What to do if my mother passed away last month and the bank told me I would have to get an attorney to closer her account?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What to do if my mother passed away last month and the bank told me I would have to get an attorney to closer her account?
I have since been told to contact the court house. I am her eldest son but she did not leave me or anyone for that matter as her POD (if I have the acronym right?). I do have her death certificate.
Asked on April 26, 2012 under Estate Planning, Washington
Answers:
Kenneth Berger / Kenneth A. Berger, Attorney at Law
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
I am sorry to hear of your loss.
It sounds like you will need to file a "probate" which is a lawsuit that allows the personal representative, to sign on the account, and withdraw the money, for the purpose of making a distribution to beneficiaries after the deceased' creditors are paid.
If the account was a POD, or payable on death account then the bank would have likely given you some forms to fill out and then you would get the money.
Probates can be complicated, so I suggest you contact an attorney to do the probate.
As always, my comments are only applicable to Washington State and are not a substitute for getting competent, local, and more comprehensive, legal help.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.