Are You Responsible for Settling the Estate of a Deceased Co-op Member?
In order to allow for the timely settlement of a member’s estate, Eastern Maine Electric Co-op has made provision for the early retirement of a deceased member’s capital credits. This is only necessary, however, when there is no surviving co-member to receive general retirements of capital credits.
Capital credits are records of a member's patronage capital-- that is, their contingent equity interest in Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative. Under certain circumstances, electric co-ops can "retire" patronage capital, converting it to cash and returning it to the members based on each member's contribution to positive margins. EMEC hopes to issue regular retirements of small percentages of patronage capital in the years ahead. Once a member's estate has been closed, however, future disbursements are unlikely to reach their heirs. For this reason, it is possible to request the early retirement of a deceased member's capital credits.
A request for early retirements can be made, subject to the Co-op’s financial considerations and the following conditions:
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No debt remains in the name of the deceased
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The membership was single, or both co-members are deceased.
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A representative of the deceased's estate sends a certified copy of the death certificate;
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A written request is made by the legal representative of the estate
Mail to:
EMEC
Estate Retirement
P O Box 425
Calais, ME 04619
Upon approval of such a request, an early retirement of capital credits will be disbursed in a lump sum return on a discounted net-present-value basis. Such disbursements are made to the "Estate of" the deceased. If you represent the estate but are unable to deposit a check in the name of the deceased, a signed and notarized affidavit can indemnify the cooperative and permit the Co-op to disburse the retirement in your name.
