DIY Probate

ferger

You should individually value anything that has an OMV at date of death of more than £500, otherwise broad-brush estimate is OK, sensibly backed up with some photos. Or you can get a house clearance / local auction house to come round and give you a value, which will stop any stressing about whether you've got it right or not. Bear in mind that house contents are typically worth very little - you don't need to look at every item and assess what you might get on eBay for it, for example, as the cost of the effort of selling it on that basis probably exceeds the value of most items. And most houses will contain no items with an OMV of > £500, antiques, collections etc aside. Typical value of contents for a 4-bed house is about £1500 - very different from what you might insure it for, because it's a completely different basis

g6jns_2

Rosie1980 wrote: »

Thanks for starting this thread. I have gone through probate before for my Dad but as most things went to my Mum it was fairly straight forward. On Tuesday my Nan passed away and I find myself the sole executor of her estate (as Dad was the other executor) and with an IHT400 form to complete as she is over the inheritance tax threshold so I'll need to use Grandad's unused allowance to avoid tax. I've never even sold my own house before let alone anyone else's and then there's all her belongings. Do you get someone in to go around and tell you if there is anything of value or just take a guess?

You need to use some common sense. Glib suggestions that an average house contents are worth x really will not do where the estate is over the IHT level. It would be worth getting a local auction house to take a look as you can't be sure there are no valuable items. I know of a case locally where they contents sold for £25,000 after an initial gues of £5,000 by the executor. In any case 60% of £25,000 even after sales commission is worth having.

SandraScarlett

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I think that's the main thing - to have a look at the paperwork, and see if it's beyond you, or not. I only downloaded the forms on Friday 23rd, and read through the explanatory notes. Then I read through them a few more times.


Posted the forms on Saturday 24th, received the Oath Friday 30th, swore this today, which cost £7, and I've posted it back.


xx

Downloaded forms on Friday 23rd Jan, posted Saturday 24th, received Oath Friday 30th, sworn Monday 2nd, received Grant today, Thursday 19th!!!!


I think 26 days from posting forms to getting the Grant is damned good for a mere ol' pensioner, don't you! And I've saved myself thousands of £s.


xx

g6jns_2

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Downloaded forms on Friday 23rd Jan, posted Saturday 24th, received Oath Friday 30th, sworn Monday 2nd, received Grant today, Thursday 19th!!!!


I think 26 days from posting forms to getting the Grant is damned good for a mere ol' pensioner, don't you! And I've saved myself thousands of £s.


xx

Well done!

Hermia

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Downloaded forms on Friday 23rd Jan, posted Saturday 24th, received Oath Friday 30th, sworn Monday 2nd, received Grant today, Thursday 19th!!!!


I think 26 days from posting forms to getting the Grant is damned good for a mere ol' pensioner, don't you! And I've saved myself thousands of £s.


xx

WD! I was surprised how quick and easy it is to do probate (as long as the will is not complicated etc).

[Deleted User]

ok its early days for me (only 5) but I looked at the forms yesterday, I wanted something positive to do that did not involve possessions or cleaning. I downloaded the forms and filled in most of the probate form, stumbling now at the IHT part but a bit at a time over the next few weeks. I needed something to do

Would I have to go to a court to swear the oath? I would have to go to a busy town and I live 45 miles away in a tiny village, I am not confident driving the car in that busy manic town with all sorts of traffic problems, in fact the idea is completely scary especially since my husband drove the (new) car all the time

dzug1

Kittie - I think you can do the oath at a local solicitors if there is one nearer than the 'busy town'


And do make sure you are insured to drive the car - the policy will probably have lapsed on your husband's death

fredsnail

When the forms come back you have a choice to make an appointment at the local probate office or go to a solicitor of your choice.

If you choose a solicitor it costs approx £7 but tends to be much quicker than making an appointment at the probate office.

Savvy_Sue

kittie wrote: »

ok its early days for me (only 5) but I looked at the forms yesterday, I wanted something positive to do that did not involve possessions or cleaning. I downloaded the forms and filled in most of the probate form, stumbling now at the IHT part but a bit at a time over the next few weeks. I needed something to do

Would I have to go to a court to swear the oath? I would have to go to a busy town and I live 45 miles away in a tiny village, I am not confident driving the car in that busy manic town with all sorts of traffic problems, in fact the idea is completely scary especially since my husband drove the (new) car all the time

Sorry for your loss kittie.

As others have said, you don't have to go to the probate office to sign the forms, and the other advantage of going to a solicitor is that you get to choose the appointment time, whereas the probate office give you one.

Another suggestion (when you've checked the insurance situation) is that you get some refresher driving lessons. You might find just one or two will do the job: I've done it a couple of times after not being able to drive for a few months and it really helped my confidence levels.

[Deleted User]

Thank you for your answers and support. Sons in law told me about the car dvlc and insurance. I did these and put 2 named drivers on as they suggested. So much to think about and that hadn`t crossed my mind at the time

I am so relieved re going to the solicitors, Bristol is manic. We have an ex police driving instructor in the village who now runs a driving school. I`ll see how I go, I have been out once and small town was very busy with lots of roadworks, was fine, not fast though but keeping within the flow. Will be making a longer journey tomorrow, an hour each way and am now feeling ok about driving, having a new car didn`t help but it is the same make, different model, that we have had for 10 years previously. Darn it, I used to drive a 4 x4 pulling a horse trailer and even reversing it around bends so I know I have it in me. I won`t be driving at night though

I will probably have to do that iht form, it asks for gifts made in the past 7 years. Any cash went from our joint account and it asks for a value of his possessions, even for a spouse with a simple mirror will

He had an accountant, didn`t really need one but kept him on when he retired. Might prove invaluable just now. Also a brother, away on the other side of the world, on holiday, who was a tax inspector. I think I will back peddle for a while. Probate was easy enough until I found the iht forms. Drat, here was me being clever in getting savings bonds in single names. Close bros, saga. Got to ring them today, maybe they won`t want a probate certificate. I am spouse, executer and sole beneficiary