Pensions and private records

[E3134]

Trying to help my sister in law, her husband has died.

He was very private about financial records, she knows that he had some pension income in addition to the State pension, she doesn't know who was paying him and what bank accounts they were paying into.

To make things worse, she has had a breakdown, that should probably be better described as a shutdown.

I don't know but i think that there is an obligation on her to have the pension payments stopped but with an almost complete absence of paperwork from insurance companies and I think that there have been mergers and acquisitions over the years she, when she feels able, will have a hard time.

Does anyone know, are banks, pensions companies and the like informed through the NI number when you register a death?

This is also a factor for me, separated financially from my wife and I have no idea of her investments, banking and so on, and she maintains 'Nothing to do with you'. She does everything on her mobile and no paper work again.

Edited by E3134 on Saturday 30th March 11:28

[craig1912]

https://www.deathnotificationservice.co.uk/

This works but not all organisations are registered with them. The ones that are

https://www.deathnotificationservice.co.uk/whoCanI...

For HMGov stuff

https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you...

[E3134]

Thank you Craig, that looks ideal.

[craig1912]

These may also work although they are designed to find “lost” pensions prior to payment.

https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details

https://www.pensiontracingservice.com/

[Rough101]

‘Tell us once’will sort all government related stuff and stop the pension, but will also immediately trigger a demand for repayment from the date of death.

Is there a will and is the SIL the executor?

She can resign as executor and appoint you through her solicitor which will allow you to take control of banks etc., thought if the accounts are substantial, you’ll need probate to access them.

[springfan62]

I suspect you will have to find out by contacting the deceased's bank and register as an executor , they should then let you have sight of recent transactions to see where income is coming from. The bank will also stop all activity on the account so there can be no future credits.

[E3134]

Thank you Rough, I will talk it through with her.

Lesson for us all, talk about finances and what is involved, especially if nothing is on paper.

[YouWhat]

E3134 said:

This is also a factor for me, separated financially from my wife and I have no idea of her investments, banking and so on, and she maintains 'Nothing to do with you'. She does everything on her mobile and no paper work again.

Edited by E3134 on Saturday 30th March 11:28

Marriage is all about trust. So why wouldn’t you share your financial information with your spouse. After all once your married everything is shared 50/50?

[E3134]

YouWhat said:

E3134 said:

This is also a factor for me, separated financially from my wife and I have no idea of her investments, banking and so on, and she maintains 'Nothing to do with you'. She does everything on her mobile and no paper work again.

Edited by E3134 on Saturday 30th March 11:28

Marriage is all about trust. So why wouldn’t you share your financial information with your spouse. After all once your married everything is shared 50/50?

I am sure that you are right in principle and yes, the doctrine works 50/50 on divorce but Mrs 3134 works on the basis of what is yours is mine and what is mine is mine.