what happens now?

consumers_revenge

my mum passed away this morning.

on a practical level I/sister now need to sort things out.

anyone any idea what happens re gas/electricity/water o/s amounts?

thanks guys

Fairzo

Sorry to hear your news. Assuming that you and your sister will inherit the property, and from what I can remember from when my mother in law passed away a few years ago, the estate will be liable for the outstanding and ongoing accounts. Suggest you phone the relevant utilities when you feel able and explain the situation. Not sure what happens if there is a different executor though.

consumers_revenge

thanks for reply,

its a council flat. so unless any possible saving she had??

macman

Sorry to hear of your loss. Her estate will be liable for any existing debts and any future bills until such time as the council/HA take back possession.

spiro

macman wrote: »

Sorry to hear of your loss. Her estate will be liable for any existing debts and any future bills until such time as the council/HA take back possession.

Agree, at the point the council/HA take the property back meter readings should be provided to the suppliers and they will issue a final bill. You need to contact the supplier now to advise them so that the final bill is issued to the 'estate of'. What proof they require may vary but they normally have a specific team that deal with this.

consumers_revenge

is there any way of finding out what dd mum may be paying out.

I presume her car is now unisured, eg I cant move it on third party cover from mine?

anyone know if the council clear flats when they take them back?

BT wont cancel phone without a account number which I dont have access too.

very tearfull day!

macman

Can you not locate any old bills?
The car will still be insured if she has paid the premium.

Poosmate

consumers_revenge wrote: »

is there any way of finding out what dd mum may be paying out.

I presume her car is now unisured, eg I cant move it on third party cover from mine?

anyone know if the council clear flats when they take them back?

BT wont cancel phone without a account number which I dont have access too.

very tearfull day!

Hello CR, sorry to hear of your loss. Is there anyone else who can help you with sorting all this out? Sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles? Or a friend maybe? It does help to have someone who is less close to your mother who won't be feeling the pain you are suffering as much as you, they can be strong when you falter and give you much needed support.

Did your mother leave a will?

I'm not sure about the car/insurance, I would imagine if the car was insured fully comprehensively and you have insurance too then you should be able to drive that car.

Obviously you will have to return the keys to the flat back to the council at some point but you (your mother's estate) will be responsible for rent and bills up until you return the keys. Make sure you take meter readings when you leave the flat for the last time and if you're leaving any electrical items in there make sure they're unplugged.

You'll need to remove all of your mother's belongings before you hand back the keys (that is very daunting beforehand but can actually be quite therapeutic - lots of tears and maybe some laughs too). I know that sounds bizarre but she may have kept little things that you think "What the heck did she keep this for!?"

Also, you'll need to go through all of the paperwork she has to find bills, bank statements, pension/benefit stuff for all the reference number and account numbers for dealing with them. I don't envy you doing this, it feels like a real intrusion of the persons personal life, but it has to be done.

I believe the council will clear the flat of the stuff you leave but they may charge it to her estate. Harsh and cruel but you never know.

When my nan died, mom asked her sisters if there was any furniture or anything that any of them specifically wanted. She then held an open house for the grandchildren to come and take stuff. The sisters then took the remaiding stuff to a car boot sale and split the proceeds between them. Clothes were bagged up and taken to charity shops/care homes. Larger items like furniture was collected by a local charity. After that, there wasn't too much left that had to be binned. It's lovely to think that much of my nans possessions are in the homes of her family being cherished and used and other stuff went to help others.

There are things that you HAVE to do no matter how much you don't want to. It will hurt, but allow it to, it's grief. You will get through it eventually.

If it helps, try to think about if it was your stuff that someone was sorting out and how you would want them to deal with it. Obviously it would only help if you and your ma had similar views/traits/habits(?).

Take care of yourself, cry when you need to and you'll be strong when you need to be too. She'll always be with you in your heart.

Poo

consumers_revenge

both me and sister sorting.

quite alot sorted so far. but TBH when taking stuff out that I would use again I felt like I was robbing her!

macman

Sorry, but if she passed away only yesterday, isn't it a bit premature to start clearing the flat? You should surely wait until probate has been granted, assuming you are one of her executors?

consumers_revenge

its the first death I've dealt with.

dont know how long council give you? ( apparently a month? )

no estate as such, no will, no assets.