Fight or Flight? - friend despised daughter but didn't update old will.

Errata

Does anyone 'run' an estate before probate is obtained ? Not something I'd ever had cause to think about before, and I'd love to know the answer.

tandraig

as far as I know errata that is up to the solicitors dealing with the estate - I seem to remember my old boss moaning about having to deal with several rental properties contained within an estate - dunno why, as he just charged accordingly! the executors wouldnt be dealing with renters or anything as all legal documents should now be in the hands of the solicitors. I may be wrong - a lot may depend on the size of the estate and the executors former roles such as power of attorney etc (which has changed in recent years - so am even more unsure there).
I am not going to get into this debate on whether the OP is a moneygrubber or just a concerned party. I dont think that is up to us really is it? the question was posed and answered to the best of our knowledge. we dont have ALL the facts obviously, and so have to take posts at face value unless PROVED otherwise - and not just by other peoples opinions.

Savvy_Sue

I don't know about 'running' the estate, but I believe the executors are supposed to try to collect any debts owed to the deceased, so if there's a rental property that must include making sure the rent continues to be paid.

Errata

Sue - you're right but who 'runs' the estate between the death and the executors being given a grant of probate ? In my experience the NOK have sent a copy of the death certificate to debtors and the the estate has been settled after probate.

absolutely_skint

As the sister of the OP I can assure you that this whole situation is not about money grabbing or seeing what he can get out of the will. He is perfectly capable of standing on his own two feet and he will be doing exactly that once he has started to deal with the immeasurable loss of losing a very dear friend who was also a father figure to him. They had a very close relationship and he was most certainly not trying to take advantage of him-he in fact did an awful lot for him over the years...none of it for his own gain...just out of friendship. I think there are a lot of very cinical people out there. He may not have put over his side in the correct way but as many people have said..sometimes people just dont get around to "sorting out the paperwork" because of one reason or another, and also others do things via the old fashioned "my handshake is my contract" way. I appreciate everyone is entiltled to an opinion but I dont feel there is any need to be personal, which from what I read some people are. At the end of the day he was just asking for a little advice at a very difficult time. I would also like to thank all those who have posted with words of comfort and support.

Savvy_Sue

Errata wrote: »

Sue - you're right but who 'runs' the estate between the death and the executors being given a grant of probate ? In my experience the NOK have sent a copy of the death certificate to debtors and the the estate has been settled after probate.

Sorry, I have no idea how it works! I know with my dad that bank accounts have been 'frozen' once we've notified banks, so I don't know what's done with any income which is identified after this has happened - for example we've got a cheque from Ernie (Premium Bonds) which was issued before he died but hasn't yet been paid in ...

never_enough

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Sorry, I have no idea how it works! I know with my dad that bank accounts have been 'frozen' once we've notified banks, so I don't know what's done with any income which is identified after this has happened - for example we've got a cheque from Ernie (Premium Bonds) which was issued before he died but hasn't yet been paid in ...

Sue, you can pass the cheque over to the executor to deal with. If that's you then you should be able to add it to the account even though it has been frozen. It's the taking out of monies that's really an issue.

Savvy_Sue

thanks. I am co-executor, but my brother (t'other one) has the cheque. We'd just have to choose which account to pay it into!