Sadmin question

[slet]

My dad died recently and renewed his season ticket for his football club for next season before he died. I have been in touch with the club and provided a copy of the death certificate on which my mum is named as his widow. They initially said this what what was required to process the refund.

They are now asking for his last will and testament to prove she is his beneficiary- is this really necessary? It seems a little onerous to me and everyone else eg the bank etc have just required the death certificate. Can anyone advise me on this and help me compose a response.

Tell them he didn't have a will and under intestacy rules your mum is next of kin. They won't know any different. It does sound like they're being a bit awkward.

Ok thank you

They are being somewhat awkward but the ticket is in his sole name . However, if there is a will you need to provide a copy of this to them as this will name the executor.

Football clubs have different ways of dealing with such issues. Generally speaking the bigger name clubs have bereavement teams who deal with such matters sensitively. Your mother should receive most, if not all, of the money back.

In part it's their mistake for not asking you to supply all the paperwork in one go. That's the awkward part.

When DH died just over a year ago, I discovered that many places have no idea what to do despite the fact that on average 1600 people die in the UK every day!

So the football club (just like any other business) would need to see a death certificate but they do also need to see something which names your father's exector because technically they are refunding the money to his estate and the executor manages that. The executor then passes on the money to the heir(s). Often each spouse is the other's executor and primary heir. If your father died intestate, there should be a document from the court stating that and who are the heirs and the football club would need to see a copy of that.

sorry for your loss.