Jump to content

What would be the burden on my wife if I died here?!?


Recommended Posts

Posted

Unless youhave made a will or clearly specified who your bankaccount ahould go to.it may be very difficult foryour wife to get access ro your money after your death.

by all means, spend some money for a Thai lawyer to stipulate who gets what after your death and file it legally.

  • Replies 81
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted

You should refer the banking portion of your post to the "Ask the lawyer" section. It has been posted before. The answer is your wife does not get "Automatic" access to the money in a joint account. It has to go to court. Even with a will, it goes through "Probate" Giving some to your Thai wife and some to your other family where ever that is, will probably make probate very complicated. Why don't you just put the money you want your wife to have in a bank account in just her name? Problem solved.

Posted

You should refer the banking portion of your post to the "Ask the lawyer" section. It has been posted before. The answer is your wife does not get "Automatic" access to the money in a joint account. It has to go to court. Even with a will, it goes through "Probate" Giving some to your Thai wife and some to your other family where ever that is, will probably make probate very complicated. Why don't you just put the money you want your wife to have in a bank account in just her name? Problem solved.

You mean like this 'Ask the Lawyer' question?

  • photo-thumb-204777.jpg?_r=1395290169
  • Sponsors
  • bullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.png
  • 2,201 posts

Posted 2015-06-09 14:25:29

The bank account will not close, but yo will still have to follow the rules put in place when it was open. For example if you both have to sign for release of funds then you will not be able to withdraw from that account. If this is the case then you will need to settle it along with the estate.

If only one signature is required then the surviving account holder can draw from that account in most cases.

Posted

If you trust your wife enough then go to your bank with her ( and passport and her ID card) and change your bank accounts to be in joint names. I suspect that if they are in your name only the bank would refuse your wife access to the money without some sort of court order which might be delayed if you have not made a will.

It is possible the bank will will insist on opening a new account in joint names rather than change your account.but it won't hurt to ask.

It would be better for you to make two wills. One for the disposal of your goods here, and the the other one for the disposal of your goods in your home country.

I have written a folder out for my wife with all details in it.

eg

Full name, place/date of birth, parents names place of birth, my National insurance number (I'm English), previous addresses in England. family and friends contact names,addresses, email and phone numbers, pension company adress, UK bank account details, British Embassy details etc. Your widow (!) will need to take your arrival card and copy of passport to immigration. The hospital might not release your body without a letter from your embassy and the temple might not cremate you without such letter. She will need multiple copies of your death certificate. And official translations for your home country's officials. Where can she get the certificate translated locally? Find out and put it in the folder. There are so many details, I am constantly updating the folder for her. I went through the folder with her, she didn't like to think about it, but knew it was necessary. Is she entitled to a widow's pension from your company? Find out and draft a letter to them that she only has to date and sign. Which account will the widow's pension be paid into? And do revise your will every few years, things change.

Let's hope it won't be needed for decades yet. But it might be.

Great info, thanks.

But I can't use a joint account because I think it will mess things up for my future marriage extensions. (The account has to be in my name only as far as I'm aware)

Thanks for daring to ask these questions. Good information as a result.

Just a comment though. I only have one Thai bank account and that is in joint names with my wife _ in reality its with her maiden name. This has never been an issue with Immigration in my marriage visa extensions. Indeed it has never even been commented upon.

Fair enough!

That's good and thanks for your comment.

I'm fairly sure I've read that for extensions based on marriage the bank account had to be in the husband's name only.

Obviously not then. . .

Hopefully one of the wonderful mods will come along and clarify it.

A few years ago I attempted to get an extension based on marriage & showed them a bank a/c in our 2 names at Chaeng Wattana. It was rejected, though we had in excess of B5m in the a/c. (So I changed back to an a/c in my sole name; that was rejected as I hadn't kept paperwork to prove the money originated outside Thailand! I now use the income method; more expensive but easier....) Rules may have changed though; more likely just different interpretation of the same rules by different officials.

