Question re joint bank accounts and the death of one of the holders

[solowitch]

My Dad has terminal cancer and has asked me if I can find out whether my Mum will be able to use their joint bank accounts once he has passed away without any hassle.

I thought I'd get an answer from MN, so here I am and will check back tonight.

TIA.

My previous partner died 10 years ago, wasn't a problem then, wouldn't know if it's the same now, I just had to take in the death certificate. Hope that helps.

Sorry your Dad is so poorly, hope his last days are as happy as possible for you all. xxx

I would imagine she would take in the death certificate and they would convert it into a sole account in your mum's name. Why doesnt she phone the bank to confirm what she should do?

just take a copy of the death cert into the bank, and account will be ammended accordingly.

When my MIL died five years ago, one of the first things FIL did was go to the bank and withdraw enough money to last him a few weeks. He was a retired banker and had that particular hat on.

This was in the USA, but I would not be surprised if the laws were similar.

My mum had a joint account with my granddad, when he died she just took the death certificate in and it was sorted there and then, no hassle at all for her.

If the accounts are in joint names, everything should be fine with regard to using an account day to day until the name is changed into a single account holder.

If your Dad has things only in his name (ISA, TESSA etc) they have to be 'cashed' in and then transferred to your Mum, which can take a bit of time.

I only know a bit about this as my Mum was in the same situation a while back, so don't take what I've said as 100%, but should all be fine if in joint names.

Hope this helps xxxx

Thank you all for your advice.
I did a bit of research and there was a lot of conflicting advice. One said that the account would be(in effect)frozen just at the time the bereaved spouse needed money most. Dad, like myself does not have much faith or trust in banks in general and hasn't for many, many years. I think I'll try to get him to make an appointment to do it in person. He's just so frail and often confused.
The only ISA he has left is due up/out? very soon thankfully and I just hope he doesn't die before hand. It would be a shame for him and mum to lose out by cashing it in a month or so early.

Thanks for your good wishes HmmSleep. We are trying hard to keep his spirits up.

Seonna, my mum is not good at all with things like that. Typical old fashioned man and wife roles. Fast approaching 46 years of marriage and she wouldn't even know how to pay the gas/electric bills. Good job I do .

Thank you all again.