As some of our regulars are aware, I am a long time poster who lives in the US with my Canadian husband. Unfortunately, he passed away last month and I am left to deal with the Canadian equivalent of social security and with his military pension. Both agencies are slow but at least user friendly. However, he had bank accounts in Canada where he received his old age benefits and military pension. Said bank is ScotiaBank and he used their Ottawa office.

I have been attempting to contact their assistant manager since last Wednesday. I have logged over 15 calls and never have received call back. Their 800 number said the only way to claim the monies is to go in person to the Ottawa office with various documentation. Right ... I'm going to fly from Mississippi to Ottawa Canada. For me that is a number of flights, i.e. Gulfport, MS to Atlanta, GA to NYC, NY to Ottawa, Canada. And this is just to get there and then I have to get home. Never mind the cost of kennel charges for the two cats, hotel charges while in Ottawa and the return home. Even if I did that they would not release the funds to me. They would only release it to a ScotiaBank account that I would have to open up and then the funds are available only after 30 days.

Are these people for real or what?

You don't have the online credentials to login to his account?

Too late now, but probably should have had the money deposit into a joint account instead, makes those situations a lot simpler because then the account just goes to the surviving account holder.

Jim refused to put me on the account during our 27 years of marriage. Reason? He didn't want me to pay Canadian taxes He had the accounts since before our marriage. Makes sense? No but that was his reasoning. I have had no problems with US Bank Accounts that were solely in his name. Our local bank has been wonderful and Citibank in NYC has been great.

Solution? I am retaining the services of an attorney here in the US.

Don't assume the bank will allow any withdrawals to be made until a grant of probate has been issued if the bank learns of the death.

You may need to contact their Estates Dept.
You may need a grant of probate: https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-probate-estate

• Estate Department/General Inquiries: 1-800-472-6842 (Canada).
• Toronto/Outside Canada/USA (Collect): (416) 701-7200.
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing (Relay Services): 1-866-267-4726.
  
• You will generally need to provide the death certificate, the Will (if applicable), and your identification as the executor or authorized representative.

Also see: https://www.scotiabank.com/content/d...uide-Sheet.pdf
11.When I die, who can access my account?
On presenting a copy of your Death Certificate and either the Grant of Probate, Grant of Administration or Grant of Administration with Will Annexed, the Executor(s) of your estate can give the Bank instructions regarding your Account(s)