If I should die

[cliveshep]

 My wife has all my UK Bank internet banking log in details, passwords and PIN numbers and I trust her of course. She can transfer everything in the UK to my Thai account and use my Thai ATM card to withdraw it, or she can transfer monies to her sister's account also already set up in the UK and the sister can withdraw it and give it too her. She has in all the years never betrayed a trust. I told her - when I die don't mess about, get the money .

 

There isn't much anyway!

 

The vehicles have been registered in her name from the beginning so everything one way or another belongs to her, the house is of course in her name already.

[Jip99]

Just now, mikosan said:

And I know a widow that receives her late husband's Metropolitan police pension here, no problem.

 

 

Most pension funds will pay widow's pensions direct to Thailand.

 

Some (JCB for example) won't even pay the employees pension here - the pensioners concerned had to set up payments via Bangkok Bank in London. The same system will be used for their widows.

[Dene16]

19 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

why don't you get your money to a shared account over here now?

Then she can spend it before you die!

Could end up being a recipe for disaster

Unlike a pet, a wife is not always for life, however much you think it will be at this moment

[oldrunner]

If I were you, I'd change the "if" I die, to "when" I die as everyone eventually dies.

[abrahamzvi]

19 hours ago, somo said:

For exchange rate reasons I want to keep some money in the UK + I do some biz there that needs a UK bank with funds. I am not about to pop of any minute but want to make sure she can access those funds.

To make sure that everything in the UK Bank Account, transfer of money, property(?) pensions((?), social security benefits etc, I would advise you to appoint a lawyer or an accountant known to you in the UK and introduce him to your wife. Tell her to inform him should something happen to you and he can then arrange whatever is necessary in the UK. It may take some time and you would do the right thing by leaving your wife in her bank account in Thailand enough funds to enable hero live properly for 6 months to year = it may take such a long time to have everything sorted out.

[Blinky62]

Not sure where to post this but will try here. There used to be a legal section but it seems to have disappeared
Like many older ex pats I am concerned that when I die my wife can be sent whatever money I have in my UK bank account.
If anyone has been through the process it would be great to have the benefit of your experience.
I can do a will here but how would my wife be able to get the funds transferred to her account here.
There is also the question of a death certificate which I think would need to be sent to the relevant person in the UK etc etc.
Does the British embassy offer any services. Whenever I have sought their help they have been totally uninterested.
Any advice please

You will need a Thai will here , and a will made up in your home land with your lady's ID and banking details . This is the only successful way of doing it . Both in Thai and English.


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[Jaggg88]

My friend has just been back to the UK for a funeral and he took the time to make a will using a professional Will writing service which will be registered in the UK. When he mentioned to the guy that he was worried that he would die in Thailand and his Thai wife would struggle with the paperwork he was offered a fixed price service by the Will writing company to help with all his affairs should he die. I think the Will cost £90 and the post death service was £250 - a small price for peace of mind. I remember when my own Father died it was a minefield trying to get his pensions/accounts transferred to my Mother.

[somo]

18 hours ago, kannot said:

depending who you bank with Id  tell them nothing unless you already have a UK address to use as  next thing if they think you are  living outside the Uk they will want to close the account, HSBC exempt from this.....or  used to be not sure now 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/money/uk-banking-options-narrowing-for-british-expats/

I bank with Santander and they have told me there is no problem me living in Thailand as I opened the account previous to moving. I still use a UK address though just to be on the safe side and for biz reasons.

[somo]

Thanks for all the replies.

Have a better idea of what to do. The one thing I don't know is who issues a death certificate here and is it recognised in the UK? I can leave a will + instructions with a relative in the UK.

[lopburi3]

17 minutes ago, somo said:

Thanks for all the replies.

Have a better idea of what to do. The one thing I don't know is who issues a death certificate here and is it recognised in the UK? I can leave a will + instructions with a relative in the UK.

The US the Embassy issues a Consular Report of Death Abroad for American Citizens which would be used in USA as a death certificate.  I would expect it to be similar for UK.  

[tryasimight]

8 hours ago, steven100 said:

Transfer all your money into your Thai bank account,  have another ATM card in an envelope with the pin number so when you cark it she will have money.

