Legal documents to give beneficiaries

Sacredcat

Hi
I sent residuary beneficiaries a copy of the will, and I believe I must, just before distribution of the estate, give a full set of estate accounts, showing value of assets and liabilities at death, and also expenses, and income. Apart from this, what do I give residuary beneficiaries?

E.g. Do I give them a copy of the Probabte and IHT forms? Do I give them a copy of the formal valuation I had done on the house? The Death Certificate? The Grant of Probate?

Does anyone have a list of docs the residuary beneficiaries are legally entitled to? I can't find anything.

Thank you.

Sacredcat

The deceased lived in England BTW.

TonyMMM

Copy of the will, and a simple spreadsheet showing assets and debts with the final net value and how it has been distributed (in accordance with the will) should suffice.

An accompanying letter explaining any issues you think may need clarification (like the house valuation if you think that is going to be contentious) would be OK, but not absolutely required.

Keep_pedalling

I would just send a copy of the will and a copy of the accounts, but I don't see why you need to send then anything in advance of distributing the estate, just send it with the payment.

nom_de_plume

I also sent a covering letter with a copy for signature to confirm receipt.

getmore4less

Does anyone have a list of docs the residuary beneficiaries are legally entitled to? I can't find anything.

I was going to write some spiel but this link gives one of the better summaries I have found.

http://www.henmansfreeth.co.uk/jane_robinson_step_essay.pdf

Yorkshireman99

Sacredcat wrote: »

Hi
I sent residuary beneficiaries a copy of the will, and I believe I must, just before distribution of the estate, give a full set of estate accounts, showing value of assets and liabilities at death, and also expenses, and income. Apart from this, what do I give residuary beneficiaries?

E.g. Do I give them a copy of the Probabte and IHT forms? Do I give them a copy of the formal valuation I had done on the house? The Death Certificate? The Grant of Probate?

Does anyone have a list of docs the residuary beneficiaries are legally entitled to? I can't find anything.

Thank you.

The residuary legatee is entitled to a copy of the estate accounts. A decent executor will try and answer any questions. A private individual, usually a close friend or relative, acting as executor would be wise to remember that it is a difficult time for beneficiaries and try and make things easy for them.

Sacredcat

They are asking for 'legal documents' without specifying what exactly.
Also, because I am family and a beneficiary too, they say they want me to hand executor duties to an 'impartial paid solicitor,' - but I haven't done anything 'partial', - still, they say, if this impartial person is paid to be Executor, the beneficiaries will 'doubtless get more info' than I've given. They also say that because I am family, and a beneficiary, that I have a 'conflict of interest'. I know that what they are saying is nonsense but they are bombarding me with messages weekly, sometimes everyday.

it's a difficult time for me too.

Thanks for replies, I take it I don't have to give the Probate Grant or tax forms. Or should I, just to stop the daily emails/calls?

Yorkshireman99

Sacredcat wrote: »

They are asking for 'legal documents' without specifying what exactly.
Also, because I am family and a beneficiary too, they say they want me to hand executor duties to an 'impartial paid solicitor,' - but I haven't done anything 'partial', - still, they say, if this impartial person is paid to be Executor, the beneficiaries will 'doubtless get more info' than I've given. They also say that because I am family, and a beneficiary, that I have a 'conflict of interest'. I know that what they are saying is nonsense but they are bombarding me with messages weekly, sometimes everyday.

it's a difficult time for me too.

Thanks for replies, I take it I don't have to give the Probate Grant or tax forms. Or should I, just to stop the daily emails/calls?

They are being unreasonable. There is no conflict of interest in legal terms since beneficiaries are often executor's as well. You might try writing, by letter, not email, stating the facts and telling them if they want a solicitor to do the work it will cost money and delay matters further. If they want a copy of the probate grant you can get extra copies when applying for 50p a copy. Don't let them bully you!

Sacredcat

Thank you.
Letters are a good idea.
Can I insist they write me letters instead of emails?
I want to specify that they can only email/write to me once every 4 weeks with their demands and requests and advice (they are telling me ' I hope you did X YZ, because otherwise blah')) and do I have to refer all their requests to a lawyer? Instead of that, Can I discuss their demandson this site instead, without having been seen to be unreasonable? I am not unreasonable, just the constant contact is not nice.

Sacredcat

I've collected most assets in, but feel v worried about giving Copy of grant, because one of the beneficiaries has a criminal conviction for an offence involving dishonesty, even tho it is spent conviction. I could write copy I large letters across it.