has anyone sworn an Oath and what does it entail

[Deleted User]

Hi I have been told that I have had a small inheritance due to me from a distante relative who died intestate.I have to go to swear an Oath before a Comissioner on Wednesday.It's not a huge amount for a lot of folk ,but for me as a pensioner it is a tidy sum ,around 9K.
My question is what happens when I go on Wednesday, and after I have sworn this form how long does it take before anything happens.Is it months or years or what.
I'n not very au fait with solicitors or the Law, and am a bit worried about what happens. Anyone here ever had to do this and what does it entail

hardpressed

I had to do this once. Went to a local solicitor who was also a comissioner for oaths, for personal reasons I decided not to swear an oath but make a affirmation. If you're going to swear an oath you will be given a bible to hold and asked to repeat some words either reading from a card or repeating what the comisioner says, like when you see a court case on telly and they swear an oath. An affirmation is similar but you don't swear on a bible. Only takes a few minutes, you give them the fee and away you go. After that probate can take a few weeks or months. Good Luck.

Queenie

The swearing of the oath takes minutes only. Depending on how busy they are, yes it can be as speedy as a few weeks or a couple of months.

Sorry for your loss, but, a nice little windfall.

ben500

You seem to be concerned about the procedure itself but really don't need to be, it is merely a brief (In most cases very brief) conversation. Then as others have described you swear either an oath on the bible or if not religious as hardpressed stated an affirmation, this is basically your personal promise that the statement you are making is the truth, ie in the scenario you have posted I would imagine along the lines that you are who you say you are which provides the legal connection between you and the deceased and any monies to be dispersed.

[Deleted User]

Thank you all for your info. daft the things that worry folk, but it must be an age thing.

MinnieSpender

Hi JackieO (what a cool name!)

I recently had to affirm and it's really simple.

You swear if you use a religious text (this could be the Bible or other book appropriate to your belief - let them know in advance if you need a different text as they may have to obtain one).

If you affirm (the non-religious way) you don't use a book but I was asked to hold the documents concerned in my right hand.

You then read out a paragraph from a card given to you.

I then had to sign the documents as proof that I had done this.

It was a very simple process.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss but I'm sure your relative would be delighted that what they have left you will make such a difference to you.

[Deleted User]

Hi MinnieSpender your right it was a simple process and over and done with in about ten minutes .hopefully the estate will,according to my solicitor take around 6 weeks to settle.
Your right it will go a long way to making my life a bit easier .I have a pile of repairs that have been put on hold, and I am due to go to visit my niece in Dubai in May for a holiday. A fortnight's sunshine will do my joints the world of good. I can get the repairs sorted when I come home now .
Re my username it was my late husbands nickname for me for 40 odd years as we were married in the era of the Kennedys, the early 1960s and in those days I had the same hairstyle as Jackie Kennedy,not her cash though. Weird that years afterwards she married Onnasis and became a JackieO herself. I was the first though lol

JackieO

Ted_Bloke

Only a person as honest as you would have worried that much about swearing an oath! :T

Enjoy the benefits of the 9k. For that money if you had been the other Jackie O you could have bought a fairly nice dress.

MinnieSpender

I'm glad you found it an easy process, JackieO.

Get those repairs done and then go and have a fantastic time in Dubai (OK if I get a little bit jealous of you? :rotfl: ).

In fact, why not treat yourself to a lovely pair of JackieO style sunglasses for your trip?

Go, go, go! JackieO!

Mins x :cool: