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What can I sell?

LEP
LEP Posts: 137 Forumite
Tenth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
in Deaths, funerals & probate
Hello,


My mum passed away recently and left no will. I am applying to be the administrator of the estate and it will be divided equally between myself and my sister.

Can I sell any items from her estate before I am granted rights to administer it which I understand could take a while to sort out. I am thinking specifically things like household items (was thinking of getting her flat cleared and sold at auction) and her car?

Thanks

Comments

  • wwl
    wwl Posts: 316 Forumite
    The only people who could object are beneficiaries, so if you and your sister are on good terms, and there are no other potential beneficiaries, yes.
  • Yorkshireman99
    Yorkshireman99 Posts: 5,470 Forumite
    LEP wrote: »
    Hello,


    My mum passed away recently and left no will. I am applying to be the administrator of the estate and it will be divided equally between myself and my sister.

    Can I sell any items from her estate before I am granted rights to administer it which I understand could take a while to sort out. I am thinking specifically things like household items (was thinking of getting her flat cleared and sold at auction) and her car?

    Thanks
    In strict legal terms until you have the grant you have no legal authority to dispose of any of the estate assets. However, if your sister agrees then there should be no problem. I am assuming that there were no unpaid debts.
  • LEP
    LEP Posts: 137 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    wwl wrote: »
    The only people who could object are beneficiaries, so if you and your sister are on good terms, and there are no other potential beneficiaries, yes.

    Yes we get on well and she is fine with this.

    In reply to the other post, there are no unpaid debts.

    Thanks for the replies.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,691 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You mention selling the flat - the lawyers for that would probably need you to have legal right to adminster the estate first.
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • wwl
    wwl Posts: 316 Forumite
    I read the OP as selling the contents of the flat at auction.
    If the flat is to be sold, then you will need the grant to do it, however as this will take a bit of time, it might be worth putting it on the market in the meantime to see if there is interest that may pay more than the auction price.
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