What to do when someone dies - new guide feedback

HUMBUG

I am struggling with the paperwork to close all my mother's accounts and get replies from each institution stating their own bespoke processes.

I don't understand why Nsandi and some private pension institutions insist on having to send them the original will . When I apply for probate , one has to send the original will which they will keep and not return.

I suspect these institutions will probably accept the probate form if I told them I don't have the original (although I did pay £25 to the solicitor to create a 'certified copy'). Maybe these institutions will accept the certified copy rather than the original (if they still insist on seeing the will).

Filling out the IHT205 and Probate form took me some time but the Probate Helpdesk were pretty good (once you are able to get through to them) . It can be frustrating waiting for over 15 mins on the phone just to clarify some understanding of certain sections of the forms.

Its taken me many hours (maybe 100's of hours) doing all this admin work, registering death, visiting/phoning/writing/emailing to banks/building societies/private pension companies, etc . 'Tell Us Once ' was a very good process and hopefully will stop all the state pension and benefit payments plus inform the local council to amend their records. Still had to inform my mother's GP practice , diabetic screening depts , free travel pass , hearing aid institutions, etc etc.

So much to do when you still trying to recover from the emotional turmoil plus organise 'funeral service/burial/reception function'/ 'notifications to relatives /friends', etc.

I am hoping the Govt will insist on all 'banks/building socs/ pension companies / share holding platform companies' to maybe 'standardise/operate' using the same set of rules (including probate tiered thresholds) and maybe have a similar 'Tell Us Once' process.

Would save on all the stress that the immediate family have to go through.

[Deleted User]

The only place I sent the original will was to the Probate Office.

NS&I bereavement guidelines & claim form say "The Executor needs to send:

• A registrar’s copy of the death certificate (original or a certified copy).
• The Will (original or a copy certified by a solicitor). "

However, when I contacted my relative's solicitor to obtain the original will, they asked me if I wanted any copies. I was expecting to pay for & receive certified copies, but in fact they just sent me photocopies of the original will, telling me this was all I needed. And it was.
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HUMBUG

Dilbert999 wrote: »

The only place I sent the original will was to the Probate Office.

NS&I bereavement guidelines & claim form say "The Executor needs to send:

• A registrar’s copy of the death certificate (original or a certified copy).
• The Will (original or a copy certified by a solicitor). "

However, when I contacted my relative's solicitor to obtain the original will, they asked me if I wanted any copies. I was expecting to pay for & receive certified copies, but in fact they just sent me photocopies of the original will, telling me this was all I needed. And it was.
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So NSANDI accepted your photocopied will? That's good news.

The other big issue I've found is with Royal Life Insurance. My father took out life insurance to cover his funeral costs and the money would go to my mother if he died. But seeing that my mother has died before him , they are now asking for all sorts of docs to get the beneficiary name changed (ie. to my sister).

They want either the original (or certified copy) of my mother's birth certificate, my parents original (or certified copy) of their marriage certificate, etc etc. I told them my parents were born abroad and they got married in 1954 and don't have those docs anymore. Now they are asking for my fathers original passport or a certified copy . It really is a lot to expect grieving family members to sort out. Why can't they just accept the grant of probate? Isn't that enough?

Mojisola

HUMBUG wrote: »

The other big issue I've found is with Royal Life Insurance. My father took out life insurance to cover his funeral costs and the money would go to my mother if he died. But seeing that my mother has died before him , they are now asking for all sorts of docs to get the beneficiary name changed (ie. to my sister).

We had this same problem - the insurance company behaved as if it was the first time they'd come across it although it must happen a lot.

Our solicitor eventually got them to pay the money into Dad's estate but it took ages.

Keep_pedalling

HUMBUG wrote: »

So NSANDI accepted your photocopied will? That's good news.

The other big issue I've found is with Royal Life Insurance. My father took out life insurance to cover his funeral costs and the money would go to my mother if he died. But seeing that my mother has died before him , they are now asking for all sorts of docs to get the beneficiary name changed (ie. to my sister).

They want either the original (or certified copy) of my mother's birth certificate, my parents original (or certified copy) of their marriage certificate, etc etc. I told them my parents were born abroad and they got married in 1954 and don't have those docs anymore. Now they are asking for my fathers original passport or a certified copy . It really is a lot to expect grieving family members to sort out. Why can't they just accept the grant of probate? Isn't that enough?

It sounds like the policy was written in trust for your mother, so it is not actually part of your father’s estate which is why they will not pay it to his executor based on probate.

The insurence company will want to ensure 100% that the payment goes where it should do. The mistake was made when taking out the policy. Making your spouse the sole beneficiary when there is a 50% chance they will die first is risking this sort of issue for your children / executors.

Mojisola

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

It sounds like the policy was written in trust for your mother, so it is not actually part of your father’s estate which is why they will not pay it to his executor based on probate.

The insurence company will want to ensure 100% that the payment goes where it should do. The mistake was made when taking out the policy. Making your spouse the sole beneficiary when there is a 50% chance they will die first is risking this sort of issue for your children / executors.

In our case, it was a very old 'penny' policy taken out in the 1940s - literally just a penny or two a week.

The company wanted to pay out to Mum - the solicitor pointed out that she was dead - they asked for probate info for her estate - everything she had was in joint names so her estate didn't go to probate - several months of going round in circles for a hundred and something pounds.

Savvy_Sue

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

The insurence company will want to ensure 100% that the payment goes where it should do. The mistake was made when taking out the policy. Making your spouse the sole beneficiary when there is a 50% chance they will die first is risking this sort of issue for your children / executors.

Good thought.

[Deleted User]

For NS&I, I would give them a call if you have any concerns, as I found them extremely helpful. I didn't have to send all the bonds back either (there were lots of them), and NS&I just asked me to be sure to destroy them, once I'd sent them a copy of Grant of Probate & the funds had been released.
Previously I was POA for this relative and I'd been through all the identity checks with NS&I, so maybe this facilitated the process for probate..

midgetsmum

Was wondering if anyone had any advice? My uncle was supposed to fly to Australia in December to visit my cousin. Unfortunately, he passed away in November. The tickets were booked through Opodo, and they said if they got the death certificate they could arrange a refund. My cousin has had to contact them 4 times since then. Every time they've said that she hasn't sent the death certificate, oh wait yes they've actually received it, but they haven't forwarded it to the airline yet. They initially guaranteed her that she'd have her refund within 3 months, then after 4 months passed said she’d get it within a week, but we're now into May and there's no sign of a refund and they're now saying "oh, but it's a non-refundable ticket".


Has anyone else had experience getting a refund for an airline ticket that can't be used due to death of the passenger? The only information I can find is about a passenger getting a refund because they can't travel due to bereavement, and then it only seems to be a goodwill gesture from the airlines. This is causing my cousin no end of stress and sleepless nights, when she's already got enough on her plate, plus the expense of calling Opodo from Australia.

JJA80

The owner of the house I was about to exchange on sadly died and I’m told I cannot exchange or complete on my purchase until probate is granted. My buyer’s buyer is threatening to pull out because of the delay, estimated at 3 months. I am prepared to sell and live with family until I can proceed with my purchase but only if the purchase is legally secure. I have been told that the only way my purchase can be secure is after exchange but the executors do not have the legal right to exchange until probate has been granted.
I am only interested in this particular house so cannot risk selling before I buy unless my purchase can be legally secure and the executors can proceed.
Is there any way my purchase can be made legally secure before probate has been granted?