The Application for Probate/Administration

Timing

How urgently must I start to get the affairs in order? Clearly the death of a partner/spouse or other close relative will affect all of us differently and no amount of advice that I give will help someone with the grieving process. What you can do however is to put some things in place that will make it easier to deal with the legal aspects.

One of the first things people ask me is whether bank accounts are frozen on the death of a loved one. If the bank account is in the sole name of the deceased the bank will freeze the account upon notification of the account holders death. This does not apply with joint accounts as a joint account holder can continue to operate the account.

Difference between Joint Assets and Joint Tenants and Tenants in Common.