The Lemon Fool

I am an executor for my mothers estate with a sibling and we now have probate. Her estate is largely in shares which are currently held with a full fee broker. My sibling was wondering whether we could dispose of them more cheaply by transferring to a cheaper broker but we would have to open a new account to do this.
On enquiring at my usual on line broker they cannot handle accounts other than in personal or company names. I would wish to open the account in the name of the estate does any one know any broker who can do this or has other suggestions?

Backache wrote:I am an executor for my mothers estate with a sibling and we now have probate. Her estate is largely in shares which are currently held with a full fee broker. My sibling was wondering whether we could dispose of them more cheaply by transferring to a cheaper broker but we would have to open a new account to do this.
On enquiring at my usual on line broker they cannot handle accounts other than in personal or company names. I would wish to open the account in the name of the estate does any one know any broker who can do this or has other suggestions?

Don't know, but do check any exit fees from the full fee broker first. Transferring them may be more expensive than just selling them anyway!

mc2fool wrote:

Backache wrote:I am an executor for my mothers estate with a sibling and we now have probate. Her estate is largely in shares which are currently held with a full fee broker. My sibling was wondering whether we could dispose of them more cheaply by transferring to a cheaper broker but we would have to open a new account to do this.
On enquiring at my usual on line broker they cannot handle accounts other than in personal or company names. I would wish to open the account in the name of the estate does any one know any broker who can do this or has other suggestions?

Don't know, but do check any exit fees from the full fee broker first. Transferring them may be more expensive than just selling them anyway!

There is also the danger when switching that you lose some history which might be helpful when dealing with the taxman.

Backache wrote:I am an executor for my mothers estate with a sibling and we now have probate. Her estate is largely in shares which are currently held with a full fee broker. My sibling was wondering whether we could dispose of them more cheaply by transferring to a cheaper broker but we would have to open a new account to do this.
On enquiring at my usual on line broker they cannot handle accounts other than in personal or company names. I would wish to open the account in the name of the estate does any one know any broker who can do this or has other suggestions?

One possibility would be to transfer the shares into your sole name, so that you could then sell them through your online broker. There's usually no charge by the registrars for a probate transfer.

Backache wrote:I am an executor for my mothers estate with a sibling and we now have probate. Her estate is largely in shares which are currently held with a full fee broker. My sibling was wondering whether we could dispose of them more cheaply by transferring to a cheaper broker but we would have to open a new account to do this.
On enquiring at my usual on line broker they cannot handle accounts other than in personal or company names. I would wish to open the account in the name of the estate does any one know any broker who can do this or has other suggestions?

Open a separate account in your own name, then operate that account in your capacity as executor.

"Separate" here means an account held with a broker that you otherwise have no dealings with. You may have to link that account with your personal current account, but provided you promptly transfer any proceeds to the executors account, (so your bank statement shows identical sums going in then out) no question of impropriety should arise.