Posted

Great info, thanks.

But I can't use a joint account because I think it will mess things up for my future marriage extensions. (The account has to be in my name only as far as I'm aware)

You can also name a beneficiary, give a power of attorney etc. In any case, with will or even without, if you don't have kids, siblings or debt your wife is the first natural heir. She would get the money and no court is necessary.

Thanks Paz,

I just don't know anything about the procedure in Thailand.

So, without any 'Will' my wife can access my funds in my Thai bank account should something happen to me.

That's the most important thing really.

I thought that would be the case, but I shouldn't assume anything.

TIT.

Power of attorney "dies" the moment the granter dies.

Posted

I can answer one part for you. The repatriation of a body from Thailand is possible, but it is going to cost a considerable sum of money.

You will need someone to handle the body at this end and ensure it is embalmed to the necessary standard and is placed in an approved container and it is accompanied by the relevant documents during transport.

You will need to pay for air freight, and then have a funeral director or repatriation agent collect the body from the airport for you.

It's a costly business. On the other hand, if you don't mind being cremated then you can get cremated here and in most circumstances you can ship the cremated remains back.

This is an immensely cheaper option. If it is wanted there can be a memorial service in your home country, which is the same as a funeral, but without the coffin.

If you are worried about being a burden, consider a cremation in Thailand.

If, of course, you are a Muslim or a Jew then my advice is more than likely irrelevant to you.

Done that in 2009. Cost 95,000 THB to cover the Thai side all inclusive (hospital treatment - replacing blood with formalin, proper sealed coffin, transfer of the coffin to the airport and freight fees). All done by a specialist agent who knows the procedure and as I understand work with many embassies (as the embassy has to issue some documents and stamp seal the coffin).

At the other end the funeral directors were nominated to pick up the coffin and done their part. All went well without any hiccups.

Posted

If you trust your wife enough then go to your bank with her ( and passport and her ID card) and change your bank accounts to be in joint names. I suspect that if they are in your name only the bank would refuse your wife access to the money without some sort of court order which might be delayed if you have not made a will.

It is possible the bank will will insist on opening a new account in joint names rather than change your account.but it won't hurt to ask.

It would be better for you to make two wills. One for the disposal of your goods here, and the the other one for the disposal of your goods in your home country.

I have written a folder out for my wife with all details in it.

eg

Full name, place/date of birth, parents names place of birth, my National insurance number (I'm English), previous addresses in England. family and friends contact names,addresses, email and phone numbers, pension company adress, UK bank account details, British Embassy details etc. Your widow (!) will need to take your arrival card and copy of passport to immigration. The hospital might not release your body without a letter from your embassy and the temple might not cremate you without such letter. She will need multiple copies of your death certificate. And official translations for your home country's officials. Where can she get the certificate translated locally? Find out and put it in the folder. There are so many details, I am constantly updating the folder for her. I went through the folder with her, she didn't like to think about it, but knew it was necessary. Is she entitled to a widow's pension from your company? Find out and draft a letter to them that she only has to date and sign. Which account will the widow's pension be paid into? And do revise your will every few years, things change.

Let's hope it won't be needed for decades yet. But it might be.

Great info, thanks.

But I can't use a joint account because I think it will mess things up for my future marriage extensions. (The account has to be in my name only as far as I'm aware)

Actually it isn't a problem at all. What you do is open and account in your name and also a joint account. Sign up for online banking and away you go.

I have been doing this for years and all my pensions go into the joint account and I can transfer the amounts into my own account online.

One poster has suggested you need to trust your wife before you think about that. I have known my wife 22 years and been married 16 of them and we have a joint account for at least 16 years in her Thai name and my English name and I have not had a problem in that time. Other people may have had and it has made them wary which is why some posters will warn you, but in the end it is your choice.

I use a rural KBank but online is easy as I can pay most bills that way too.

Posted

If you have a joint account, an account in joint names then that will be problematic for Immigration purposes, at least in Chiang Mai.

