Q: Can a housebound bank account holder let me log in on their behalf to initiate transfers?
My father died with a bank account with the name of an ex-fiancee still on it as a joint holder. She hasn't ever used the account as far as I can tell. She (and her current husband) want the money in the account to go to myself and my sister. Unfortunately she doesn't have an online login and can't get to a bank to work things out due to COVID. I have my father's credentials for the account. Can they give me permission to log in and initiate transfers?
Clarification: It is not desired or desirable that this money be part of his estate. It's now her money that she would like to gift to us.
A: Assuming your father was a Massachusetts resident for the comments: Are you the Personal Representative of your father's estate? If so, you need to contact the bank involved and provide them with your Letter of Authority and Federal Taxpayer ID for the estate and some form of authorization by the fiance indicating that the money belonged to your father only. You may be able to file a Voluntary Statement if you are an hei and his assets were under $25,000.
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