We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Distributing an estate
Options

greshoff
Posts: 27 Forumite
I am in the process of sorting out my mother-in-laws estate. Probate has been applied for and we have the interview tomorrow. Once probate has been granted we can go about collecting the the funds from the various sources and depositing into executors account. We will get a deed of appointment drawn up. My question is regarding the distribution of the estate to the beneficiaries, does this process need to be overseen of witnessed by a solicitor or can the funds just be distributed as per the will & deed of appointment.
0
Comments
-
My question is regarding the distribution of the estate to the beneficiaries, does this process need to be overseen of witnessed by a solicitor or can the funds just be distributed as per the will & deed of appointment.
No need to involve solicitors. Just keep good records and make them avaliable if anyone queries your distribution.0 -
Thanks, Would also be interested to hear from others who have gone through this process.0
-
You don't need a solicitor - just keep accounts which probably no one will ever ask for.
What's a deed of appointment - never heard of it? Unless you mean the Probate document - you don't need anything separate.0 -
My mother in laws will was written before changes to the inheritance tax liability were made and her will stipulates that the estate is put into trust. The deed of appointment is a legal document that enables the trustees to distribute the contents of the trust without the need to set up the trust. It is more complicated than this & I'm sure someone with more knowledge will clarify0
-
Dad's will is similar: my co-executor and I have sent cheques out to our siblings 'as and when' largish sums came in from his various bank accounts. We've kept some back in case we need to pay for professional advice.
If we were asked to show where the money's gone, it's all in a Google docs spreadsheet, and backed up by the bank statements.Signature removed for peace of mind0 -
My mother in laws will was written before changes to the inheritance tax liability were made and her will stipulates that the estate is put into trust. The deed of appointment is a legal document that enables the trustees to distribute the contents of the trust without the need to set up the trust. It is more complicated than this & I'm sure someone with more knowledge will clarify
You mean Deed of Variation I think - that makes much more sense.0 -
You mean Deed of Variation I think - that makes much more sense.Signature removed for peace of mind0
-
Although over here and no trust involved or anything like that, I just paid out to the beneficiaries when all the money was available and backed up by statements/receipts etc
I didn't even open a separate bank account - did it all out of my personal one. Nothing has ever been queried or anything.0 -
No, there is something called a Deed of Appointment which does what greshoff describes.
Ah - I see now. Tks for the clarification0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards