DIY probate question

Lavendergirl_2

My Mum died a while ago and I am in the process of sorting her affairs, which should be really straightforward. She left a will naming my Dad (who died years ago) and me. I don't have brothers or sisters and there are no other family members and no property involved.
She had accounts with a couple of banks and a building society and they have all released the money (relatively small amounts of money) to me. She also had an account with the Post Office but they have said I need to go to probate to release the money. I'm going to do this myself.

My question is, when I fill out the probate form PA1 do I include the money that has already been released to me or just the post office money that needs to be released? I just want to make sure I do it right.

Thanks,

SevenOfNine

Yes, everything that your Mum's estate comprised of must be included.

How much are the PO preventing you from having without probate? Probate costs money & if you have not needed it to access funds elsewhere perhaps they just need a swift kicking before obliging you to go through the probate process.

Lavendergirl_2

Thanks for your speedy reply. I think there is about £16000 in the post office account although I have to write to them with death certificate for them to confirm the amount,

SevenOfNine

Probably over their 'limit' for paying out on sight of the death cert. Worth a try though, particularly as they are the only ones who are insisting. Nationwide refused to pay out a couple of hundred pounds unless we got it, yet Santander coughed up nearly £20k without it. No logic & they all set their own limit.

You can swear the oath locally, most solicitors will do that bit for a fiver, save you trekking to the probate offices.

CHlHlRO

There's no logic at all—my mum's bank gave me everything, just shy of £20K with just the death certificate, but I'm having to jump through seemingly endless hoops with one company for a paltry fiver! Most places were happy to deal with me over the phone, others were happy with an email copy of the death certificate. I only had to write to one or two. It's worth making a written request, even if you've already been told no verbally.

Yorkshireman99

SevenOfNine wrote: »

Yes, everything that your Mum's estate comprised of must be included.

How much are the PO preventing you from having without probate? Probate costs money & if you have not needed it to access funds elsewhere perhaps they just need a swift kicking before obliging you to go through the probate process.

Easier said than done! Frustrating though it may be the Post Office are quite entitled to require probate if they wish. Remember that the death certificate alone does prove entitlement to the estate.