Help with closing bank account with no will

[Namechange200121]

Hi all, I wonder if someone can help. My partner passed away recently – he didn’t have a Will

we lived together (house is in my name only so that doesn’t factor) and we have a child together (who is under 18). We were not married so I am not classed as next of kin, although I am named on the death certificate, both of us named on our child’s birth certificate and proof of same address. I also arranged the funeral. From what I can gather under the rules of intestacy that next of kin would be children – he did have other children, but only one is over 18 –they weren’t in contact and hadn’t been for a number of years.

Assuming the child that is over 18 would be able to close down his bank account (there are no pensions, shares etc. it’s literally just a small amount in a bank account – but slightly over £5k (after final funeral bill was paid) so they’re asking either for a letter of administration from me or for next of kin to close it down – but how do I go about doing this if they were not in contact? Can I apply to be administrator on behalf of just one child (ours) who is under 18?

If I can get in contact with the other children am I best to ask the over 18 to just go into branch with his death certificate and try and close it down that way or to ask them to authorise for me to be Administrator as I’ve been dealing with everything else? Assume it gets split equally between the children?

Seems like such a lot of aggravation for such a small amount of money – so also assume it’s not worth going through a solicitor and/or doing it myself with IHT205(2011) and PA1A probate forms?

Thanks in advance

Have you asked the bank what you providing a letter of administration involves? If it is possible, then I would just do it.
If there has been no contact with his other children over many years then I wouldn't start chasing after them now.
If you're uncomfortable about receiving the money, stick it in an account for your child when they are 18, then it will still be available in the unlikely event his other family will come chasing.

Letters of administration is the equivalent to probate for people who die intestate. His closest living relative can apply. If you were not married or in a civil partnership, that will be his oldest child. If his oldest child doesn't want to do it, he can complete form PA12 which will allow you to apply for letters of administration and administer the estate.

Great thank you!