Q: Can a beneficiary request that their inheritance be transferred to an account which is not in their name?
The account was opened by their girlfriend.
A: Maybe, not preferred and probably not likely. You would need to minimally provide some sort of a notarized document stating clearly in writing with your signature and witnesses notarized that this is what you want the estate representative to do, even then, it is likely that they will not be willing to do it due to potential fraud and other issues unless they happen to know you and all parties involved, I therefore have my doubts. I for one as the advising attorney to the estate would advise a solid No on this request and option. A check would be sent, or monies put into the court registry. If you do not have a bank account, I would work on making sure that you find a way to open one. If that money goes into a third-party account, it can be gone and hard to retrieve forever.
Nina Whitehurst and Carol Larmond Grant agree with this answer
A: As the attorney for the personal representative I would also not recommend this action. I know sometimes people are trying to hide money from creditors or the IRS so they avoid getting funds in their names. This of course smells like fraud.
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