Executor of will - how to sign cheques

[Sailingby]

My aunt is executor of her recently deceased brother’s will.
She has a cheque book in the name of “Miss Name A, executor of Mr Name B” and has issued cheques to beneficiaries : signing them (only) “Name A”
The banks have refused to clear the cheques as the are not signed correctly, but have not explained why they aren’t signed correctly.
Her solicitor doesn’t know why.

Does anyone know what the signature needs to be?
Does she need to add “executor of Mr Name B” after her own name?

She has written to the bank to ask why, they’re only dealing with emergency questions by phone.

She’s very upset about this - think all her worries at this time are focussed on it - so any advice would be hugely appreciated.

I hope they are not expecting Name B to sign because that would be ludicrous. Has her signature changed since the paperwork was done at the bank? Is she the only executor?

Her signature hasn’t changed at all, and yes she’s the only executor.

Has Probate gone through and all the financial side of things finalised now.

Yes, probate has gone through, and the solicitor has confirmed that the cheques can be issued as per the Will.

I’m fairly certain the issue is the way in which the cheques have been signed... that was what the bank said - but provided no further information - and in the current climate my aunt is unable to find out why - she can’t go into a bank, bank are only dealing with emergencies on the phone..

She needs to write them a letter asking for an explanation.

Who set up the account? Is it possible there is another signatory on it eg the solicitor?

Thanks - she has written a letter to the bank asking for the reason - but she thinks that in the current environment it’ll be a while before she hears back.
She’s very upset about it, not sleeping as a result, a vulnerable elderly person living alone - hence me hoping the wisdom of people on mumsnet would help me resolve the issue.

She’s the only signatory required - account is in her name (as executor of her brothers will) as per my original post. I’ve seen the cheques - and can confirm that.

Which bank? (Only asking as I am the executor to my dad's will and have been unable to get any bank I bank with to open an executors account. From the responses from staff last year I thought I was badly out of date with how things were done. )

Spongedog - the account is with NatWest.

It sounds to me like someone at the bank has fouled up. Possibly they think there are multiple executors and all need to sign.

As an executor of a similar account I only signed my name to issue cheques.

Not sure who else would need to sign given that it was for my dead mother.

As pp said it sounds like someone has messed up at the bank.

Thanks prh47bridge and WobblyAllOver, that’s really helpful.
5 separate cheques (payable to different people) have been refused - I’ll gently check the facts with my aunt. Can’t believe the bank have made a mistake 🙁

I have had 2 executors accounts with Natwest and only ever signed my name on cheques for the beneficiaries. I was the sole executor on both occasions.
Natwest also paid out on a cheque from my sole account signed by DH (by accident, he thought it was the joint account cheque book).

It is more than likely that the bank have messed up as previous posters say. Many banks are pretty useless at dealing with executor activities, surprisingly given that they must have to deal with them an awful lot.

Thanks Melfish - good to have 3 lots of consistent advice. Should give her confidence that it’s not her fault.

The best way forward might be to get the solicitor to write to the bank explaining how they are upsetting said elderly person and requiring both an explanation and compensation.

Why not just do BACS transfers?