Re : pudds & mathepac
Thanks for your input, so far I've shut down direct debits with cable tv & phone etc. via the relative companies ( who have been surprisingly quick & courteous) but I've made no direct interventions with the bank accounts. While I accept the principle of what your saying the reality is like 1dave123 in that our executor doesn't care.
I'm in just about the same situation as you, but I made the mistake of telling the bank before the pensions had been paid into the account at the end of the month. (I had, of course, told the pension payers and the payments were only the balance due).
Guess what? The bank prevented anything being lodge to the a/c as well as the DD's operating. This is such a nuisance, as the Probate Office tell me they are only dealing with June applications so far (so it could be next June before I get Grant of Probate, even though there are no complications). On the other hand, they forgot to stop the online viewing of the account, so I can see if anything untoward happens to the account. So, there will be a large cheque floating around for at least 6 months.
Yes, get the DD's stopped (and any Standing Orders), but I'd be inclined to not officially tell the bank until the money due in pensions is lodged. As for the Funeral bill, you send that to the bank and they get it paid (but at that stage, you will have told them, and will be dealing with their Executor Relations section won't you?
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P.S. Get the form CA24 competed ASAP and submitted to the Probate Office. It needs to be witnessed by a Commissioner for Oaths (usually a solicitor) but that should only cost €10 per signature witnessed (2 for every executor since you need 2 originals of CA24). You don't pay tax on the amounts on the CA24, the beneficiaries pay CAT on what they inherit, less permitted allowances, so there is no need to delay. there will be a long wait for an appointment to get the Grant of Probate.