranged asap. Unfortunately it's not just the bank you'll have to deal with, there's the utility companies and the pensions service (assuming she was receiving a state pension). If there's a property involved then you'll need Letters of Administration before you can sell it or do whatever else.

As she was intestate, your brother in law will be entitled to half of the estate by law so he'll need to be involved in the process.

Thanks for the advice Sam, there is no property involved, we have sorted out the other small debts, it's just the funeral bill that will be finally covered by the current account.  As you mention the brother-in-law he did a runner when we was told he is liable for half the debts!!!!!

[warksred]

I am in a similar situation to Ronnie21, my mother died 3 weeks ago but the Natiowide have been great, they froze all the accounts immediately, were prepared to write a cheque to cover the intial funeral directors invoice on production of the invoice and once I have obtained a solicitors signature they will transfer all my mothers money to my account before I have obtained a grant of probate because the total monies in all accounts is less than £30,000. My meeting at the Nationwide took 20 minutes.
The following site may be helpful regarding probate and letters of administration I am completing all the forms myself, quite straight forward.
http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kb5/hmrc/forms/view.page?record=VKhb2F_R9Q4&formid=3301

[Summerof69]

I think Santander will give Lloyds a run for their money - utter tripe!

Ironically, the old Chief Exec of Santander, is now the Chief Exec of Lloyds TSB.

Coincidence...probably not.

[Bennett]

I am in a similar situation to Ronnie21, my mother died 3 weeks ago but the Natiowide have been great, they froze all the accounts immediately, were prepared to write a cheque to cover the intial funeral directors invoice on production of the invoice and once I have obtained a solicitors signature they will transfer all my mothers money to my account before I have obtained a grant of probate because the total monies in all accounts is less than £30,000. My meeting at the Nationwide took 20 minutes.
The following site may be helpful regarding probate and letters of administration I am completing all the forms myself, quite straight forward.
http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kb5/hmrc/forms/view.page?record=VKhb2F_R9Q4&formid=3301

quite a lot of work was done on that process, it's one of the most impacting and horrible things you'll have to do in a branch so a smoother and less open to cock up system was put in place

[leefer]

I am in a similar situation to Ronnie21, my mother died 3 weeks ago but the Natiowide have been great, they froze all the accounts immediately, were prepared to write a cheque to cover the intial funeral directors invoice on production of the invoice and once I have obtained a solicitors signature they will transfer all my mothers money to my account before I have obtained a grant of probate because the total monies in all accounts is less than £30,000. My meeting at the Nationwide took 20 minutes.
The following site may be helpful regarding probate and letters of administration I am completing all the forms myself, quite straight forward.
http://search2.hmrc.gov.uk/kb5/hmrc/forms/view.page?record=VKhb2F_R9Q4&formid=3301

Sorry about your mum warksred......i hope you get things sorted as soon as possible.

Keep your pecker up.