Evidence of source of funds - help!

[PonyPatter44]

I divorced last year after 6 years of separation, and the FMH was sold. The equity in the house was split between my exH and me, obviously. The completion monies from the house were paid by the solicitor into our original joint account, we both transferred our shares into our respective personal accounts and then closed the joint account.

I am now buying a house, and planning to use the equity money as my deposit. My solicitor says I have to have evidence of how I came by the money, and need the statement from the old closed joint account, showing the money being transferred by the solicitor and then paid out to me. I dont have this statement (and with hindsight I was so stupid not to get it). What on earth can I do?

I'm buying a new build, its expected to be ready in mid-April and now I'm really worried that i might not be able to complete. Can anyone suggest anything?

Can you go back to your old bank where the joint account was?

Sorry posted too soon. You should be able to go back to the bank - ideally you are still a customer, but even if you aren't - and ask them for these records. You might have to send in proof of ID or go into a branch with your ID docs and a recent utility bill.

Call the bank that you held the account with, they should be able to access a copy for you for up to 5 years after the account was closed.

I tried - I'm not a customer so they won't talk to me!

If you know the old account number you should be able to get a statement. Alternately the solicitor should be able to confirm the source

Which bank is it?

Can't the solicitor from the sale confirm that the funds came from the sale and were transferred to your bank account?

Can you do a SAR (subject access requests)? They must store your records for legal reasons presumably so must be able to send the information, in which case I think they'd have to send it under a SAR. It might be buried under loads of other info though so you could always try please send me this or I will submit a SAR instead? Not certain though, there may be other ideas to try first!

In the UK your former bank should hold your records for a number of years after the end of the relationship you have with them (ie, when you're no longer a customer) I can't remember the exact figure but it's definitely years not months. I'd try calling them and speaking with an actual person to explain the situation. You shouldn't have to take it so far, but non- or ex-customers can make complaints just like existing ones so a complaint and/or a DSAR could be another route to get the info.

Which bank is it? If they have a branch then go into the branch with ID.
If it’s online then use Twitter to contact them stating you called and the call handler said they cannot help you.

Do you have the old solicitors completion statement (you are likely to require this too). This may have been emailed to you. If not the old solicitor will be able to send it to you.

Thank you all. Its Lloyds, so I probably can go in. I have the completion statement from the solicitor who handled the sale,showing the money was paid into the joint,but I don't have that last week's worth of statements from the joint account, showing the money coming in from the solicitor and going out to my joint account.

It would help if Lloyd's had a live chat on their website, or a contact email address, or a phone number that actually gets answered.

The bank will surely have your statement for 6 years after closing your account even if you’re not a customer. Just go into the branch and ask them to print all information they have on that account, statements, etc.