Mum died intestate with significant debts

getmore4less

LB_83 wrote: »

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.

You don't know the bank(mortgage holder) will administer the estate.
Best to just tell others you won't be administrator and don't know who will.

HB58

I can't add anything to the advice you have been given. I just didn't want to read and run before saying that I am very sorry for your loss. Congratulations on the forthcoming baby - what a time of mixed emotions for you!

LB_83

HB58 wrote: »

I can't add anything to the advice you have been given. I just didn't want to read and run before saying that I am very sorry for your loss. Congratulations on the forthcoming baby - what a time of mixed emotions for you!

Thank you, that's very kind. I am also in the process of moving house myself so it really has all come at once. I'm feeling very overwhelmed and i just want all of this gone. It's hanging over my head all the time, I can't focus on anything else.
I'm trying to make an appointment at Citizens Advice too. The bank were very unhelpful, passing me from pillar to post, nobody seems to be able to help me with the process of handing over the keys. Ended up making an appointment with a mortgage advisor but I am not hopeful. Someone mentioned a voluntary surrender form to me but then the next person mentioned I needed Grant of Probate. I asked why do I need it if there will be no funds to release to me? They couldn't answer. They didn't seem to comprehend that I do not want to arrange the sale myself and it's just concerned me even more

Yorkshireman99

LB_83 wrote: »

Thank you, that's very kind. I am also in the process of moving house myself so it really has all come at once. I'm feeling very overwhelmed and i just want all of this gone. It's hanging over my head all the time, I can't focus on anything else.
I'm trying to make an appointment at Citizens Advice too. The bank were very unhelpful, passing me from pillar to post, nobody seems to be able to help me with the process of handing over the keys. Ended up making an appointment with a mortgage advisor but I am not hopeful. Someone mentioned a voluntary surrender form to me but then the next person mentioned I needed Grant of Probate. I asked why do I need it if there will be no funds to release to me? They couldn't answer. They didn't seem to comprehend that I do not want to arrange the sale myself and it's just concerned me even more

I realize it is hard and you are getting mixed messages from elsewhere. Nevertheless the advice given here is correct. You would probably be wasting your time with the CAB and certainly with the mortgage advisor. Just write a letter to the mortgage provider and hand the keys over asking for a receipt. Then just walk away and concentrate on your move and your health. I know it sounds harsh but you need to consider yourself rather than others. Good luck.

Marktheshark

Both courses of action will produce the same result.
Probate and administering the estate will be six months of hard stressful work, worry stress, lying debt collectors, greedy relatives accusations.

Doing nothing, not even communicating with the mortgage company beyond informing them, that is their problem to sort, will eventually lead to the exact same outcome.

Yorkshireman99

Marktheshark wrote: »

Both courses of action will produce the same result.
Probate and administering the estate will be six months of hard stressful work, worry stress, lying debt collectors, greedy relatives accusations.

Doing nothing, not even communicating with the mortgage company beyond informing them, that is their problem to sort, will eventually lead to the exact same outcome.

It would be madness for the OP to administer the estate. To suggest it as a possibility is very bad advice indeed.

molerat

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

It would be madness for the OP to administer the estate. To suggest it as a possibility is very bad advice indeed.

I don't believe that is what was advocated. I read it as either administering the estate along with the 6 months of unwanted stress it will bring or doing nothing and leaving it all up to the creditors will bring about the exactly same result, choose A or B.

ClaretHead

Dear LB_83,

Sorry for your loss. And it comes at a difficult time in your life.

A couple of long-shots worth checking out.

Although it seems that debts exceed assets, it is always worth checking to see if there is any pension or insurance money around. If your Mum was struggling to pay the mortgage it's likely that she would have let insurance policies lapse, but if she has ever been employed there may be some pension money around. It all depends on her employment history. If there's a tiny pension, it's not worth getting involved, but if there is enough to pay off all debts and leave money over, then it's worth investigating.

And she was only 57 - very sad. Was she in employment at the time she passed? Some employers have good death-in-service payments, which might clear the debts and leave some money over for you.

Good luck.

Yorkshireman99

molerat wrote: »

I don't believe that is what was advocated. I read it as either administering the estate along with the 6 months of unwanted stress it will bring or doing nothing and leaving it all up to the creditors will bring about the exactly same result, choose A or B.

My point is that it would be madness for the OP to even consider administering the estate so it is not a sensible alternative. Far from giving the same result it would be certain to cause the OP considerable stress and could result in her incurring all sorts of costs. Doing nothing is the only rational thing to do.