My mum died last year, and as her affairs were relatively simple i decided to execute the estate myself. It wasn't that complicated really, just time-consuming. I've settled the inheritance tax account and got Letters of Administration.

I've closed all her accounts but one – with Birmingham Midshires. They say "we will require a solicitor's stamp on the Statutory Declaration form as the total amount of funds invested is above £5k".

She had larger amounts with other banks and they didn't ask for anything of the sort. I'm loathe to pay for a solictor to simply stamp a form, especially when BM couldn't explain why they needed one ("its company procedure").

Any thoughts anyone? Sorry for the long post & rubbish rant. I'll try and redeem it. Er…

Birmingham Midshires can %$£* their £$%^# with a ****ing "£$%, and *%^% the ****** melon. ^)*"s.