Perhaps a better way is to leave the account in a single name but to have your wife as a signatory on the account. Be aware however that banks are required to freeze the accounts of people who die, until probate has been approved.

'Ask the Lawyer' suggests otherwise about joint accounts - and yes, they do pass by succession.

However, TIT and each bank/bank official is capable of a different remains.

The fact remains that a wife on a joint account is entitled to those funds and can access them at will. No need to advise the bank of the death.

Embassies need to be notified of a death in order to have the body released from a hospital (if there) and for the body to be cremated. Some embassies also ask for all bank books to be given to them, to prevent unlawful transactions. Should be no problems for joint accounts, but where the wife is considering withdrawal from husbands sole account using his ATM and PIN code (as many do) this would be a problem. Best if there are 2 accounts in sole name - give the embassy one book to keep them quiet!

Not true.

If you die in hospital or at home the police will come to view your body and talk with the doctors. If the cause of death is natural causes the police will allow the widow to take the body home and it is the job of the police to inform the embassy. The widow can and should also do this but a death certificate from the UK will cost your widow.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thailand-consular-fees

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/451383/FeesTable_Customer_Bt55_as_of_01_07_15.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thailand-consular-fees

15 Making an addition to or correction in the consular register as necessary, £35 (1,925 THB) 17 Making a search in ( in an addition to fee 2 (a) or fee16 where applicable) (i) the consular register of births, deaths, marriages or civil partnerships where the number or date of entry is not provided £65 (3,575 THB)

The embassy has NO legal right to ask for any bankbooks at all nor does it have the legal right to interfere with any arrangements you make about the disposal of your funds in Thailand.

Your passport should be returned to the embassy and cancelled as that is the property of the government. You don't even have to report the death to the embassy anyway though you should.

As for bank accounts if there is a sole name and a joint name plus internet banking and your wife is savvy enough she can transfer what is in your sole accountinto the joint account and if she has her own account too she can transfer the funds into her account

Posted

Great info, thanks.

But I can't use a joint account because I think it will mess things up for my future marriage extensions. (The account has to be in my name only as far as I'm aware)

Craigp---- your wife can still have signing rights to your bank Acc --while it remains in your name only. Mine always has had.

You can stipulate when doing this , that she can withdraw at any time on 1 signature ---- or if you wish to be more cautious, you can state that it must have both signatories, then sign a withdrawal form & leave with a friend or somewhere safe.

Posted

Great info, thanks.

But I can't use a joint account because I think it will mess things up for my future marriage extensions. (The account has to be in my name only as far as I'm aware)

You can also name a beneficiary, give a power of attorney etc. In any case, with will or even without, if you don't have kids, siblings or debt your wife is the first natural heir. She would get the money and no court is necessary.

Thanks Paz,

I just don't know anything about the procedure in Thailand.

So, without any 'Will' my wife can access my funds in my Thai bank account should something happen to me.

That's the most important thing really.

I thought that would be the case, but I shouldn't assume anything.

TIT.

Why not ask the bank, where your funds are? Or get some legal advise. I have instructed my wife if I die, to bury me in the backyard..... And to tell no one.... Ashes to ashes dust to dust.thumbsup.gifthumbsup.gifthumbsup.gif

Posted

The immediate burden on your wife financially will be arranging the cremation of your body and paying any ancillary bills.

I know locally the costs of cremation and ceremonies was recently around 100,000 baht.

You really should make a Will and speak to your bank concerning access to your funds by your wife in the event of.

You can then make arrangements accordingly.

I do know of two recent expat deaths, where the bank would not release funds to the widow on production of marriage, death certificates. They would only release with a Court Order.

Some excellent alternative advice given already.

Posted

Great info, thanks.

But I can't use a joint account because I think it will mess things up for my future marriage extensions. (The account has to be in my name only as far as I'm aware)

You can also name a beneficiary, give a power of attorney etc. In any case, with will or even without, if you don't have kids, siblings or debt your wife is the first natural heir. She would get the money and no court is necessary.

