I have a query regarding your recent article on wills. You seemed to be advocating withdrawing money from bank accounts or superannuation funds after the will-maker has died and before the financial institutions are notified. Is this legal?

If so, why can’t the executors remove all monies from a superannuation fund before informing the fund of the death of the account holder and so avoid the 17 per cent high tax normally incurred? This is clearly not allowed otherwise everyone would do it! I would be grateful if you could clarify this point.

It’s important to clarify strategies to save on superannuation ‘death tax’, as there are certain methods that will not work after death.Credit:

There is no suggestion about withdrawing money from superannuation to save the death tax after the member has died. My advice was to have the superannuation withdrawn before the death of the deceased because the strategy will not work after death.

Keep in mind that the money must be physically paid before death, which is why it is important to give the........

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