Consumer complaint received 2016-09-28
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: PA
Product: Bank account or service
Sub-product: Checking account
Issue: Account opening, closing, or management

Complaint:
I wish to register a complaint against Wells Fargo in regards to my late husband 's checking account. Every time I show up to close the account, there seems to be another document need before I can close the account and have access to the money. 
Day 1 : The individual on the XXXX number said I needed the Death Certificate and our Marriage license would be helpful. 
Day 2 : The individual at the bank said I additionally needed the " Paid '' receipt from the funeral home. 
Day 3 : I arrived with a copy of the invoice and the cancelled check. Apparently, this is not valid and I need a bill that is actually marked " paid ''. So he calls the funeral home and they fax it to him. That problem easily soldved. He additionally calls their legal department and it seems my husband and I forgot to name beneficiaries on our checking accounts. So I am informed I also need one of the following XXXX items : a ) Small Estate Affidavit b ) Probate Documents c ) Small Estate Court Order. I was also " advised '' that I should seek legal council without identifying what the problem is. 
Day 4 : I arrive with a Small Estate Affidavit from XXXX County XXXX where we live. The individual again calls the legal department to confirm that I have all necessary documents. Apparently there is still another document. I am given a " Non-Resident -Decedent Affidavit of Domicile ''. Again, I am " advised '' to seek legal council without identifying what the problem is. 
Day 5 : I arrive with the " Non-Resident -Decedent Affidavit of Domicile '' completed and someone there at the branch notarizes it. The individual at the branch again calls the legal department to verify I have supplied all the required documents. Apparently not. I need probate documents from XXXX, not XXXX ( so much for XXXX County XXXX ). AGAIN, I am " advised '' to seek legal council. I am now required to probate this checking account in the State of XXXX. The legal department said that because my husband opened the account in XXXX that it is considered XXXX property subject to New Jersey laws. XXXX??? 
Day 6 : I travel to county courthouse in XXXX County XXXX for guidance. After looking at me with disbelief and telling me the same thing everyone else has, that Wells Fargo is wrong, the individual called Wells Fargo to verify what I was saying. To her continued disbelief at what Wells Fargo told her, she tells me how to probate this in XXXX. I now need additional documents AND a few hundred dollars!!! 
What I do not understand here, is that Wells Fargo is a national bank with branches all over the country. People use national banks for their advertised conveniences. Avoiding the opening and closing of checking accounts when moving is at the top of the list of conveniences. It also avoids impacts to consumer credit scores. 
In this country, we have freedom of movement between our states. We come and go at our leisure. So why is it that when someone packs up and physically moves their personal possessions from one state to another and appropriately changes their address to the new state, HOW IS IT THAT THEIR CASH REMAINS BEHIND LIKE A PIECE OF REAL ESTATE??? No consumer even remotely thinks like this. 
I want the money from my husband 's checking account. I think Wells Fargo has unjustly put up too many road blocks. I think they have enough documentation to release the money to me. Why do I need to probate and spend money in XXXX?

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation