Mum has died, no will - advice please?

Mojisola

RAS wrote: »

You need to ask the Council to re-assess any CT liability and record a single person occupancy if appropriate. Dad also needs to inform any pensions and benefits provider ASAP.

Our council do a "One Stop Service". We were offered it when we went to register my Mum's death.

On your behalf, they notify all the benefits and pension services, will send back the Blue Badge and Pensioner's Travel Card if you take them in, etc.

pollypenny

Our council does a 'one stop service' too.

When my mum died, I sorted things for my father, including probate, which was very straightforward.

Just make a list and work through it.

It's still a hard time, my sympathies.

Werdnal

pollypenny wrote: »

Our council does a 'one stop service' too.

When my mum died, I sorted things for my father, including probate, which was very straightforward.

Just make a list and work through it.

It's still a hard time, my sympathies.

Thanks to both of you who posted this. The "Tell us Once" service came in from March and the Registry office booking I have made covers this. They deal with the Council, pensions, Housing Association, blue badge parking permit etc, plus anyone who has a passport or driving license (mum doesn't), but it makes everything so much easier. Saves all the extra dragging around to each office/organisation to give death certs etc.

RAS, thanks for the bank info. Dad is well prepared with handfulls of ID docs for both him and mum (she was very organised) and should be able to prove his and mum's ID's. As for the single persons CT allowance, my brother lives with dad, so won't apply, but thanks for all the advice anyway.

rach29

Firstly, I'm sorry for your loss.

If you have one death certificate you can start things rolling with the Banks. They only require sight of the original & will take their own copy & return it to you (so no need for you to pay the Registrar for lots of copies)

When I worked for a Bank (not so very long ago) I always offered to take a few copies for of the Death Cert for the bereaved relatives. Banks can "certify" copies & if you ask I cant see anyone refusing, and most organisations are happy to accept certified copies, therefore, saving you both money and time.

It sounds like your Mum's estate should be a simple one, so there shouldnt be too much for the Banks to do, alhough the ISA issue may be slightly more complicated.

Do post back if you have any trouble and I'll happily try to assist where the Banks are concerned.



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Yorkie1

So sorry for your loss Werdnal.

Can't add to the useful advice offered above.

Savvy_Sue

When you register the death, get a couple of extra copies of the death certificate then - cheaper than getting extra copies later! I found that handing one over in a bank branch I'd get it straight back once they'd copied it, so I didn't need as many as I'd got, but if you do have to post one off to anyone then it's useful not to be waiting for it to come back.

Sammy85_2

Sorry to hear of your loss

I think most points have been covered relating to your mums estate. I am sure its furthest from your mind at present but please please please make sure your dad now makes his will.

Mindless_Clone

Werdnal, I am very sorry for your loss.

When my DH died suddenly in 2010 without a will I found the process fairly straightforward. At the time we had joint bank account and mortgage and the bank could not have been more helpful to me in sorting everything out and giving me time to work out what to do with the mortgage etc.
The only other possession I had to worry about was the car, which was in DH's name (although a family car we both used) and that was very straightforward through the DVLA too.
There was one issue with his pension; when his new work pension started (company privatised in the 1990's) he made his two sons from his first marriage beneficiaries which made sense at the time but was overlooked as circumstances changed. Pension payout rules differ from normal probate, I believe, so his (now adult) sons had to write to the pensions board and ask they effectively ignore his wishes and pay out to me - which they duly did.


It sounds like in your situation, that things ought to be very straightforward if there's nobody contesting anything so you can sort of bypass the probate scenario altogether.

Mojisola

Mindless_Clone wrote: »

There was one issue with his pension; when his new work pension started (company privatised in the 1990's) he made his two sons from his first marriage beneficiaries which made sense at the time but was overlooked as circumstances changed.

Pension payout rules differ from normal probate, I believe, so his (now adult) sons had to write to the pensions board and ask they effectively ignore his wishes and pay out to me - which they duly did.

How refreshing that his sons took this action!

margaretclare

Werdnal wrote: »

Thanks Tony, I understand your thoughts about the grieving process, but Dad actually wants to get it all over and sorted. Mum used to handle all their financial affairs and run the home and he is afraid he won't be able to manage all the paperwork required to sort these things out, so has asked me to help him get it done sooner rather than later. Gives him something to do as well, as the last 12 weeks he has spent most of his time at her hospital bedside, so is now a little lost without a purpose!

People deal with the grieving process in different ways. Some want to do it all 'sooner rather than later'. Others can only cope with it 'later rather than sooner'. In cases of a long-drawn-out terminal illness, part of the grieving process may go on beforehand.

Joint accounts belong 100% to the survivor. ISAs belong to the individual and form part of the deceased's estate.

It's not surprising really, that they didn't have wills. Many highly-organised people, whom you would imagine had all that sorted, don't have them!

Condolences from me.