Funeral expenses?

r_i_c

Hi,

Am a sole executor. I had a kind yet (I thought) rather odd offer today from someone wanting to know if I'd like to borrow money towards the cost of funeral expenses. But, as the sole executor presumably I'd be paying these from the estate???

Please advise.

Many thanks.

konark

Yes, the estate pays for the funeral expenses but the person offering may not know if;
1) The estate is insolvent; funerals can run to £3,000+, if there is less than this in the estate it is insolvent.
2) Even if the deceased left assets they may be illiquid, e.g property or the banks may want to see probate before releasing funds, (where there is a lot of money in the account).
or he may not be aware that 3) A bank will usually release enough money for a funeral from an account if approached by next-of-kin with death certificate.

r_i_c

Thanks. Let me look at this very carefully. Please tell me if I get something wrong?

konark wrote: »

Yes, the estate pays for the funeral expenses but the person offering may not know if;
1) The estate is insolvent; funerals can run to £3,000+, if there is less than this in the estate it is insolvent.

The estate is not insolvent.

2) Even if the deceased left assets they may be illiquid, e.g property or the banks may want to see probate before releasing funds, (where there is a lot of money in the account).
or he may not be aware that 3) A bank will usually release enough money for a funeral from an account if approached by next-of-kin with death certificate.

As sole executor and next-of-kin, I must then post a certified copy of the death certificate to the bank as soon as it is available. Is this correct please?

Again my thanks.

G6JNS

r_i_c wrote: »

Hi,

Am a sole executor. I had a kind yet (I thought) rather odd offer today from someone wanting to know if I'd like to borrow money towards the cost of funeral expenses. But, as the sole executor presumably I'd be paying these from the estate???

Please advise.

Many thanks.

Don't touch it with a barge pole. If the bank has funds they will release them to the FD.

r_i_c

Yes, hence my post :-o kind thanks. Almost went for it, spent a sleepless night worrying over it. Then followed up another post by phoning the bank this morning & explaining the situation. They said to present the Funeral Director bill to them, together with Death Certificate and Will or certified copy, plus my ID - then they'd settle it. Sigh of considerable relief at this unhappy time.

Neither mum nor I had the faintest idea of what was wrong with her - still less that she would be gone so soon, and so there was no time for funeral thoughts or funeral expense provisions. My only thought all that time - and hers - was for her recovery, which sadly was not to be.

Savvy_Sue

konark wrote: »

3) A bank will usually release enough money for a funeral from an account if approached by next-of-kin with death certificate.

Not quite, see below

r_i_c wrote: »

As sole executor and next-of-kin, I must then post a certified copy of the death certificate to the bank as soon as it is available. Is this correct please?

No rush for getting the death certificate to the bank

r_i_c wrote: »

Yes, hence my post :-o kind thanks. Almost went for it, spent a sleepless night worrying over it. Then followed up another post by phoning the bank this morning & explaining the situation. They said to present the Funeral Director bill to them, together with Death Certificate and Will or certified copy, plus my ID - then they'd settle it. Sigh of considerable relief at this unhappy time.

You have the right information there.

r_i_c wrote: »

Neither mum nor I had the faintest idea of what was wrong with her - still less that she would be gone so soon, and so there was no time for funeral thoughts or funeral expense provisions. My only thought all that time - and hers - was for her recovery, which sadly was not to be.

So sorry. Take time with all this, with much of it there is no mad rush.

One other reason someone might, I suppose, offer to lend towards funeral expenses is if they think you might NOT want to take them out of the estate. Mum was very clear that SHE was paying for Dad's funeral (which she could well afford to do), I think as a matter of pride.

r_i_c

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Not quite, see below

No rush for getting the death certificate to the bank

You have the right information there.

So sorry. Take time with all this, with much of it there is no mad rush

I'll be happier when everything is sorted out again. The bank say all the Direct Debits will be frozen now, which is a good thing (mum's account safe) but her home, which I am now looking out for fairly runs on DD. I need to re-establish some of those debits in good time.

One other reason someone might, I suppose, offer to lend towards funeral expenses is if they think you might NOT want to take them out of the estate.

Okay, but the message was scary like 'Do you realise how much this will cost!' and a figure of 6k was given. Did I need that? I was feeling much better yesterday after the doc checked me out, I feel like I've been knocked right back again with all that extra worry and anxiety.

But thanks anyway - at least that hidden angle is covered now and I can concentrate on getting my health on an even keel again, and looking after mum's dear dog.

G6JNS

r_i_c wrote: »

I'll be happier when everything is sorted out again. The bank say all the Direct Debits will be frozen now, which is a good thing (mum's account safe) but her home, which I am now looking out for fairly runs on DD. I need to re-establish some of those debits in good time.



Okay, but the message was scary like 'Do you realise how much this will cost!' and a figure of 6k was given. Did I need that? I was feeling much better yesterday after the doc checked me out, I feel like I've been knocked right back again with all that extra worry and anxiety.

But thanks anyway - at least that hidden angle is covered now and I can concentrate on getting my health on an even keel again, and looking after mum's dear dog.

Take your time. There is plenty of help here if you need it. People,often find that dealing with all the paperwork helps the grieving process but the important thing is to do what you want to and not be rushed unless necessary.

r_i_c

Since all the DD's are frozen, what happens to me and mum's dog while I am completing the probate paperwork please? Sounds like a silly question - so silly I didn't ask the bank <<:-o

Just beginning to reacquaint myself with form IHT 205, so I'm really beginning to face up to the probate paperwork now, I'll just work my way through each section and see how it goes.

The Medical Certificate has still not yet been prepared at the hospital as I write.

Thanks.

konark

Funeral shouldn't be £6,000 unless you really push the boat out, £3-4,000 is more likely and funeral directors are usually quite understanding that payment may be delayed.
If you haven't got the medical certificate you're probably days away from even getting the death certificate and a month away from probate. Those DDs are going to need attending to, and your mothers house is now uninsured! You need to inform utility suppliers of your mum's death and you'll have a £215 probate fee to pay( assuming no IHT).
Maybe you will need to borrow some money off your friend after all.

r_i_c

konark wrote: »

Funeral shouldn't be £6,000 unless you really push the boat out, £3-4,000 is more likely and funeral directors are usually quite understanding that payment may be delayed.
If you haven't got the medical certificate you're probably days away from even getting the death certificate and a month away from probate. Those DDs are going to need attending to, and your mothers house is now uninsured! You need to inform utility suppliers of your mum's death and you'll have a £215 probate fee to pay( assuming no IHT).
Maybe you will need to borrow some money off your friend after all.

Thanks, yes I know what the funeral costs roughly, going through my late father's paperwork. It was irresponsible for them to quote me 6k when they obviously don't know what they are talking about: 'heaven help us from helping hands' then. Re. IHT, I am working my way through IHT205 now in fact, seems a bit blunt to be faced with all this additional worry on top of the shock of a sudden bereavement but there it is I suppose. The medical certificate is being prepared & collected tomorrow and I was warned there was likely to be a further delay at the Registry Office - however, I will phone them from the hospital when I collect the medical certificate, just in case they decide to attend to matters there & then without unduly delaying the inevitable formalities of this unfortunate loss further.

Update: the Registry will prepare the Death Certificate on Monday.