[RGValleyGal]

My husband died seven years ago. He died intestate (no will). I recently got a check from his credit card company via his bank that paid back the money they took in error from his bank account to pay a bank loan. He had insurance on the loan for in case of disability so the account would be paid each month. But in error, they kept dipping in and took payments from his acct. along with receiving money from his acct. insurance. So finally, here it is, seven (going on eight!) years and I am getting the money back. Because it was made out to Estate of **** , **** Executor, I had to get the required EIN number to open an account to cash it. I am trying to get a debit card to pay off a few bills, including some personal loans, and since it was household money at the time, I want to use most of it to replace some worn out household things that we would have replaced had he lived.

Can the bank issue me online banking privileges just like with a regular acct?
Can the bank issue me a debit card to use for making these payments and purchases?
How or what do I need to do re: the EIN? Income is too low to file taxes so I won't have to file taxes on my income. All of his taxes were current. He was self-employed.

Advice, please? I am 63,disabled and live in HUD housing and have little resources. But definitely don't want to end up in jail by making a wrong move.

[Fr_Chuck]

Some may require notice of probate, did you previously file probate on any estate.

I know when one of my family passed, we just let some minor money go unclaimed, it was cheaper to do that, than to file a probate claim.

[RGValleyGal]

In Texas, we have to file a small estate probate on any estate below a certain dollar amount if there is no will. I am just going to take out the money to pay some old bills that are left from him. However, they don't show as being owed, think they are written off... Also, he had started to pay for a new set of dentures for me, so I imagine as the account is in his name, I can pay them off with the money. It is money that would have been jointly used... and with his name on that account at the dentist's office, I am sure it would be OK to use it for that. Sadly, he had just applied for $1M in insurance and his blood work showed problem with his liver and he had a biopsy when they took his gallbladder out and he had liver cancer. That is the most horrible cancer to have. He lived only 10 months after diagnosis. Never knew he had a problem except upset stomach and he had a few gallstones. Thanks, Fr_Chuck