DIY Probate

[Deleted User]

yay Sandra, brilliant result. I like strong determined women with a sense of humour. Pat on the back for you

Tuesday_Tenor

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I read it as Sailor Sam too!

Possibly because there IS a SailorSam who frequents the MR&F Boards ... but he's a different individual entirely!

I've never been either married or widowed, but found dealing with my parents estates deeply deeply sad, even when there was nothing untimely about their deaths and 'focussing on the paperwork' helped a lot.

My heart and admiration goes out to those of you coping so well at this time of losing your lifetine partner. It's struck me just how supportive this board must be, just having that little bit of contact with others going through the same process at the same time. Bereavement can be so isolating from other friends and it's exactly issues around these administative tasks that you wouldn't be wanting to share or burden anyone else with. Partly because we don't share such stuff, you wouldn't necesarily know which friends could/would have the knowledge to be supportive. Thanks everyone for being so supportive to each other.

SeniorSam

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I read it as Sailor Sam too! In fact I visualised you as looking like the man on my ol' Grandpa's packet of Senior Service!


xx

No beard Sandra, but the Senior Service ciggies reminded me that as a teenager (good memory so far) the Senior Service were giving away small packets of 2 cigaretts as a promotional campagne when we lived in Cornwall, but I gave up smoking about 30 years ago.

Sam

SandraScarlett

Tuesday_Tenor wrote: »

I've never been either married or widowed, but found dealing with my parents estates deeply deeply sad, even when there was nothing untimely about their deaths and 'focussing on the paperwork' helped a lot.

My heart and admiration goes out to those of you coping so well at this time of losing your lifetine partner. It's struck me just how supportive this board must be, just having that little bit of contact with others going through the same process at the same time. Bereavement can be so isolating from other friends and it's exactly issues around these administative tasks that you wouldn't be wanting to share or burden anyone else with. Partly because we don't share such stuff, you wouldn't necesarily know which friends could/would have the knowledge to be supportive. Thanks everyone for being so supportive to each other.

First of all, thank you for this lovely post, and secondly, it is also very sad to lose a parent, and realise that you're now the adult - even if you've been over 21 for decades.


You're absolutely right, regarding bereavement after half a century with your partner. It is isolating, and terribly sad. My husband had Alzheimer's for many years, and friends who we'd known for decades, drifted away. These people wept crocodile tears at the funeral, and made umpteen promises about keeping in touch, which I knew wouldn't materialise.


Those who had kept in touch, offer help, but it may not be the sort of help you want or need, and you may not want these friends to know the ins and outs of your finances.


I originally started this thread because I wanted to reassure others that Probate, which is usually veiled in mystery, and is something that people often leave to a solicitor, can be very straightforward, and quite cathartic too.


I felt like I'd won an Oscar when I received the Grant of Probate, and when the money due appeared in my bank account, I just couldn't stop grinning, and was sure my late DH was saying "that's my girl"!


I fully appreciate that there may be cases that aren't so simple, but, in true MSE spirit, I hoped that I could help others save money, and I'm so glad they have.


xx

[Deleted User]

wow, the the paperwork arrived today, all the grant of probate copies that I need. It was so worth doing and thanks to all who helped in whatever way, including encouragement. It didn`t take long at all, once I sent the documentation away. Tomorrow I will be getting all the rest of the paperwork sorted so that, at last, I can claim any savings that were in my husbands sole name. Then comes the challenge of working out where to keep the money

I am going ahead with getting the new kitchen and appliances that we were both planning. Then I will top up my premium bonds and maybe I will park the rest in ns&i income bonds that are taxed. I put a big chunk into a stocks and shares isa last week and will do the same again, as soon as I see a good value `safe` income producing share. The one I bought last week delivers almost 6% tax free and has already gone up in capital value by £365, so beats an annuity for me

Sandrascarlett, yes for me too it is the feeling of isolation and pangs of utter loneliness especially around meal times and when going out anywhere and yes today was cathartic in more ways than one, not least the fact that I ventured out and spent the day with a hobby group 20 miles away. I had a thoroughly nice time and met lovely people and came away having joined the group and with future dates in my diary. At the moment it is all about having nice things to look forward to and I don`t mean the edible sort.

MWS

This is very encouraging to read. Some of it looks straight forward but some forms, like the pension one looks like a nightmare.


Congratulations on everyone that's done it themselves.

SandraScarlett

MWS wrote: »

This is very encouraging to read. Some of it looks straight forward but some forms, like the pension one looks like a nightmare.


Congratulations on everyone that's done it themselves.

If you have any queries at all, please post them on here. What might seem a nightmare, at first, may prove more dream-like for those of us who have already completed them.


Any help I can give, at all, please don't hesitate to ask. I am truly indebted to the posters who told me, some years ago, that I could get a 25% reduction on my Council Tax, as DH had Alzheimer's. I had no idea about this, and can never recall seeing it advertised anywhere.


As a result of this information, I was given the discount, and because my GP had the evidence of the date of DH's diagnosis, it was back dated, and I received over £2,000!! MSE has been so helpful to me, and I think it's great that posters can share their experiences, and knowledge, and help others.


xx

Tuesday_Tenor

MWS wrote: »

This is very encouraging to read. Some of it looks straight forward but some forms, like the pension one looks like a nightmare.

Congratulations on everyone that's done it themselves.

The Guidelines booklet for the IHT form looks daunting at first sight. It's lengthy because it has to cover so many possible situations, including some very uncommon ones.

The first time I was an executor I went through the Guidelines crossing out every section that didn't apply to our case, so that I never had to consider it again. What I was left with was a TINY, completely manageable, sub-section of the notes!

Doreeny

Just joined - first post! Found all the information helpful and have huge admiration for the people coping so admirably with their loss. I did not need to get probate when my Mum died as banks paid out with the death certificate. I am only executor/beneficiary on will. I did not need to do any inhertitance tax forms. However, 3 years on I would like to be able to rent out her house and consider a sale when the market picks up a bit. I am now thinking in order for me to alter the owner on the land registry I may have to obtain probate. I am wondering if I should put my husband and sons names on as well to save them the hassle of altering it when I die. Any advice please.

Crabapple

Doreeny wrote: »

Just joined - first post! Found all the information helpful and have huge admiration for the people coping so admirably with their loss. I did not need to get probate when my Mum died as banks paid out with the death certificate. I am only executor/beneficiary on will. I did not need to do any inhertitance tax forms. However, 3 years on I would like to be able to rent out her house and consider a sale when the market picks up a bit. I am now thinking in order for me to alter the owner on the land registry I may have to obtain probate. I am wondering if I should put my husband and sons names on as well to save them the hassle of altering it when I die. Any advice please.

Yes, you definitely do need to get Probate, you cannot change the ownership of a property without it. Strictly speaking you should have obtained it back then because the banks shouldn't have been so quick to give you the money, but don't worry about that!

You will also need to complete, in order to get Probate, at least form IHT205 for Inheritance Tax purposes. Probably nothing more as hopefully if your mother's estate was over the IHT threshold you would have been aware of that at the time.

Consider what assets you already have and how they are shared, and also how you want to deal with the rental income. If you put other people's names on the title they should get a share of the rent.

Also think about their situation. Who gets their assets if they die? What happens if they become bankrupt or get divorced (thinking of your son here rather than your husband as the property would fall into the marriage pot for consideration anyway with him).

You still have to change the ownership at the Land Registry when a joint owner dies, even if it is just a case of sending them a short form and a death certificate.