Annuity owner wife elects lump sum option. Wife establishes rollover IRA with Vanguard, and coordinates with annuity company, and check is issued by annuity company to “Vanguard, for benefit of [wife] IRA.” Wife dies and 2 days later the check arrives to husband and wife’s home. About 45 days have passed since Wife died.
Husband, who was named beneficiary of the annuity contract, eventually contacts Vanguard, and they tell him they won’t take the check since wife died. Husband contacts annuity company and they say they can only issue the check to wife’s estate, not to husband as primary beneficiary so husband can rollover to his IRA.
Husband does not want to open estate, Wife’s only asset was annuity, and Wife had some debts in her name alone.
Thoughts on options. Thanks.