Due to the financial crisis my mother's investment income stream has been frozen. Can you advise a way in which we can access these funds?

Q.

I am currently endeavouring to execute my deceased mother's estate and both myself and my solicitor have hit a brick wall with three investments comprising two income streams and one managed fund. Due to the financial crisis the companies involved have frozen their funds with one allowing minimal quarterly withdrawals - at this point it is estimated that it will take almost five and a half years to withdraw the funds at the current rate available. We have been advised that there are no provisions to have funds released to deceased estates which seems rather ridiculous. It would be appreciated if you could advise of any avenues available to access the funds other than transferring the investments into the names of the beneficiaries.

If these are quality mortgage trusts you can take some comfort in the knowledge that the beneficiaries will eventually get paid. I suggest you approach the companies as a first step becuase they sometimes release funds in these circumstances - if that does not work you will have to request a transfer in specie.