Can anyone help?

[TaniaY]

My auntie passed away 29th June. The executors of her will are Knight Polson, they went into administration in Dec 2022, I have been trying to sort out finances to pay the beneficiaries, my uncle and her best friend. I’m not close enough relative to sort (I have been told by Lloyds bank) although I was ok to sort out the funeral and notify everyone of the death. Both beneficiaries are too ill to sort everything out! There is no property, just cash! I went to CAB who said my other uncle could sort for me, and would not need letter of administration as under a certain amount, but Lloyds Bank have said we do need one!! I now have to apply for original will through SRA. Does anyone know if my uncle does need one or not, there’s around £16,000 in her bank??

[Pezza54]

Hi
Welcome to LB

I understand why Lloyds are refusing to release funds
Lloyds have raised their limit to £50k to release deceased's funds without grant of probate or letters of administration
However, that is to the named executor in a will who presents ID (or solicitor executor), the will and a copy of the death certificate.
If the bank was to release deceased's funds to you, and you were to disappear with the money they would have no recourse to retrieve it.
You stated you sorted the funeral, did you pay for it?

You should ask the SRA if another solicitor was appointed to take over Knight Polson's business. If a solicitor was appointed your aunt should have received a letter from the new solicitor executor

It sounds that you may have to apply for probate yourself, if there is a replacement solicitor and you ask them to step down. This would involve your own time, filling forms etc. You would save estate money but you are not a beneficiary, so you would be doing it out of the kindness of your heart