What to do when a partner/spouse dies.

Mary_Hartnell

How much money is the whole shooting match worth?
Your biggest hurdle is getting the OK from HMR&C if there is significant value in the estate (it is a TAX raising exercise), only then can you apply for probate and do what the will instructs you to do.
Who organised the funeral?.

The "Which?" guides are good.

amersall

Just Heard David Camerons Son Who Has Cerebal Palsy Has Died.( I Did Not Know Where To post This )but I Am Sure We Would Like To Pass On Our Condolences To David And His Family At This Sad Time

Julie_Fisk

My mother has died. She was widowed and she has not left a will. My brother and I are her only surviving children. Can anyone direct me to reputable probate site? Preferably information based and one someone has used themselves?

JoBridger

Hi Julie
I work for Kings Court Trust Corporation - a probate specialist. I thought I should declare that right at the start. I'm not pushing any of their services but they do offer a free help line for probate. You just pay the cost of the local rate call. It is 0845 126 0891 and provides free advice about probate and what to do when someone dies.

I hope it is not an intrusion to mention it here but I thought it might be useful for you Julie and for others.

Michelle12_2

I would recommend using www.probate.cc, i used this myself when my grandmother passed away they gave me great advice and i got all the information i needed.

Mary_Hartnell

I would start with the "Which" books. Once you have got your head round the concept, then you will be able to ask intelligent questions.
In Autumn 2007 there was a major change in Inheritance Tax in that the unused proportion of the zero rate band (up to 312K) became transferable from the first legal partner (eg husband) to die to be used in the estate of the second death.
(I mention this because. should you get your hands on an out of date book, there will be a lot of advice on the importance of using the whole zero rate band on the first death)

Julie_Fisk

Thank you everyone who replied to my question - you have given me a good starting point. Its difficult when you have no experience in matters like this.

tly175

Help! I think I read over 2 hours ago, a request from ML for readers to post their experiences following the death of someone close. Has ML produced such a list of things to do before and after, yet? My searches are not finding anything concise & the grey (OK- the very grey!) matter is struggling now. Thanks.

Mary_Hartnell

Don't wait until you need "lasting power of attorney" - it is a shambles and takes months to be granted, I have heard.

lindos90

Not up to reading through all 19 pages, wondered if anyone can point me in the right direction please, on behalf of my husbands family.

My mother in law has just died, and sadly she did not leave a will. (My father in law died last year)

She had no savings, apart from a very small percentage of the house she lived in, however we are concerned that solicitor fees, surveys etc will be much more expensive than her estate is worth, can anyone suggest what to do?

Ive seen a link to a probate web site earlier in the thread, but is this just in relation to a will (as it mentioned executors)

We really dont know where to start, we would be happy for her 'estate' to be handed to the family members who lived with her and cared for her, but as she has no will, we are beginning to see other family members rubbing their hands, its just horrible.

Can anyone help?