And the expiry date on the card will be?

[lopburi3]

45 minutes ago, tryasimight said:

And the expiry date on the card will be?

Normally 5 years here in Thailand and then you get another - but as point out if name on account has died it would be illegal.   

 

Those with adult children might want to consider transferring funds to a new fixed deposit account in children's name that they understand is to be used for funeral and expenses during transition period.  That way it could be used for either parent.

[NancyL]

6 hours ago, steven100 said:

with all due respects .....   so wait for the Bank to check all the docs, death cert' etc ...  and 6 months & 60,000 baht later .... 

no thanks,   what's the bank going to do if all the cash bar 100 baht is taken out the day he goes ?   nothing I wouldn't think ... 

A couple of days ... the wife has all the funds as planned ... whos any the wiser  ??

or take it all out just before he goes ... ?

It would be alot less hassle that way ...

Actually the process of the bank sending the Final Will to their home office along with the death certificate, checking, etc takes a month or less to release the funds.  Balances under a certain amount can be released at the local level, but big accounts, like someone's 800,000 baht retirement visa account has to have the documents approved by the Bangkok office.

 

Joint accounts are frozen and if a wife or other joint account holder tries to make a withdrawal after death, but before the bank has frozen the account, there can indeed be problems.  The bank will file a police report.  I've seen it happen when someone comes along to contest what's happened.  

 

Remember adult children inherit at the same level as a spouse and if you don't have a Final Will, your long-forgotten children from a previous marriage may come here just to make life difficult for your Thai wife.

[dotpoom]

"If anyone has been through the process it would be great to have the benefit of your experience".

  Unfortunately, seeing as they are dead that could be rather difficult.

   Am so sorry, just couldn't resist it, no disrespect intended.

  Myself, I have made a Thai will for my Mrs. here. I would like to leave a little, if I have any left, to my Ex back home, so have made a will there too, to take care of that and lodged a bit of money in a bank there.

[Krataiboy]

8 hours ago, jeab1980 said:

Brexit will and is going ahead EU benifits are diffrent from elsewhere i belive and i expect will be protected.

Thanks for giving your crystal ball a rub for me, Mystic Meg - I mean Jeab.

[jeab1980]

2 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Thanks for giving your crystal ball a rub for me, Mystic Meg - I mean Jeab.

Its calleď comon sense as negotiations have already started and article 50 has been invoked.

Get over it you stay voters lost. 

[NancyL]

1 hour ago, dotpoom said:

"If anyone has been through the process it would be great to have the benefit of your experience".

  Unfortunately, seeing as they are dead that could be rather difficult.

   Am so sorry, just couldn't resist it, no disrespect intended.

  Myself, I have made a Thai will for my Mrs. here. I would like to leave a little, if I have any left, to my Ex back home, so have made a will there too, to take care of that and lodged a bit of money in a bank there.

Yes, I had the same thought when I read this comment.

 

But, several of us posting have "been through the process" in the sense that we've been executors of Final Wills in Thailand or have been very close to surviving family members who have had to deal with the aftermath when an expat dies without a Final Will.  It isn't pretty.

 

Any of these absolutely stupid suggestions about "I just gave my wife the PIN and instructions to clean out the account upon my death, whose to know" are just selfish idiots.  Too cheap to spend 5000 baht to get a proper Final Will.  

 

These are probably the same guys where their Thai widows will discover they never bothered to divorce their previous wife in their home country and she's going to inherit whatever benefits he has from his pension and life insurance.  I've seen this numerous times.  Same philosophy.  Whose to know they're still married in their home country when they apply to get married here?

 

You know, this forum is full of stories of guys who are cheated by Thai women, but it's been my experience in helping elderly expat men in Chiang Mai, that more Thai women are cheated.  They give up the best years of their lives taking good care of a man older than their father, only to discover there is nothing for them when he passes away.  Meanwhile, their youth and good looks are gone and they're left with his Viagra-fueled children to raise.

[somo]

10 hours ago, gamini said:

I have often thought about this problem but now I've solved it. My wife is old and suffers slight dementia and could never understand the process for getting my considerable assets in the Uk. So this is what I have done.
 open an online  Internet account with your UK account. Give the login details details to a trusted relative or friend either in the UK or here. In the event of your demise they can login to your UK account and transfer the fund to a joint account here, which if you havent got one is easy to do.

