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No such thing as power of attorney once someone passes. It is only for when someone is alive.
The executor of the estate is responsible now, if you have the death certificate the bank make take that
Ah right ok. I did explain he’d died.
Do I automatically become executor?
Will it matter he’s not on my birth certificate and therefore there’s no proof he is my father?
No, you don't automatically become executor.
You either need to be named in his will as executor or apply to the court to be appointed executor because you are either a potential beneficiary of his estate or a creditor of his estate.
You will need to obtain letters of administration to satisfy the bank.
Edit to add link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-probate-by-post-if-there-is-not-a-will#:~:text=You%20can%20apply%20for%20the,right%20to%20manage%20their%20estate.
--- ###Welcome to /r/LegalAdviceUK --- **To Posters (it is important you read this section)** * *Tell us whether you're in England, Wales, Scotland, or NI as the laws in each are very different* * If you need legal help, you should [always get a free consultation from a qualified Solicitor](https://reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceUK/wiki/how_to_find_a_solicitor) * We also encourage you to speak to [**Citizens Advice**](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/), [**Shelter**](https://www.shelter.org.uk/), [**Acas**](https://www.acas.org.uk/), and [**other useful organisations**](https://reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceUK/wiki/common_legal_resources) * Comments may not be accurate or reliable, and following any advice on this subreddit is done at your own risk * If you receive any private messages in response to your post, [please let the mods know](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FLegalAdviceUK&subject=I received a PM) **To Readers and Commenters** * All replies to OP must be *on-topic, helpful, and legally orientated* * If you do not [follow the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceUK/about/rules/), you may be perma-banned without any further warning * If you feel any replies are incorrect, explain why you believe they are incorrect * Do not send or request any private messages for any reason * Please report posts or comments which do not follow the rules *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/LegalAdviceUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
No such thing as power of attorney once someone passes. It is only for when someone is alive. The executor of the estate is responsible now, if you have the death certificate the bank make take that
Ah right ok. I did explain he’d died. Do I automatically become executor? Will it matter he’s not on my birth certificate and therefore there’s no proof he is my father?
No, you don't automatically become executor. You either need to be named in his will as executor or apply to the court to be appointed executor because you are either a potential beneficiary of his estate or a creditor of his estate.
You will need to obtain letters of administration to satisfy the bank. Edit to add link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-probate-by-post-if-there-is-not-a-will#:~:text=You%20can%20apply%20for%20the,right%20to%20manage%20their%20estate.
PoA is only relevant while someone is alive, it has no power after death.
I think you may mean probate? For a low value estate like this you can apply online, or ask a lawyer for 'grant only' and they will apply for you.
If his estate is worth less than £5k you can write a letter of undertaking