Distribution of assets

FOREVER21

Don't know if this is correct board but can not think where else to post.

I am an administrator for the estate of a deceased relative who died without leaving a will.
A company specialising in tracing relatives, have contacted us advising that they have "found"a number of relatives and that these have signed up with the company authorising them to act for them.

I have been informed by the company that I should send final account details of the estate to them, they will then send an invoice for their fee and vat due which I should send to them before sending the remaining funds to the beneficiaries.

My question is I am quite happy to send the money direct to the relatives but I don't feel inclined to do the work for the company and think they should get the fees themselves from the relatives.

The relatives have signed a form for the tracing company authorising me to send money to the company(I have seen a copy of the forms) but I have not entered into any agreement with the tracing company and so I don't think legally they can ask anything of me?

Any legal beagles out there have views on this?

Shelldean

Post on the probate board. A sub section of this one

mountainofdebt

whilst Shellean's answer is techinically correct, it might have been politer to suggest the post was moved but hey ho.

The only reservation I would have is are these relatives entitled to the money and how confident are you that the firm have found the correct relatives (if that makes sense).

FOREVER21

mountainofdebt wrote: »

whilst Shellean's answer is techinically correct, it might have been politer to suggest the post was moved but hey ho.

The only reservation I would have is are these relatives entitled to the money and how confident are you that the firm have found the correct relatives (if that makes sense).

I knew of the existence of the relatives before the tracing company contacted me, but they also sent me proof of their identity and link to the deceased.