Probate - if a bank makes it too hard to close an account, can I just decide not to take the money?

[Mademoidame]

I am the administrator for my Mum's estate and I don't live in the UK. One of her banks is making me jump through so many hoops trying to close her account that I don't think it's worth it. I have pneumonia and I'm so tired of the death admin. Can I write a letter to submit with my probate application (actually letters of administration as there is no Will) saying I don't want the money from this account?

Write a letter or email of complaint to the bank. Send it to the Complaints department with the subject matter as ‘complaint’ on it. It’ll be handled by a different team in the company, it’ll be prioritised and you’ll hopefully get an immediate resolution. And maybe some compensation cash.
I’ve had to do this a fair bit to get the outcome I need. Companies are targeted internally on reducing the number of complaints and also how quickly they are resolved, so go for it!

How much is in there?

Only if you are also the sole beneficiary and all debts are paid off. If it's effectively your money then yes that's fine. If you are administering with a view to distributing the money between creditors or other beneficiaries then no, it is your duty to follow through on obtaining all assets for distribution.

I could not walk away from this, is there someone who could help you navigate the system?

I recently applied for something on behalf of an elderly parent who got so p'd off with the process they frequently wanted to give up. There were 'lost' documents that had to be reapplied for and resubmitted on more than one occasion, it was really time consuming and felt like a waste of time at many points.

Once the money finally came through it was over £150k.

We had no idea it would be so much.

Just take a break from dealing with it while you are unwell - it’s a marathon and not a sprint and you need to be sure you’re mentally and physically well as a priority

Alternatively, hire a specialist Probate company like Kings Court Trust to do it for you. Hand the whole thing over to them and they will sort it out for you (for a fee, taken from the estate). Outsource it!

Thanks everyone for your help. I have called again today to see if they could be clearer about what they want, and said I will be complaining. They have asked for my proof of address to be translated by an accountant (or doctor, or the type of person who would certify a passport photo) but those are not people who translate professionally. They obviously have no official policy in dealing with documents in other languages.

I have a Probate specialist but they are not solicitors. This bank will only deal with a solicitor. With another bank it was easy, they accepted the death cert and copy of my passport by email and verified my address by writing to me.

The bank said I could walk away but I think you are right @CactusSwoonedEnding- there are no debtors but there is another beneficiary. It is 4k so I don't really want to.

I just took two weeks off from this but I am running out of time.

If you are applying for letters of admin the bank will likely accept that once granted. It sounds like because there is no will the bank are finding it harder to verify you as the beneficiary. Make sure if you do contact the bank ask to speak to their probate/ bereavement teams. I did work in this area for a building society and a lot of customers first were given generic responses as unfortunately not all advice firs different scenarios before getting to the correct teams.

In England, once probate is completed and the bank receives a copy of the probate certificate plus a copy of the Will, they will hand over the money to whomever is the Executor. The account doesn't need to be closed at this moment in time - nothing is going to happen to the money in the count. Unless the bank has absolute verifiable proof of who you are, they won’t do anything.

Thanks @Lovingbooksand @Soontobe60 I have been dealing with the bereavement team who passed me on to the team that verifies identities. They know there is no Will and that I am the Administrator not the Executor. I don't actually want the money right now - the problem is that I need a closing balance to add to my figures for the application for Letters of Administration. There will be a small amount of IHT so it's important to have the right figures. The bank won't tell me the closing balance until they have 'verified' my address.

They have already verified my passport by asking me to upload it along with a selfie of my face. They haven't mentioned that they are concerned about my eligibility as the beneficiary.

This is First Direct by the way. I have already closed an account with the Yorkshire Building Society (who sent the money to my executor account) and they basically verified my address by writing to me.

I hear you on the international aspect. Hang in there and keep plugging away so that you collect all of the estate. Every little helps ... as they say.

Some banks manage fine but others have a long list of (unnecessary) documents. Translating a foreign address is surely pointless since the address would only work in the language of the country? Do they want a translation of your gas bill? Do you have a photo driving license you can photocopy to send with your passport photo to prove it's you?

DH was UK but had accounts and holdings in the US. So everything is in English - no translation required!!
But the level of documentation some places want is crazy. And yet, other places have been happy with an email of a photo of the basics: death cert., probate, will and my passport.

just use the figure from the current balance
yes, there may be a few pounds extra in terms of interest and you can always go back to HMRC and tell them that post probate the bank has declared some additional interest - and either pay IHT on that then, or they may not care...
if that is the only info you have - just get on with it with that info...

I agree with Akkakk. Use the current balance, pay the IHT, get probate and then close the account.

As per PP, we used current balances for probate declaration on the basis that any accrued interest was going to tip the balance in a meaningful way in either direction.
Probate is an absolute PITA, it’s legitimately the last thing you need as a grieving relative and having to get it for 1 account when all other banks etc have accepted other evidence is particularly frustrating.
Grit your teeth and keep going - I’m sorry for your loss

Are you in a English speaking country, we are and had to send copies of a utility bill, tax return, bank statement as proof of address. Can the embassy help, what country do you live in.