Please help..

jimmypounder

Evening Everyone,

Last night my father in law passed away, and I have offered to help sort out the money situation for my mother in law.

To give you a bit of background he was 71 and had state pension and some private pensions, and she is 70 and only receives £270ish in state pension a month.

Joe has outstanding credit card debt and a payment arrangement which needs sorting.

The only problem is i have no idea were to start? anybody dealt with this before?

Do i start with sorting out my mother in laws income first or contact the creditors to avoid them hassling her (which no doubt they will...)

Any advice would be helpful.

Jimmy

MusicalLawyer

I am pretty sure that if the FIL's CC was in his name only, then it will get written off - that is the general rule under Contract Law anyway from what I remember.

All you'd have to do is ring the CC company and tell them he has passed. They may want proof, if they do they will tell you what you can provide to prove this. As it is only one CC, I don't imagine it taking more than 10 minutes to sort out.

I would say deal with the MIL income first.

Bettingmad

jimmypounder wrote: »

Evening Everyone,

Last night my father in law passed away, and I have offered to help sort out the money situation for my mother in law.

To give you a bit of background he was 71 and had state pension and some private pensions, and she is 70 and only receives £270ish in state pension a month.

Joe has outstanding credit card debt and a payment arrangement which needs sorting.

The only problem is i have no idea were to start? anybody dealt with this before?

Do i start with sorting out my mother in laws income first or contact the creditors to avoid them hassling her (which no doubt they will...)

Any advice would be helpful.

Jimmy

Were they joint debts or single? have a look at the link below, it may give some answers
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/DebtsAndArrears/DG_10013093

jimmypounder

Thanks for the quick replies, the debts are all in FIL's name..

I am finding out tomorrow about any life insurance payouts, what impact would that have?

fatbelly

Credit cards are always in one name. A second card holder would not be liable. His debts were his debts and should be dealt with by the executor. Did he leave a will?

There's more info and a pdf link here

jimmypounder

he didnt leave a will, no assets to divide, there flat is a council property..

tallyhoh

any debt repayments would come out of his estate ( including insurance money) after funeral costs have been paid. If theres no money left then thats an end to it.

Run your MIL details through the link below to make sure she gets whats shes entitled to. Dont forget to inform the council regarding the tenancy & the council tax office.

www.turn2us.org.uk

Pollycat

This link might help you with what needs to be done:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/WhatToDoAfterADeath/DG_10029808

When you register the death, you'll be asked how many copies of the certificate you'll need.
The pension providers may need to see one and would possibly even want to keep the copy.
I don't think you need one for the DWP as the Registrar will give you a form to send to them.
The council will probably want to see a copy but not keep it.

Obviously you'll need to write to the private pensions providers - there may be a widow's pension element attached and you'll need to know this as it will impact on what benefits may be due.

If the State Pension is all your MIL is getting, she should be entitled to Pension Credit and probably Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit - but this depends on the level of savings they have and any life insurance due may take her over the limit.

I'd personally advise you to sort your MIL's money out first and tell her not to open any letters that are from the credit card company but I would write to them and tell them about your FIL's death.