Perth Amboy, NJ asked in Probate for Florida

Q: My mother recently passed away at the age of 95 in the state of Florida. I am having a problem with one of her annuities

The company is a well known company that handles pension plans and annuities. I was able to access my mother's accounts online there's well over $100,000 of equity in two accounts. I reported this information almost 4 weeks ago I was told I was going to get a packet of information. I called again today and was told they are researching it and I was not listed as a beneficiary I am the lone beneficiary in my family my father is deceased I have no siblings. I have the original documents that my mother signed and set up the accounts for this plan both name me as the primary beneficiary they claim they don't have this and that it needs more research. Both plans are over 40 years old. I asked them if they wanted me to provide a copy of the original plan they said no they would have a copy of it if it existed. This company is dragging its feet it is headquartered in New York is there anything I can do to move this along other than just wait they tell me this could take as long as 2 months.

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2 Lawyer Answers
Carol Larmond Grant
Carol Larmond Grant
Answered
  • Probate Lawyer
  • Davie, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: I would highly suggest that you do not send them the original copy of any documents that you have regarding beneficiary designation. It might be a good idea to hire an attorney to write them and make an official demand for payment according to the beneficiary designation form that you have. All the best.

Phillip William Gunthert agrees with this answer

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
Answered
  • Probate Lawyer
  • Orlando, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: You will want to send them a copy of the documents that you have with a letter, since they are dragging their feet and responding far too slow, you may want to get an attorney to do this on our behalf. If for some reason this is not and cannot be sorted out via the paperwork that you currently have and will provide to them, then you will end up potentially having to address this via a probate attorney and some version of probate potentially. The question should be, is there any beneficiary other than you listed on the annuity, and if so, when was this change made?

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