Devious SIL or....AIBU

Who is the executor of the will? I would expect your husband to have been a joint executor with his sister. If your SiL isn't an executor, she has no right to make decisions about the disposal of property. I think you would be within your rights to consult a solicitor.

If this is your husbands sister then it’s really between them and it’s not up to you to intervene. He should inform the bank that his Mum has died and then his Dad should inherit as per the will if that’s what it says.

It is a bit suspicious especially if you are correct about using her mother's bank card! That is illegal if she has used it since MIL died btw even if it is a joint account with FIL! My question mark would be over what your FIL is agreeing to without reference to his son, your husband! A bit odd!!

However it really is for your husband to sort out and if he is unwilling to do that then I think you have to abide by his wishes

Regarding the jewellery...it just isn't worth getting hung up on in my view!

Madgran77 the account is in MIL name only. MIL died in May and bank account statement was left on table showing transactions to beauty therapies! Looks like she is dipping in whenever she wants money. Recently had a holiday to gran Canaria! If bank find out she will be in trouble for fraud. DH putting head in sand.

Sheian57 I understand how you feel. In your position I would feel the same. I assume you have brought to your DH's attention that his sister is using money from their mother's account to fund her life style and the evidence you have seen, but unless your DH is prepared to take action, there really is nothing you can do.

If the bank account is in MIL name only and MIL died in May the bank should have been informed immediately and a stop put on the account.

Only if an account is in joint names can another person use that account.

Your DH needs to inform the bank and the solicitor.

I think.....that wills cause more problems within families than anything else and are not worth getting yourself worked up about.

I’m sure it is illegal to withdraw funds from a bank account, knowing the account holder is deceased, even if the person withdrawing the funds had power of attorney.
Perhaps you could tell your SiL this and point out that she might be prosecuted once the bank finds out, as they will eventually.

I’d be inclined to speak to the bank plus get legal advise ASAP, so many people are greedy and deceptive where Wills are concerned.

why do people do this? so many reasons why, greed,hurt,or just bad people.My ex SIL put the house she lived in till her mum was put in a nursing home in her name without consulting anyone, denying my sons or their mother any inheritance. apparantly my ex is going to contest it at some point. the family was a relatively friendly one! this area is such a sad reflection of the dark side of human nature.

If it's your SiL's mum then it's not your business. Hand the responsibility over to your DH, it's his family.

Squabbles after death certainly seems to show the greed and nature of some people.

I feel very strongly about such matters. Unless it is a joint account taking money out of it is a criminal offence - theft! The bank should be informed and The account should be frozen until probate is granted. If it was me I would be informing the bank ASAP.

I would inform the bank of your MIL's death (you'll need a Death Certificate) because they should have been informed and anyone drawing funds is acting illegally. You don't have to say anything to the bank about your SIL. Leave the other matters to your husband and just forget about the jewellery, which is trivial.

Apart from the moral issues here, there is a legal obligation to inform the bank. If your SIL is drawing money from the account then there may not be any left eventually for Dad. Speak to a solicitor.

The love of money is the root of all evil. If the bank account is being used as you suspect it is fraud - pure and simple. Inform the bank with as much information as you are able to provide - name, address of deceased account holder and the person who is fraudulently using the account etc and let the bank deal with it. Good luck

This might catch up with her at some point. If she's had a pension paid into the account which suddenly stops that may raise a red flag. I think it's very important that the bank is notified. You need to press your DH to ensure this happens, even if it just to protect himself from any risk of being accused of collusion if any legal issues arise.

some helpful info here:-
www.thebalance.com/power-of-attorney-duties-3974714

www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once?step-by-step-nav=4f1fe77d-f43b-4581-baf9-e2600e2a2b7a

Have a look at this helpful and clear article Sheian57

www.bankrate.com/uk/current-accounts/what-happens-to-your-bank-account-when-you-die/

There's only one thing I'd be doing today if I were you and that would be alerting the relevant bank with the facts. Leave them to deal thereafter. I disagree with the posters who say this is your husband's concern. Oh no, not when your daughter is involved. Good luck.

If your dh does not want to talk to bank to tell them his dm has died then You should do so including telling them the date of death. If your sil has been dipping into this money then she will have to explain why and for what purpose to the bank. If she has taken money for holidays and beauty treatments for herself then this theft. Who is the executive to you mil will? You could inform them what has been happening. I know this is your husbands sister but really she has not been behaving well as the money should have gone to her dh as per her will.

Was your husband not the executor of the will also?
If there is just the two children he should have stepped in before all this commotion
My Parents passed with in a year of each other and the two eldest children were executors
He needs to step up before it is too late

You must inform the bank and solicitor, this is a criminal act by your SIL.

The solicitor should have ensured it was your FiL's wishes that were being recorded in the new will, not SiL's. When I went with Mum to get her will reviewed and amended the solicitor was very careful to ensure Mum spoke not me. I agree that bank account should be closed and that your SiL shouldn't be using it for her own spending!

I think you should notify the bank of the date of your MIL's death and say simply that you happened to see a bank statement and noticed there have been withdrawals using her bank card since that date. Whether you tell them your SIL is involved is up to you. They will do their own investigations and may take legal action against her. The longer she continues to use the account the worse it could be for her.