Long, complicated, and confusing. Mother died....

[postage stamp]

and had bank accounts that I did not know about. I was going through a box of her things looking for some paperwork and instead of finding what I was hoping to find I found 2 bank accounts with almost $4000.00 in them and a check that's 2 years old for over $2000.00.

I'm her only heir, but I live in a different state from these banks, and had I known about them when I was in Illinois taking care of her arrangements I'd have taken care of the accounts and such then.

I don't really care about getting the money, don't get me wrong I won't sneeze at $6000.00, but I'm really more concerned with just closing the accounts and having this done with. It's taken a long time and I know that I'll never be "over" the loss of my mom, but every time it seems to get better one more thing (like this) pops us and drags me back to the badness.

I've called the banks and I get call centers who send me to supervisors, who tell me to call the bank branches, who tell me to call customer service. I'm just about at my wits end and I'd really like for this to just be over with. Should I just IGNORE the accounts or should I pursue it until the accounts are closed (whether I get the money or not.)

 

[dakcp2001]

Pursue it until the accounts are closed and you get the money. If the money makes you feel uncomfortable or sad you can always donate it to one of your mothers favorite charities or something like that. No need for her hard earned money to go to someone else or just sit there forever. Buy yourself something. Put it in savings. Just dont let it go to the unclaimed money list to sit forever.

Is there an estate attorney or someone that can help you? There may be more things out there. Maybe you should run a credit report on your moms ss number and see what is out there just to be sure.

 

[Green Tea]

The bank won't have to honor the $2000 check; it is really old.

 

[Imzadi]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Take a deep breath. Take a few. Walk away from this for a while, until you can handle it better emotionally. You've just been punched in the gut. . . again. The accounts aren't going anywhere.

When you are ready to deal with it, tomorrow or next week, you have paperwork that states you are the executor or whatever, that you you can mail in along with a death certificate, and get someone at that actual branch to call or write you back to get it all authenticated and the accounts properly closed and the monies turned over to you.

Depending on who issued the check, they may be able to write up a new one. If she was properly owed the money, they may have enough integrity to honor the payment.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As far as the $2,000 check is concerned, contact the issuer. They will have a record that it is stale-dated and should replace it. You may need to send a copy of the Death Certificate and other paperwork showing that you are entitled to the money.

And as far as the banks, I would suggest that you go to their web sites (Google is your friend) and call the corporate headquarters on their direct line. Ask for the Bank President by name (his name should be in the site in the Investor's area. You will probably not get the President, but will get a Secretary or Special Assistant who will be able to cut through the bureaucracy and help you.

 

[agnes!]

A couple of thoughts...

I am sorry for your loss.
*How long has it been since your mother passed away? Check and see what the statutes are concerning how long an estate can take to be settled. Consider getting a phone consult (usually no charge for the first conversation) from an estate attorney from the city/county/state where your mother lived and/or where her banks were.
*Find the nearest bank branch to you of your mother's accounts. Go there. Talk to a live person, even call before you go and make an appointment with the branch manager.
*Regardless of when the $2000 check was written, even if the check wasn't cashed by your mother, my understanding is that it is still a debt that this entity owed our mother and that if it is a business check, I know that if the state does an audit of the business that this check will be counted as an outstanding debt and the business must attempt to pay the money owed again.

I'm so sorry. I got a dunning letter for my mother in law's estate THREE years after she had died (for an ambulance transfer for a hospital visit that the insurance company and the ambulance company was kicking back and forth) and that was pretty awful.

agnes!

 

[postage stamp]

Well I did some poking around and since it's a cashier's check from her bank they have to honor it, no matter how old it is. That's the good news. But Imzadi, I think you are right. I'm just not ready do deal with this right now. I feel like I've been blindsided. I need cheesecake and sangria, and a few days to process it. It's been two years since she died and it still feeling like yesterday. Things like this keep coming up every once in a while and it doesn't seem fair. I want to just be left with my memories of her life, not the drudgery of dealing with her death.

 

[krcit]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Take a deep breath. Take a few. Walk away from this for a while, until you can handle it better emotionally. You've just been punched in the gut. . . again. The accounts aren't going anywhere.

