Not sure on next steps after my mother's death

Diamond_Orchid

My mum died suddenly on 5th July. I found out who her solicitor was as needed to know if any wishes mentioned for her funeral. They told me verbally she had left her estate to me, and that there were no wishes. They put me a copy of the will in the post.

I have organised the funeral. The coroner sent something over to them so the cremation can go ahead later this week.

I am wondering what the next steps are. I know I need to register her death. I am in a different county, so unfortunately not just down the road. What information do I need or will they have received it? I readmon the gov.uk website and it said something about the registrar getting something electronically? I am worrying as it says online it needs to have been done within 5 days, but I was told by funeral director I can do it after cremation.

She left her entire estate to me, I am an only child. Do I still need to apply for probate?

How do I go about closing down any of her accounts? How do I even find out who all of her accounts are with, unless she has paperwork for everything at her house (which she probably does).

I dont want to use a solicitor, I want to do it all myself.

Also, I read somewhere her home insurance isnt valid while this is going on. How can I transfer the policy into my name, or do I set up a new one? As I said, I am not local so cannot keep an eye on the property myself.

Thanks

McKneff

Google 'what to do when someone dies' is a good start.

Could you take some holiday and come over here.It will beso much easier.

I am so sorry you have lost your mum, God bless

Diamond_Orchid

McKneff wrote: »

Google 'what to do when someone dies' is a good start.

Could you take some holiday and come over here.It will beso much easier.

I am so sorry you have lost your mum, God bless

Thank you

I did google that term but it has now left me panicked that I haven't gone to the registry office to physically register her death yet. However I remember the coroner sending something to the funeral directors which said they are happy to release my mum for cremation. It is a bit of a blur now, but the director must have said we could register her death later. I might email her tomorrow.

I have two young children, one who starts his summer holidays next week and another who I am nursing. Unfortunately it is something which will need to be planned. I want to donate her furniture etc to charity, so it is something which is going to take weeks to sort.

After the cremation i was planning to register the death maybe next week, and go to her house and sort out some of her personal stuff that I want to keep. Is there anything else I need to do asap? Do i need to collect the original of her will from her solicitors? I just have a copy.

konark

If your mother left a house or considerable sums in bank accounts and investments you will definitely need to apply for probate. Did the will name you as executor?

If you are executor, whilst getting probate and settling an estate can be done without a solicitor it will be difficult to do it from abroad. You need to go through her papers to trace where your mother may have investments and accounts, you need to insure the house (as empty),secure it, and possibly arrange its sale. Is there no-one in this country you could trust to act for you?

Diamond_Orchid

I am in a different county, not country. Its about a 90 minute drive, but as I said, we have two young children to also think about,

Her will names me as the sole executor.

Her house, no mortgage, plus any other bank accounts etc would be included. I have no idea of their value.

At the moment, at this stupid time, I am worrying as I haven't registered her death yet. I am sure the funeral director said there was no need until after the funeral, otherwise we would have gone to register it on that day.

Diamond_Orchid

Googling is really worrying me as it says its a criminal offence to not register it within 5 days!

I should be going to sleep but now worrying. Honestly it was bad enough going into her bedroom where she was found, without now finding this out!

troubleinparadise

I see you mentioned a coroner - did there have to be a post mortem after your mother's death?

If so, this might help a little:

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/626/coroners/5532/when_death_occurs/10

I appreciate it is for Manchester, but would apply to England I suspect.

I'd phone the Coroner's office who dealt with your Mum's case and clarify with them what might have happened re informing the registrar.

Don't worry that you are in trouble - they are all very understanding people!

Pollycat

Have you looked at this?

https://www.gov.uk/register-a-death

There seems to be different rules for EnglandWales and Scotalnd and Ireland but I didn't see anything about a criminal offence if not registered within 5 days on the England/Wales section.

Diamond_Orchid

Yes a coroner was instructed as her death was unexpected. He ruled it as natural causes, and sent something to the funeral director so mum can be cremated.
I wasnt aware on such a rush to register death before, as far as I can see, it is clear she has died and I was intending on making an appointment next week anyway.

I have emailed my funeral director as well.

Diamond_Orchid

Pollycat wrote: »

Have you looked at this?

https://www.gov.uk/register-a-death

There seems to be different rules for EnglandWales and Scotalnd and Ireland but I didn't see anything about a criminal offence if not registered within 5 days on the England/Wales section.

Yep and that is what made me freak out! Originally I was just doing a search on whether I needed to apply for probate still when Mum made me her sole executor.

Ive had a look on the registration website and it says because a coroner was involved I need to ring them to book the appointment. I will book it for as soon as I can

Im in England btw

TonyMMM

Diamond_Orchid wrote: »

Yes a coroner was instructed as her death was unexpected. He ruled it as natural causes, and sent something to the funeral director so mum can be cremated.
I wasnt aware on such a rush to register death before, as far as I can see, it is clear she has died and I was intending on making an appointment next week anyway.

I have emailed my funeral director as well.

The coroner will have released the body to the funeral director, and because it is a case that has gone to the coroner, they also issue the permission for the cremation (otherwise that is done by the registrar). At the same time, the coroner will send a form to the registrars to allow the death to be registered.

You (or another qualified person) do still need to actually register the death though - don't worry about the 5 days, that is the rule by law but often gets missed for all sorts of reasons, and there is no chance of any prosecution.

Ring the registration office for the area in which your mother died, explain the circumstances and make an appointment with them. You will need a number of death certificates to deal with the banks and others who need to know - you can't get those until the death is registered.

If you are in a different area, it is also possible to arrange to go to a registration office local to you and do the registration "by declaration", which just means your local office take all the information on a form you then sign and then they send the paperwork to the correct office where the death is then actually registered, without you needing to be there.

This does tend to delay getting your certificates by a few days, and takes a little organising because your local registration office will need to get the information they need from the coroners, but it is possible to do. Ask them.