...try and leave your heirs some log-in and password info for all your various accounts.
?ÿ
Getting my son's estate through probate has been a major pain in the butt.?ÿ Some of the more respectable accounts like the banks are fully understanding and accept all my paperwork.?ÿ Other accounts seem to have been set up as if the user would live forever.?ÿ All this has been exacerbated by the fact my son did almost everything "paperless" and on his phone.
American Express, Verizon, Amazon, Netflix (just to name a few) just cannot understand I do not have a log-in or password for the accounts.?ÿ Even SRP (the electric company) will not play nice.?ÿ I've attempted in good faith to pay and close these accounts.?ÿ I've had no luck which leaves me with no option except to let them find out the bank account they've been automatically debiting is closed.?ÿ This has created a flurry of late notices and collection attempts.?ÿ I don't like it, but that's the way it's worked out.
One well meaning phone attended told me I needed my son's authorization to get info on the account.?ÿ I reiterated my son was deceased.?ÿ The lady told me, "Yes I understand sir and I'm sorry for your loss, but you will still need his authorization to close the account".
It's insanity.
If we are going to accept that the unexpected may occur it is a fine time to make sure you have a living will along with making a spreadsheet of your log in data.
Sorry for your loss and the further frustration of dealing with all of these tasks.?ÿ
Big security faux-pas, they say, to be writing down your passwords and account log-ins. Even worse to have them in a file on your computer. But it does have to be done, somehow.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ
Unc, yer gonna have to, unfortunately, lawyer up to straighten it out.?ÿ?ÿ
A grain cooperative operating in the Panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma ended up keeping the money that should have gone to the heirs of my mother, who outlived my father.?ÿ She had made a point to disperse all of her assets prior to her death.?ÿ She was effectively dirt poor, on paper, at her death.?ÿ There was no need to probate her estate.?ÿ Without the probate action, the cooperative refused to recognize anyone as an heir.?ÿ Other entities would accept a copy of her obituary with descendants identified.
I have a shortcut to a word document now 12 pages long called passwords.
I have a shortcut to a word document now 12 pages long called passwords.
No hacker will ever find that.
I put all my username/passwords in an Excel file, with last used date and reminder clues, and zipped the file with a password.?ÿ A very secure password that I can't find now.?ÿ So I'm still using the paper that I had at the time I made the file.
That is so true. I had a bunch a grief with that when my wife passed last year. Fortunately, she wasn't too big on the computer stuff, but even the bank gave me trouble. Got most of the money moved but couldn't access the account again to remove the rest. Not enough to worry about and the account will eventually just run out.
The other one that bugs me is all the medicare crap that keeps coming for her. I could build one heck of a bon fire with that junk. I'm not sure why they can't figure it out.?ÿ
I keep passwords in a book by the computer which, I guess, is the first place an intruder would look. It bugs me that all these passwords have been forced to be so complicated that there is no way I'm gonna remember them.
Unc, yer gonna have to, unfortunately, lawyer up to straighten it out.?ÿ?ÿ
I lawyered up in January.?ÿ We've been to court and the estate is all set up in accordance with AZ law.?ÿ The estate is now at 5 figures for attorney fees and growing.?ÿ It is truly a gnatfuk and really doesn't need to be.?ÿ Things like a utility company that won't accept payment because the payments were directed to be taken from a specific bank account by the decedent.?ÿ That account is now frozen due to the death.?ÿ The only way they will accept payment from the estate is to for me to personally create a new account (with a new deposit).?ÿ I told them to go screw themselves and line up at the courthouse with everybody else that won't get paid.
And JPMorgan Chase Bank has frozen one of my son's accounts at their bank.?ÿ But they will not let loose of the funds because I'm in OK and the death occurred in AZ.?ÿ Consul tells me this is BS and they're hashing it out with the bank...but I've yet to see a check.
And here's another scary situation:?ÿ At the time of the autopsy the ME did not have my son's SSN.?ÿ It's listed as 999-99-9999 on his death certificate.?ÿ Insurance company won't process the claim without a valid SSN on the death certificate.?ÿ Vital records will only amend a death certificate if I can supply a government document with his SSN (card or tax return).?ÿ I don't have either.?ÿ ?ÿSSA will not issue a card to a deceased individual.?ÿ The IRS is telling me it may take up to six months for them to come forward with copies of his previous returns.?ÿ
I never thought I'd be in this situation, but I pray I live long enough to get this all hammered out.
This is how I'm spending my days lately... ;(?ÿ ?ÿ
You need a hug. You shouldn't have to go through any of this. The loss of a child should be enough for those jokers to extend some grace and compassion and work with you on getting his affairs in order.
I went through similar issues when my mom passed, it was a big headache. Then one day I found her passwords all written down. That helped tremendously!
Thankfully my dad signed off on everything before he passed, otherwise that would have been another clusterF***!!!
<Hugs>
?ÿ
An oldtimer in the neighborhood passed away about a year ago at the age of 93.?ÿ His wife had died a few years earlier.?ÿ Their only child had a birth defect and died at about age 7 which would be nearly 60 years ago.?ÿ His parents and all of the other nine siblings were deceased.?ÿ He chose a nephew to handle his estate.?ÿ He still owned 480 acres and a house, free and clear.?ÿ The nephew would be given one of the quarter sections for handling the estate.?ÿ He earned every acre according to another nephew who was thrilled to not be chosen.
First, very sorry to hear that you lost a son.?ÿ That's not the natural order of things, and it must be very painful.?ÿ (I'm especially mindful of this in light of the horrendous events in Texas.)
Second, re: passwords.?ÿ I'm a big fan of password managers.?ÿ You only have to remember one password in order to securely access all the others.?ÿ (Unfortunately, I've not been able to convince my spouse to use one, but she's not interested in managing the critical financial accounts, so any damage resulting from her insecure habits will be limited.). With regard to succession planning, I put a document - sealed in an envelope with instructions to open only upon my death or incapacity -?ÿ with other important papers (stored in a safe) that provides clues to my master password that only my son would understand.?ÿ
It's not a perfect system, but better than an open-text list of keys to the kingdom.
Something else to keep in mind is that many accounts now have two factor authentication tied to a cell phone.?ÿ Despite having the account passwords, I lost access to several of my father's accounts after we canceled his cell phone when he passed last year.
@noodles?ÿ
Thank you so much for thinking of us.?ÿ It's truly an ordeal AND a learning experience.?ÿ I've dealt with the estates of both of my parents but never ran into any of this "new-fangled" stuff.?ÿ I guess from now on people will live forever within their Netflix, FB and Uber Eats accounts. 😉
@drakej6?ÿ
Yes, the phone is a big key to things.?ÿ I will be in possession of my son's phone by the end of the week..hopefully.?ÿ Another relative has it now and my attorney is leaning on them to produce it.?ÿ This party hasn't been up to anything nefarious from what I can tell but hasn't been forthcoming.?ÿ I'm keeping the account active and monitoring it.
@paden-cash?ÿ ?ÿ
My condolences for the loss of your son.?ÿ
Did your son have a passport? If so, some agencies that require a social security card will honor the passport in leu of the actual card.?ÿ Just a fleeting thought.
Thank you for sharing your experience so we can avoid these pitfalls falling on our surviving relatives.
Similar when my Mom passed. Those who refused to cooperate got the full fair credit treatment. We sent requests for proof of debt and demanded everything be handled via snail mail. As a result they never collected.
I'll treat folks fair if they let me..?ÿ
I have a shortcut to a word document now 12 pages long called passwords.
Are you saving the old passwords too?ÿ?ÿ ???/?
