Recluse Relative has died and named my mum his next of kin - need help with next step

inapickleortwo

Hi All

My mum has just been informed by the police that her reclusive uncle has died and has been listed as his next of kin. This, and the fact his keys to his property have been passed on to a neighbour is all the information we have been given.

Mum has a recollection of receiving a card from a will company saying she was his executor but doesn't know where she filed it!

We have no clue who his solicitor is, no clue if he has paid for his own funeral and added to this he lived in Birmingham and we are on the South Coast.

So having found out on Friday night, I'm not sure what we will be able to do over the weekend and then we're in to Bank holidays!

I'm worried about any accounts or bills we may need to cancel, how secure his house is (rented) and obviously what his wishes were, if any, in his will.

I'm thinking Mum and I will need to go up to his property but I don't know what timescale we have or anything really. It's so tough, because the lovely guy who was once so close to us became a real hermit after my grandmother died, despite our efforts to keep in touch with him. Mums really upset so I am trying to assist her with everything... whatever that may be.

I have read the guidance on 'what to do when someone dies' which is helpful but if anyone has experince with these particular issues I would be very grateful in any advice. Thanks in advance x

RAS

Hi

Sorry for the loss.

Go to the hospital (assume that he is there) and speak to their social services.

Do you have his address? If so, I would go to the house, get the keys from the neighbour then make the place secure for the next week. Change the lock barrel.

Either drain down the water and turn the heating off or make sure that the heating is on enough to protect the property from frost. Consdier taking some timers and fixing lights to come on and off during the evening.

You may be able to find documents in the house that relate to the will.

Otherwise the best option is to speak to one solicitor in the city and ask them to circulate your great uncle's name to all the others via their usual circulation list. That should allow you to find out where the will is.

I would collect (just put them into carrier bags) any documents that you find that might relate to accounts, rental agreements etc. Remove any easily identifiable valuables.

However, do not at this time get involved in matters relating to the estate.

Bear in mind that you need enough money in accounts to cover the funeral and any debts, so a swift checck on account values would be useful.

You may sadly find that unclde has not assets in which case, it would be best to refuse to handle the estate.

Finally' until you know there is enough money for the funeral do not engage with a funeral director.

Mint1955

If it's far away get the local police to confirm the house is secured etc. Then breath ........ nothing needs to happen in a hurry. If you know and trust the neighbour then you could ask them to go in and do things like empty the bins and fridge so nothing gets smelly. Did he have pets. Did he die in hospital? They will be able to help with next steps.

inapickleortwo

Thank you both for your responses.

Mum has found out the details of the agency who manage the property throught the neighbour and has left a voicemail with the letting agency for now.

We don't know the neighbour or the relationship she had with my Uncle, if any but mum said she was pleasant on the phone and apparently she has left a note to cancel the milk and has removed the chair he had died in at home.

Mum thinks it may have been an online will company, perhaps someone who he subscribed to on a door to door. My poor uncle was victim to a scam on a door to door a few years ago so this is quite likely.

I'm hoping the landlord will be able to secure the property for us as otherwise it will mean cancelling a lot of Christmas plans to go up to the Midlands. Wow, I sound selfish but as my uncle has passed, I would just like to buy as a little time. Particularly as I have small kids who are looking forward to the run up to Christmas with me and their Grandma!

madbadrob

Firstly I would assume that if the police had to break into the property they would have had the house secured even if it is just a piece of wood over the broken glass. This is common in these instances. I would also assume that the landlord would have been informed by the police that the tenant has died. You dont say when he died but I am assuming its fairly recent. The local council if they know about you will not have instigated burial/cremation yet.

Like others have said you dont have to take this on. Forget about it for now and enjoy Xmas. Then after Xmas you can get back to this

Rob

securityguy

inapickleortwo wrote: »

I'm thinking Mum and I will need to go up to his property but I don't know what timescale we have or anything really.

You don't have to do anything. Did he own the house, do you know? Are there any significant assets? If not, there's a strong chance the estate is worth between nothing and less than nothing, so even if your mother is a beneficiary there's nothing in it for her other than hard work. This is only your problem if you choose to make it so.

Ah, reading on...

I'm hoping the landlord will be able to secure the property for us as otherwise it will mean cancelling a lot of Christmas plans to go up to the Midlands.

That's landlord's problem, not yours. By the sounds of it there's no or little money. You don't know what debts there might be. By getting involved, you'll be getting involved, and it may become harder to step away. You should seriously consider whether you want to do anything.

madbadrob

You cant say that there is no money. I have just completed an intestate estate of a guy who died living in social housing. The estate was expected to be circa 1500 and turned out to be 40k all in one bank account. Recluses tend to have money because they saved everything and never went anywhere.

If he had a will finding that will tell all has would a search of the property for any bank statements etc.

Then of course there could be heirlooms that are of sentimental value such as photograph albums. Not everything has to be about money to be of value

Rob

troubleinparadise

How do the police know your mum has been named as next of kin? And why would they give the keys to a neighbour?

Surely if the neighbour has a key and has removed the chair your uncle died in, she would know if the rented property was secure enough in terms of other people not just being able to walk in and take property from it.