Mum died intestate with significant debts

LB_83

BobQ wrote: »

It is best that you "do nothing" apart from remove items of sentimental value or items of value for safe-keeping.

You do not have to, but tell the main creditor she has died and that any communications hould be addressed to the The Administrator of the Estate of (Mum's name)" When an Administrator is appointed give them the keys of the house.

You do not have to seek any legal advice (unless you want to consider administrating the estate). If you are satisfied that the estate is insolvent, literally do nothing. Otherwise you could be accused of intermeddling.

Just ignore any correspondence addressed to you and leave letters to the administrator in the house unopened. You can open mail addressed to your Mum but if it relates to debts or her estate just leave it in the house. You do not have to pay for anything that is a debt.

Thank you for your advice. I have already said to the bank I want nothing to do with it. I am pretty certain it's insolvent. I'll put my 'ignore' hat on then and try my best to get on with my life. It's such a worry, all of this. I'll have to sit back and see what happens. Thanks again, much appreciated

securityguy

I know this is harsh, but you were not even under any obligation to tell the utilities. You have no responsibility for your parents' house, debts or contracts by virtue of being their child; it's obviously different if you are a co-signatory or something, but that is independent of being their daughter. Creditors and utilities may try to make this your problem, but it is not. If they want to administer the estate to recover some of their money, they can. You do not have to.

Yorkshireman99

LB_83 wrote: »

Daft question, but I also live in a different part of the country. Considering I'm in Surrey and the house is in West Yorkshire, could I just go into my local branch to do this?! Thank you!

Yes! No reason not to at all. Not daft to ask. As you have seen there is plenty of help here. You are doing well all things considered.

LB_83

Thank you, Security Guy. It is so hard, as you get conflicting advice from everywhere. In the booklet from the hospital there was a checklist of everyone to inform and utilities was one of them. I just thought it was the done thing really as the house will be vacant. I'm certainly not going to inform anyone else! I also did the 'tell us once' service which covers council tax etc. But that's it.
The lady from the energy company did confirm that the debt would be written off if there were insufficient funds from the estate.

BobQ

securityguy wrote: »

I know this is harsh, but you were not even under any obligation to tell the utilities. You have no responsibility for your parents' house, debts or contracts by virtue of being their child; it's obviously different if you are a co-signatory or something, but that is independent of being their daughter. Creditors and utilities may try to make this your problem, but it is not. If they want to administer the estate to recover some of their money, they can. You do not have to.

Usually in such cases the main creditor (mortgage provider) will administer if they cannot persuade a relative to do it. They are less lkely to be able to write off a debt.

Keep_pedalling

LB_83 wrote: »

Daft question, but I also live in a different part of the country. Considering I'm in Surrey and the house is in West Yorkshire, could I just go into my local branch to do this?! Thank you!

Yes you can do that.

I am aware that you have the option to do nothing, but personally I could not do that and would not be happy till I had handed over the keys.

LB_83

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

Yes you can do that.

I am aware that you have the option to do nothing, but personally I could not do that and would not be happy till I had handed over the keys.

Thank you. I felt the same - I have too much of a conscience I think and I worry that I'm not doing 'the right thing.' The sooner I can get shut of these keys, the better!

I rang the utility company back just now to inform them that the bank will be dealing with the estate and they said just to let them know the address to send mailing to when I know it. Again they reassured me that the debts are not mine.

LB_83

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I feel like I have a much clearer plan now and my head hurts a little less!

Yorkshireman99

LB_83 wrote: »

Thank you, Security Guy. It is so hard, as you get conflicting advice from everywhere. In the booklet from the hospital there was a checklist of everyone to inform and utilities was one of them. I just thought it was the done thing really as the house will be vacant. I'm certainly not going to inform anyone else! I also did the 'tell us once' service which covers council tax etc. But that's it.
The lady from the energy company did confirm that the debt would be written off if there were insufficient funds from the estate.

You have done no real harm by telling the utilities since you have not admitted any liability. The advice you have had on here has been broadly consistent.

LB_83

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

You have done no real harm by telling the utilities since you have not admitted any liability. The advice you have had on here has been broadly consistent.

Oh yes, definitely, I agree. Everyone has said pretty much the same thing and it's great advice. Just that the info you get upon someone's death is quite generic and one thinks one has to follow certain protocol. I have never had to deal with this before (don't know if you guessed, haha). I do wish I had posted on this forum first and foremost now, it's been more useful than I could have hoped.