 

I was thinking the same. In my case it is quite simple as the only UK assets are the funds in my bank account. It seems best to get a will done in both english and thai as well but to cut out all the bureaucracy have my nephew transfer the money as soon as he knows I have died. Not sure on the legality but if it is in accordance with my will then I doubt there would be a problem for him.

[NancyL]

9 minutes ago, somo said:

I was thinking the same. In my case it is quite simple as the only UK assets are the funds in my bank account. It seems best to get a will done in both english and thai as well but to cut out all the bureaucracy have my nephew transfer the money as soon as he knows I have died. Not sure on the legality but if it is in accordance with my will then I doubt there would be a problem for him.

Yes, there will be.  Power of Attorney ceases upon death.  Do it right.  Name your U.K. nephew as your executor so he can properly transfer the funds and not open himself up to legal action.

 

Why do people want to take short-cuts?  I'm sorry, I've assisted too many widows of men who thought they could take short-cuts and their life isn't pretty while they try to live without access to money their husband locked up.

[somo]

6 minutes ago, NancyL said:

Yes, there will be.  Power of Attorney ceases upon death.  Do it right.  Name your U.K. nephew as your executor so he can properly transfer the funds and not open himself up to legal action.

 

Why do people want to take short-cuts?  I'm sorry, I've assisted too many widows of men who thought they could take short-cuts and their life isn't pretty while they try to live without access to money their husband locked up.

My intention is to speed up access not slow it down. If you can tell me how I can make sure a death certificate is sent to my nephew promptly then that would help. There have been many replies for which I am thankful but I still don't have an answer as to who issues the cert. that UK authourities recognise and how I can arrange for it to be automatically sent off.

Edited July 26, 2017 by somo

[inThailand]

My experience in creating a home county will and then a Thai will is similiar to some of the previous posters.

 

The Thai will specifically says its only for Thai assets and in no way terminates, alters, etc my home county will. My home country will acknowledges the Thai will. It also has a clause that states if my Thai  will is deemed invalid by the Thai legal system for what ever reason, the executor of my home county will shall carry out my Thai will. I have little trust or faith in the Thai legal system to carry out my will. 

 

Also, the beauty of a will versus marriage is that it can be terminated or changed at anytime.

 

[jeab1980]

46 minutes ago, NancyL said:

Yes, I had the same thought when I read this comment.

 

But, several of us posting have "been through the process" in the sense that we've been executors of Final Wills in Thailand or have been very close to surviving family members who have had to deal with the aftermath when an expat dies without a Final Will.  It isn't pretty.

 

Any of these absolutely stupid suggestions about "I just gave my wife the PIN and instructions to clean out the account upon my death, whose to know" are just selfish idiots.  Too cheap to spend 5000 baht to get a proper Final Will.  

 

These are probably the same guys where their Thai widows will discover they never bothered to divorce their previous wife in their home country and she's going to inherit whatever benefits he has from his pension and life insurance.  I've seen this numerous times.  Same philosophy.  Whose to know they're still married in their home country when they apply to get married here?

 

You know, this forum is full of stories of guys who are cheated by Thai women, but it's been my experience in helping elderly expat men in Chiang Mai, that more Thai women are cheated.  They give up the best years of their lives taking good care of a man older than their father, only to discover there is nothing for them when he passes away.  Meanwhile, their youth and good looks are gone and they're left with his Viagra-fueled children to raise.

Well as you have to get an affirmation to marry from your respective embassy and there you have to produce evidence of death or divorce. 

If its only a village ceremony job well yes as they arent legaly married it could happen then.

But correct me if im wrong arent even divorced ex's in UK allowed to have some of his/her pension?

[seancbk]

On 7/25/2017 at 6:27 PM, somo said:

That's the thing. I don't know what she should do when I die! She has no idea and doesn't really want to talk about it feeling to do so would be tempting fate. I can do a will no problem but how is that then executed in the UK. She has no idea how to get and submit death certificates etc

Please enlighten me on the straightforward process and I will see if I can set it up. I have a brother and sister in UK but they are at a loss too.

