Consumer complaint received 2022-05-26
Company: JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
State: MI
Product: Checking or savings account
Sub-product: Other banking product or service
Issue: Opening an account
Sub-issue: Unable to open an account

Complaint:
In XXXX, XXXX, my grandma XXXX XXXX passed away in South Carolina, leaving her final estate to her son, XXXX XXXX XXXX, also of South Carolina. XXXX never accessed XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX account and was unaware of the funds available that had passed to him, as XXXX only living heir. In XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX passed away, leaving his estate to his son, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) and daughter, XXXX XXXX. XXXX resides in Michigan and has attempted to rectify this account on multiple occasions but XXXX  XXXX XXXX has refused to issue the funds. 

In XXXX, XXXX attempted to rectify this account with XXXX  XXXX XXXX on the phone as he lives in Michigan. This was not able to be done. In XXXX, XXXX was in South Carolina for another family funeral and once again tried to rectify this XXXX  XXXX XXXX account of his late grandmother XXXX and XXXX XXXX. 

On XX/XX/2022, XXXX went to XXXX XXXX XXXX in South Carolina and paid {$69.00} to have the small estate of XXXX XXXX passed to XXXX XXXX XXXX. He then paid another {$69.00} to have the small estate of XXXX XXXX XXXX passed to XXXX and XXXX. There is a signed Affidavit for Collection of personal property pursuant to small estate proceeding that was signed by a probate judge in XXXX XXXX on this date. 

On XX/XX/2022 XXXX  XXXX XXXX did not honor the probate court documents signed by a judge. 

Because XXXX does not reside in the state of South Carolina, he was forced to attempt to rectify this estate over the phone with XXXX  XXXX XXXX. This took several phone calls over the following weeks in which it was escalated to several different departments. Shortly before XX/XX/2022 someone from XXXX of XXXX apologized and reported that a check had been cut to the estate of XXXX XXXX XXXX. It was received by XXXX on XX/XX/2022. This along with an XXXX XXXX Affidavit for Collection of Property was signed by a notary on XX/XX/2022 with the good faith that this check would be established in a new estate account at XXXX bank. 

On XX/XX/2022 documents were provided to Chase Bank, where XXXX banks, in XXXX Michigan. These documents were sent over to legal for Chase bank. On XX/XX/2022 XXXX was told by Chase bank that he needed to go to XXXX Probate and provide the probate court with the XXXX XXXX XXXX for Personal Representative. 

On XX/XX/2022 XXXX with to XXXX Probate court and was immediately told this paperwork would do him no good as his father, XXXX XXXX XXXX, never resided in the state of Michigan and the South Carolina probate paperwork should be sufficient documentation for the bank. 

On XX/XX/2022 XXXX went BACK to Chase bank in XXXX, Michigan where more documents were sent BACK to their LEGAL team. 

At this point, it has been made clear that banking institutions need more training in the legal documentation and processing of estate claims. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THIS HARD! Banks should not have the power to hold funds from an estate for 2 YEARS and still fight family who is owed this money. 

Neither Bank XXXX XXXX in South Carolina nor the legal department Chase bank in XXXX know how to rectify this situation. It appears that XXXX  XXXX XXXX in South Carolina has cut a check to the Estate of XXXX XXXX XXXX knowing full well it could never be cashed. 

Chase " legal '' department has no resolution to this problem and still has not communicated if or when it may ever honor the estate account to cash the check from the estate. 

This. Is. Enough.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation