Inheritance cash query

[DickyRobbo44]

Hi all, looking for some advice as I can't find a straight answer.

 

My dad recently past.

I'am the only next of kin.

I haven't began probate or truly understand what it is.

 

What I do know is my dad has a safe in which he has cash of approxamatly £50,000.

 

My question is,

should i just be able to deposit this into my bank account?

Do I need to declare it in the probate process and wait till they say I can?

 

I'm worried about leaving that amount in an empty flat and want to get it safe in the bank.

I obviously want to make sure I'm legally doing it though so worried they may say it's not my money technically yet. 

[honeybee13]

Hi.

 

I've moved your thread to the general legal forum for further advice.

 

Please don't do anything in a hurry and let people advise you first. I think having £50k in cash is going to be tricky given the money-laundering checks that are carried out.

 

See what other people think but I wouldn't put the money into my own account. Did your father have a bank account with someone who could start an executor's account?

 

HB

[honeybee13]

There's advice here from the CAB on dealing with probate. You can go and talk to them if you can get an appointment with someone who's had training on probate.

 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/death-and-wills/dealing-with-the-financial-affairs-of-someone-who-has-died/

 

And there's a site that will advise you by phone for free and also has a searchable database.

 

https://www.bereavementadvice.org/

 

HB

[DickyRobbo44]

Brill I will ring the bereavement advice number and see what they say.

Looking at his estate (no property) I don't need to apply to be an administrator or require probate according to the citizens advice guidelines. 

[Ethel Street]

Did he leave a will? Who is appointed as Executor? 

 

Is the cash in the safe his only asset? Nothing else at ? No credit cards? No debts?

 

And the obvious question, one your bank will certainly ask, where did all this cash come from?

[DickyRobbo44]

He has a small credit card debt,

a current account etc,

a car,

possessions etc

but no property. 

 

I've been through all his documents, found a life insurance plan he mentioned but cannot find a will.

Is there anyone I can contact to find out? 

 

The money I'm sure would have been from a death Inn service payment for his wife, my step mum who died last year. Why he drew it out in cash I don't know, he's a bit old fashioned like that. 

 

One question I have,

I'm still waiting to hear from the coroner for the cause of death.

 

He was driving at the time,

he was driving on the motorway,

veered and hit the barrier at low speed.

 

Should I contact his car insurance on his behalf.

Can a claim be made?

Its the least of my worries but its more that I will need to get it collected from the police at some point.