Death admin

Please don’t be astounded or annoyed with us widows who took our eye off the ball finance wise Georgesgran.

We had joint bank accounts so it was very straightforward just to change them into my name only.

I knew all the on line open sesame digits just didn’t need to check. Himself did the admin and bills I did the roast potatoes - we were a team and it worked for us.

Sure I had to access all sorts of utilities/council tax etc but going through it all at my own pace it was all quite doable.

Strangely enough, our two daughters both in their late 40s now have always been the spreadsheet queens in their own households! 😁

Not you FGT but I’ve friends who don’t know who is their energy provider, nor who insures their houses or cars, or even if there’s any life insurance. One acquaintance opened an ISA years ago and has just discovered her DH has built up £100K in it! Future school fees for their (5yr old) grandson apparently!
However, I shouldn’t be sexist as my late friend hid money all over the house and her widower is still finding it 3 years on. He had to ask me to help him renew his motability car, as she’d always done everything for him.
Another had no idea he’d inherit part of his wife’s pension and said he had ‘no idea where all the money was coming from’.

Just makes it all a bit easier if you know, for when that awful day comes?

Some years ago when I was an advice worker, a lady booked an appointment at her son’s suggestion to get help with a Pension Credit claim. She was probably entitled to it but she needed to state her precise financial situation. She brought me a huge bag full of paperwork. I spent the whole appointment just sorting it out- bank statements, tax codes, council tax bills, gas bills, all jumbled up, not even sorted according to year or type. She said her husband took care of all that, but he had recently died. She hadn’t a clue.
Everyone should have some idea of their income and outgoings, even if the day to day work is handled by their other half.

Georgesgran

I found it all quite simple, but I’d handled our home and financial admin for years and was fully aware of banks/pensions, etc. It absolutely astounds and annoys me when widows have no idea what’s where.

No probate, as we had most of the savings in my name. DH was ill for 5 years and although optimistic at first, later had moved his things around to make things easier should (and I add, when) the worst happened.
I probably shouldn’t have sold his vehicle, but I took a death certificate and copy of his will with me and a company viewed and bought it just a few days after he died. It was only going to be a liability.
I also found that if I said ‘bereavement’ or selected that option, I was answered promptly and with compassion. Virgin sent me a cheque on closing his ISAs, but on depositing it in person, I did get a very odd comment.

Kept records, but had no problems.

I too find it hard when women back away from any financial knowledge regarding the life they have with a partner. No doubt there are those who refuse to share the knowledge and are intimidating, but several friends have, over the years, commented 'I leave that all to him'. Two of those dismissive friends have found themselves completely at sea when the inevitable happened. One had never paid a bill, which was remarkable.

Nicola Sturgeon didn’t know what was going on financially with her husband so it can happen to any of us.

SueDonim

Nicola Sturgeon didn’t know what was going on financially with her husband so it can happen to any of us.

I don’t think bringing politics into this thread is acceptable or appropriate. Most, if not all of us posting on here , including you have been significantly bereaved and there’s no politics in that.

Doing this at the moment for my mum.

Take it in stages

One task at a time to save becoming overwhelmed.

Sorry for your loss Best wishes

I agree with all of the above. Having several family members who are IT literate, that was a great help (son-in-law spent one afternoon just getting details changed on Sky,and got me a new cheaper contract at the same time!). Surely dealing with all this paperwork must be one of Dante's circles of hell, I had no such difficulties dealing with my mum's paperwork in 1999 and there were real people on the line, too!