Thanks Paz,

I just don't know anything about the procedure in Thailand.

So, without any 'Will' my wife can access my funds in my Thai bank account should something happen to me.

That's the most important thing really.

I thought that would be the case, but I shouldn't assume anything.

TIT.

Why not ask the bank, where your funds are? Or get some legal advise. I have instructed my wife if I die, to bury me in the backyard..... And to tell no one.... Ashes to ashes dust to dust.thumbsup.gifthumbsup.gifthumbsup.gif

I will just be moving houses when I am dead. From our house to the spirit house in the front garden.

Posted
That’s a relevant question for all us expats living here.


In the book “Thai Law for Foreigners” written by two Thai lawyers (Paiboonpublishing.com ISBN 978-1-887521-57-4), they have a chapter about “Dying in Thailand”, page 81-56.


The book writes about Buddhist funeral, but there may be others available in small communities (Christian, Muslim etc.).


You can make a Last Will, where you state what you want – if you for example don’t want your body repatriated to you home country. You can fairly easy make a Will in Thailand, there have been treads about it in TVForum, and also above book informs about the various way to do it (page 77-80). In a will you can also stipulate about the financial aspects, which may be wise and avoid conflict, if you have family in you home country and wish to leave something for your Thai-family.


My personal advice shall be – and that’s how I have protected my family here, besides making a Last Will – to open a shared bank account with two names, your Thai wife and you, so she has access to some funds to cover immediate expenses and some livings costs. Money set aside for long term can be in a fixed bank account, with higher interest, or a shared Fund Book account with for example low risk bonds, which normally have little higher accumulated dividend than fixed-term bank interest and no 15% withholding tax, funds can be sold in 1 bank day; however some instant access normal bank account or ATM-account, which can be just a modest amount for immediately cash out, is always advisable. Furthermore shared bank accounts can also be used as “emergency account”, for example in case of accident, where you are not in position to control the financials.


I stated in my Will, that funds in shared accounts shall belong to the other named holder, to avoid any later dispute for money withdrawals. May be wise in the situation of death to immediately withdraw all funds from shared accounts and move other account(s). Bank deposits in you name only will most likely be closed.

Posted

The immediate burden on your wife financially will be arranging the cremation of your body and paying any ancillary bills.

I know locally the costs of cremation and ceremonies was recently around 100,000 baht.

You really should make a Will and speak to your bank concerning access to your funds by your wife in the event of.

You can then make arrangements accordingly.

I do know of two recent expat deaths, where the bank would not release funds to the widow on production of marriage, death certificates. They would only release with a Court Order.

Some excellent alternative advice given already.

100,000baht for cremation and associated ceremonies is somewhat on the low side, and a wife of a farang would most likely be labelled a cheap charlie.

A bank will usually release small funds on deposit with the marriage and death certificate + a copy of the will if any, but usually anything over 50,000baht would require court documents -both costly and time consuming.

For simplicity,as long as you trust your wife, take her to your chosen bank. Have her open a savings account in her own name for say 500baht.(your money) Obtain an ATM and internet banking. Then keep everything to yourself. Change the PIN number, choose your own internet password and use the account as your own. LOSE the passbook. Provide details of the PIN number to a trusted friend, and the internet user name and password to 2 trusted friends (here or in your own country) only to be divulged to your wife when you die.

It is her account and only hers. No problem in her obatining the cash.

Posted

Great info, thanks.

But I can't use a joint account because I think it will mess things up for my future marriage extensions. (The account has to be in my name only as far as I'm aware)

You can also name a beneficiary, give a power of attorney etc. In any case, with will or even without, if you don't have kids, siblings or debt your wife is the first natural heir. She would get the money and no court is necessary.

A power of attorney dies with you. I would be interested to what you mean by "name a beneficiary" I would want to get the money into her hands as soon as possible. If it goes to the court or what the law requires it will no doubt be time consuming and she needs money for cremation and to go on with life.

Posted

One more quote from "Ask the Lawyer"

  • photo-thumb-204777.jpg?_r=1395290169
  • Sponsors
  • bullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.png
  • 2,201 posts

Posted 2015-07-23 17:15:59

The withdrawal would not be illegal. The parties involved in a joint bank account both own 100% of the account. If one dies or 'disappears' then the other still has complete access to that account. This does not follow the rules of a deceased's account in which case the bank is notified of the death and the deceased's account is frozen awaiting probate.

Posted

One more quote from "Ask the Lawyer"

  • photo-thumb-204777.jpg?_r=1395290169
  • Sponsors
  • bullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.pngbullet_black.png
  • 2,201 posts

Posted 2015-07-23 17:15:59

The withdrawal would not be illegal. The parties involved in a joint bank account both own 100% of the account. If one dies or 'disappears' then the other still has complete access to that account. This does not follow the rules of a deceased's account in which case the bank is notified of the death and the deceased's account is frozen awaiting probate.

Perfectly clear to me.

A joint account, with only one signature needed, means that the survivor can have immediate access to the money. No need to tell the bank of the death.

Posted

The immediate burden on your wife financially will be arranging the cremation of your body and paying any ancillary bills.

I know locally the costs of cremation and ceremonies was recently around 100,000 baht.

You really should make a Will and speak to your bank concerning access to your funds by your wife in the event of.

You can then make arrangements accordingly.

I do know of two recent expat deaths, where the bank would not release funds to the widow on production of marriage, death certificates. They would only release with a Court Order.

Some excellent alternative advice given already.

Most funerals i participated here in Thailand in the end didn't cost anything at all, because all relatives and friends attending the ceremonies and festivities got their envelopes what normally made up for all the expenses.

Posted

What worries me more is if my wife dies first. Statistically it is unlikely as she will be 50 in a couple of months and I am 71 But it has happened to one guy I know on TVF.

The house and land etc are no problem as they will be divided between the survivors which is me and my son and I am his legal guardian anyway so that is no problem. Money would be no problem but I am not sure if I can cope without her being around.

We have good friends and neighbours who will help out but I think it would be her absence and just not being there which would hurt the most along with the fact and the thought that I would never see her or hear her again. I am not sure how our 12 year old son would feel or react either. At least we would have each other as he will have his Mum and she will have him when I go.

Posted

If you trust your wife enough then go to your bank with her ( and passport and her ID card) and change your bank accounts to be in joint names. I suspect that if they are in your name only the bank would refuse your wife access to the money without some sort of court order which might be delayed if you have not made a will.

It is possible the bank will will insist on opening a new account in joint names rather than change your account.but it won't hurt to ask.

Assets in joint accounts are frozen on the death of either of the named persons.

The surviving partner taking out money, before probate, without notifying the bank of the death would be committing fraud.

So not an answer to the problem.

Posted

If you trust your wife enough then go to your bank with her ( and passport and her ID card) and change your bank accounts to be in joint names. I suspect that if they are in your name only the bank would refuse your wife access to the money without some sort of court order which might be delayed if you have not made a will.

It is possible the bank will will insist on opening a new account in joint names rather than change your account.but it won't hurt to ask.

It would be better for you to make two wills. One for the disposal of your goods here, and the the other one for the disposal of your goods in your home country.

I have written a folder out for my wife with all details in it.

eg

Full name, place/date of birth, parents names place of birth, my National insurance number (I'm English), previous addresses in England. family and friends contact names,addresses, email and phone numbers, pension company adress, UK bank account details, British Embassy details etc. Your widow (!) will need to take your arrival card and copy of passport to immigration. The hospital might not release your body without a letter from your embassy and the temple might not cremate you without such letter. She will need multiple copies of your death certificate. And official translations for your home country's officials. Where can she get the certificate translated locally? Find out and put it in the folder. There are so many details, I am constantly updating the folder for her. I went through the folder with her, she didn't like to think about it, but knew it was necessary. Is she entitled to a widow's pension from your company? Find out and draft a letter to them that she only has to date and sign. Which account will the widow's pension be paid into? And do revise your will every few years, things change.