 

No trusted friends in Thailand?

[Khon Kaen Dave]

Not to be a killjoy, but i truly think that you can make all the arrangements  that will give you peace of mind, regarding your loved ones when you shuffle off this mortal coil. However, in reality, once you are gone, you will have no control, nor will you care what happens, because you will be absolutely unable to do anything about it. Sad but true.

[steven100]

8 hours ago, dotpoom said:

"If anyone has been through the process it would be great to have the benefit of your experience".

  Unfortunately, seeing as they are dead that could be rather difficult.

   Am so sorry, just couldn't resist it, no disrespect intended.

  Myself, I have made a Thai will for my Mrs. here. I would like to leave a little, if I have any left, to my Ex back home, so have made a will there too, to take care of that and lodged a bit of money in a bank there.

your giving it to the ex back home ....      you must have an understanding wife

[Khon Kaen Dave]

6 minutes ago, steven100 said:

your giving it to the ex back home ....      you must have an understanding wife

What i am doing with my fiances and whatever else is not in question here. You would be very naive,if you have been here a long time, and have knowledge of what the thai system is capable of. Anything can happen. My post was, that what ever you do to insure your family and spouse gets what she is entitled to, is something you will never know, because you will be dead, toast, brown bread, kaput. And you will have no knowledge or input as to what happens. That is unless you are different, and are able to see over your wishes from the celestial plane. None of us know, we simply hope it will happen.

[NancyL]

10 hours ago, jeab1980 said:

Well as you have to get an affirmation to marry from your respective embassy and there you have to produce evidence of death or divorce. 

If its only a village ceremony job well yes as they arent legaly married it could happen then.

But correct me if im wrong arent even divorced ex's in UK allowed to have some of his/her pension?

with several countries you don't have to "produce" evidence of death, divorce or never having been married.  You simply "swear an oath" that you are free to marry.  How do you prove a negative, anyway? Same countries where you swear an oath that you have a monthly income above a certain level sufficient for either a retirement or marriage visa requirements.  And not just the U.S. 

[NancyL]

11 hours ago, somo said:

My intention is to speed up access not slow it down. If you can tell me how I can make sure a death certificate is sent to my nephew promptly then that would help. There have been many replies for which I am thankful but I still don't have an answer as to who issues the cert. that UK authourities recognise and how I can arrange for it to be automatically sent off.

You list your nephew as your Next-of-Kin in your passport and file on-line with your Embassy if they are one of the countries that have such a system for registering your presence and next-of-kin.  

[NancyL]

4 hours ago, Khon Kaen Dave said:

What i am doing with my fiances and whatever else is not in question here. You would be very naive,if you have been here a long time, and have knowledge of what the thai system is capable of. Anything can happen. My post was, that what ever you do to insure your family and spouse gets what she is entitled to, is something you will never know, because you will be dead, toast, brown bread, kaput. And you will have no knowledge or input as to what happens. That is unless you are different, and are able to see over your wishes from the celestial plane. None of us know, we simply hope it will happen.

And it's attitudes like this that cause guys to do nothing and thus leave behind big messes for their loved ones.  Yes, there is plenty you can do now to make life easier for your loved ones.  Get a Final Will -- one here and one in your home country.  Make sure your Thai wife has the appropriate tax I.D. number from your home country now so she can claim funds from your home country bank accounts and not have to figure out how to get a tax I.D. number for herself after you're gone.  Get your military records in order.  She may be entitled to a widow's pension that you don't even know about.  Have stamped originals of all your previous marriage and divorce records. etc,etc.

[Jip99]

11 hours ago, somo said:

My intention is to speed up access not slow it down. If you can tell me how I can make sure a death certificate is sent to my nephew promptly then that would help. There have been many replies for which I am thankful but I still don't have an answer as to who issues the cert. that UK authourities recognise and how I can arrange for it to be automatically sent off.

 

Nothing can happen 'automatically'...... anything you put in place is dependent on human beings to carry out your wishes; this would usually be an executor or someone engaged to assist your wife. Getting the death certificate is an easy process and your wife will know the Thai process.... the fun and games start after that depending on how well you have sets up everything.