When you are ready to deal with it, tomorrow or next week, you have paperwork that states you are the executor or whatever, that you you can mail in along with a death certificate, and get someone at that actual branch to call or write you back to get it all authenticated and the accounts properly closed and the monies turned over to you.

Depending on who issued the check, they may be able to write up a new one. If she was properly owed the money, they may have enough integrity to honor the payment.

Great advice. I'm so sorry about your mom

 

[Luv Bunnies]

As far as the $2,000 check is concerned, contact the issuer. They will have a record that it is stale-dated and should replace it. You may need to send a copy of the Death Certificate and other paperwork showing that you are entitled to the money.

And as far as the banks, I would suggest that you go to their web sites (Google is your friend) and call the corporate headquarters on their direct line. Ask for the Bank President by name (his name should be in the site in the Investor's area. You will probably not get the President, but will get a Secretary or Special Assistant who will be able to cut through the bureaucracy and help you.

Rather than calling the bank president, I would keep pursuing this at the operations level. I would send a packet including a letter that explains the problem and give the account number, a copy of the paperwork that names you as executor, and the death certificate. Call the operations department first and find out who you should address the letter to (i.e. an operations manager). That way it's more likely to get to someone who can help you.

I spent three years working as the executive assistant to a bank president. I can tell you from experience that your call or letter would be routed directly to an operations manager. The bank president knows very little about the day-to-day management of individual accounts, as does his assistant.

 

[disneyquestions]

The bank won't have to honor the $2000 check; it is really old.

Checks have exp. dates???

Sorry for your loss. If it were me, I'd do my best to get all the money that is hers (now yours) and do something with it, that I know she would have loved to do. I'd book a Disney vacation, or donate it to a charity that I know would mean a lot to her. Good luck.

 

[AristocatFan]

Sorry for your loss.
I totally understand. I went through this after my mom died. She would not disclose anything about her financials, she always worried about money like she didn't have any. So it was a big shock after she died to find out she had lots of it! I had to personally visit every bank in our city with a letter stating I was the executor of her estate and they closed the account and handed my a check. She had large amounts in every bank! I looked at the money as being a part of her. What would she have wanted you to do? Just let it sit? Or would she have wanted you to claim it and do something for yourself?

 

[postage stamp]

I think part of it too is I'm remembering how I reacted when her insurance check came. I didn't think I would, but I freaked out. I just wanted them to keep the money and give me my mom back. I mean of course I know that's not possible, but I wanted it all the same. I'm afraid I'll fell the same way this time.

 

[Leajess99]

I think part of it too is I'm remembering how I reacted when her insurance check came. I didn't think I would, but I freaked out. I just wanted them to keep the money and give me my mom back. I mean of course I know that's not possible, but I wanted it all the same. I'm afraid I'll fell the same way this time.

I am so sorry you have to go through this.

Honestly, I would take the money and do something your mom liked to do and know that she is watching you.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Rather than calling the bank president, I would keep pursuing this at the operations level. I would send a packet including a letter that explains the problem and give the account number, a copy of the paperwork that names you as executor, and the death certificate. Call the operations department first and find out who you should address the letter to (i.e. an operations manager). That way it's more likely to get to someone who can help you.

I spent three years working as the executive assistant to a bank president. I can tell you from experience that your call or letter would be routed directly to an operations manager. The bank president knows very little about the day-to-day management of individual accounts, as does his assistant.

I agree that you will be referred to the Operations level, but the referral will be from the top down and not from the bottom up. When a manager gets involved they will be aware that if it is not handled in a satisfactory manner future complaints will go to their boss. If it a normal referral from the bottom up you may not get the same level of cooperation.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think you should take the money and do something with it that your Mom would have liked...whether that be something for yourself (which I am sure your Mom would like!) or something for someone else or a charitable contribution or whatever.

May I respectfully suggest that having such a visceral reaction to this 2 years after your Mom died may indicate that you could use a little professional help in dealing with her death?

 

[tlbwriter]

Checks have exp. dates???

Yes. Even if they don't have a printed expiration date (which many non-personal checks do), a bank can and will refuse to honor a check that is past a certain age.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Under the Uniform Commercial Code a check becomes stale-dated six months from date of issue and the issuing bank is no longer required to honor it.