Let's hope it won't be needed for decades yet. But it might be.

Great info, thanks.

But I can't use a joint account because I think it will mess things up for my future marriage extensions. (The account has to be in my name only as far as I'm aware)

Certainly, you can make your wife beneficiary on that account in the event of your death.

Posted

If you trust your wife enough then go to your bank with her ( and passport and her ID card) and change your bank accounts to be in joint names. I suspect that if they are in your name only the bank would refuse your wife access to the money without some sort of court order which might be delayed if you have not made a will.

It is possible the bank will will insist on opening a new account in joint names rather than change your account.but it won't hurt to ask.

Assets in joint accounts are frozen on the death of either of the named persons.

The surviving partner taking out money, before probate, without notifying the bank of the death would be committing fraud.

So not an answer to the problem.

Not so: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/849640-what-would-be-the-burden-on-my-wife-if-i-died-here/page-2#entry9757086

Posted

The immediate burden on your wife financially will be arranging the cremation of your body and paying any ancillary bills.

I know locally the costs of cremation and ceremonies was recently around 100,000 baht.

You really should make a Will and speak to your bank concerning access to your funds by your wife in the event of.

You can then make arrangements accordingly.

I do know of two recent expat deaths, where the bank would not release funds to the widow on production of marriage, death certificates. They would only release with a Court Order.

Some excellent alternative advice given already.

Most funerals i participated here in Thailand in the end didn't cost anything at all, because all relatives and friends attending the ceremonies and festivities got their envelopes what normally made up for all the expenses.

Rather depends where you live. In most Isaan villages everyone is up to their necks in debt and loan sharks, that the best many can manage to contribute is 100baht or less.

With ceremonies lasting 3/5 days, and the monks chanting twice a day, with usually 9 monks expecting to receive a minimum of 300baht + per chanting session, a huge amount of money goes to the wats/monks, quite apart from the cremation fees. Much of the rest goes on the obscene amount of food given day and night to all the villagers and hangers on who just treat it like a restaurant for the duration of the event. And then there is the alcohol...................................!

Posted

If you trust your wife enough then go to your bank with her ( and passport and her ID card) and change your bank accounts to be in joint names. I suspect that if they are in your name only the bank would refuse your wife access to the money without some sort of court order which might be delayed if you have not made a will.

It is possible the bank will will insist on opening a new account in joint names rather than change your account.but it won't hurt to ask.

It would be better for you to make two wills. One for the disposal of your goods here, and the the other one for the disposal of your goods in your home country.

I have written a folder out for my wife with all details in it.

eg

Full name, place/date of birth, parents names place of birth, my National insurance number (I'm English), previous addresses in England. family and friends contact names,addresses, email and phone numbers, pension company adress, UK bank account details, British Embassy details etc. Your widow (!) will need to take your arrival card and copy of passport to immigration. The hospital might not release your body without a letter from your embassy and the temple might not cremate you without such letter. She will need multiple copies of your death certificate. And official translations for your home country's officials. Where can she get the certificate translated locally? Find out and put it in the folder. There are so many details, I am constantly updating the folder for her. I went through the folder with her, she didn't like to think about it, but knew it was necessary. Is she entitled to a widow's pension from your company? Find out and draft a letter to them that she only has to date and sign. Which account will the widow's pension be paid into? And do revise your will every few years, things change.

Let's hope it won't be needed for decades yet. But it might be.

Great info, thanks.

But I can't use a joint account because I think it will mess things up for my future marriage extensions. (The account has to be in my name only as far as I'm aware)

Certainly, you can make your wife beneficiary on that account in the event of your death.

Wow, so such information!!

Thanks Guys!!

This sounds like the easiest way.

How does one make their Thai wife a 'Beneficiary' should I die?

Posted

I can answer one part for you. The repatriation of a body from Thailand is possible, but it is going to cost a considerable sum of money.

You will need someone to handle the body at this end and ensure it is embalmed to the necessary standard and is placed in an approved container and it is accompanied by the relevant documents during transport.

You will need to pay for air freight, and then have a funeral director or repatriation agent collect the body from the airport for you.

It's a costly business. On the other hand, if you don't mind being cremated then you can get cremated here and in most circumstances you can ship the cremated remains back.

This is an immensely cheaper option. If it is wanted there can be a memorial service in your home country, which is the same as a funeral, but without the coffin.

If you are worried about being a burden, consider a cremation in Thailand.

If, of course, you are a Muslim or a Jew then my advice is more than likely irrelevant to you.

Thanks for your imput.

Yes, flying my body back isn't an option.

Thai funeral every time, decide how many days for celebration, 3 would be normal for Farang. Cost about 10,000/15,000 baht. That should include

the fireworks so you go with a bang.

Funeral in UK cost £4/5,000

Why would anyone want to ship dead body around the world, waste of time and money. Get solicitor to make a proper will or there will be problems.

Posted

Think you have missed a nought of the end of your figures!

Even renting the cold box and the dirgy music will cost more than your figures!

Thai funerals are not much cheaper than in the UK. And no matter what instrructions you give the wife re no monks, no food for the scroungers etc, she will do it her way - the Thai way!

Posted

If you trust your wife enough then go to your bank with her ( and passport and her ID card) and change your bank accounts to be in joint names. I suspect that if they are in your name only the bank would refuse your wife access to the money without some sort of court order which might be delayed if you have not made a will.

It is possible the bank will will insist on opening a new account in joint names rather than change your account.but it won't hurt to ask.

It would be better for you to make two wills. One for the disposal of your goods here, and the the other one for the disposal of your goods in your home country.

I have written a folder out for my wife with all details in it.

eg

Full name, place/date of birth, parents names place of birth, my National insurance number (I'm English), previous addresses in England. family and friends contact names,addresses, email and phone numbers, pension company adress, UK bank account details, British Embassy details etc. Your widow (!) will need to take your arrival card and copy of passport to immigration. The hospital might not release your body without a letter from your embassy and the temple might not cremate you without such letter. She will need multiple copies of your death certificate. And official translations for your home country's officials. Where can she get the certificate translated locally? Find out and put it in the folder. There are so many details, I am constantly updating the folder for her. I went through the folder with her, she didn't like to think about it, but knew it was necessary. Is she entitled to a widow's pension from your company? Find out and draft a letter to them that she only has to date and sign. Which account will the widow's pension be paid into? And do revise your will every few years, things change.

Let's hope it won't be needed for decades yet. But it might be.

One Caveate - its a good idea to name an Executor of your will so there are no chances of shenanigans by any family members - good advice on the two wills, but if you don;t have a joint account, then you wll need to name a beneficiary in the bank - wills mean very little to a Bank, they want to see the beneficiary form signed by you and witnessed by bank officials. I did all of this through LegalZoom.com and had it translated........very professional package.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Topics

  • Latest posts...

    1. 27

      Thailand as home, roaming the world tax free - the pipe dream

    2. 3

      PM Paetongtarn Dubbed 'Dad-Supported' by Reporters

    3. 16

      Japan dethrones Thailand as top tourist spot

    4. 6

      Trump Calls for Return of Panama Canal Over "Unfair" Transit Rates

    5. 56

      Keir Starmer: Friends Say He Desperately Needs a Break

    6. 22

      My Tefal Toaster suddenly stopped popping. Now, house full of smoke. Why?

    7. 22

      Dutch tourist allegedly escapes bills and steals from many Phuket hotels

    8. 0

      Thailand Plans to Cut Armed Forces, Senior Roles Halved in Overhaul

  • Popular in The Pub


×
×
  • Create New...