Distribution of assets

FOREVER21

Have been advised this is best place for this post so please excuse duplicate on another board.

I am the administrator for a relative who died intestate.
We have been contacted by some tracing company who have found some distant relatives.They have obtained forms authorising them to act for the relatives.

The company have told me to send copies of accounts for the estate which I can do.
However they have said I will then get their invoice which I should then pay and send the money to them, before I send the residue to the relatives.

I have no problem with sending all the money due direct to the relatives, but I do not feel inclined to do the work for the tracing company and think they should get their fees themselves from the relatives.

My thoughts are the relatives have signed up with the tracing company, but I do not feel that I have any obligation to to the company, never having signed any thing with them.
Any thoughts?

g6jns_2

FOREVER21 wrote: »

Have been advised this is best place for this post so please excuse duplicate on another board.

I am the administrator for a relative who died intestate.
We have been contacted by some tracing company who have found some distant relatives.They have obtained forms authorising them to act for the relatives.

The company have told me to send copies of accounts for the estate which I can do.
However they have said I will then get their invoice which I should then pay and send the money to them, before I send the residue to the relatives.

I have no problem with sending all the money due direct to the relatives, but I do not feel inclined to do the work for the tracing company and think they should get their fees themselves from the relatives.

My thoughts are the relatives have signed up with the tracing company, but I do not feel that I have any obligation to to the company, never having signed any thing with them.
Any thoughts?

The problem is that as administrator you are responsible for distributing the estate to those entitled under the intestacy rules. I don't see you have any obligation to pay the tracing company. That is for the beneficiaries to do. The problem is making sure that you distribute the estate correctly. How much is the estate worth?

FOREVER21

g6jns wrote: »

The problem is that as administrator you are responsible for distributing the estate to those entitled under the intestacy rules. I don't see you have any obligation to pay the tracing company. That is for the beneficiaries to do. The problem is making sure that you distribute the estate correctly. How much is the estate worth?

The estate is only small,I agree that my main duty is the correct distribution of funds, but I have seen a copy of the form signed by the relatives and it authorises the company to claim their fees from the administrator, but as I have said is this binding on me?

g6jns_2

FOREVER21 wrote: »

The estate is only small,I agree that my main duty is the correct distribution of funds, but I have seen a copy of the form signed by the relatives and it authorises the company to claim their fees from the administrator, but as I have said is this binding on me?

I don't see how it can be. You are not party to the contracts they have signed. It is up to the company to prove that the relatives have a good claim.