Wind up estate Solicitor or me?

Peco141

Linton wrote: »

The executor should inform the bank as soon as possible after the death. The bank will freeze the account stopping all payments. Depending on the amount in the account and the policy of the particular bank, the money may be released immediately to the executor or the bank will insist on probate. On request, the bank will release money for the funeral and possibly other costs.

Other people who should be informed as soon as possible include pension companies, utilities, DWP etc. There are lists on the net. Have you registered the death? In England you will be told about a scheme whereby all government and council authorities are informed by filling in one form. I guess this also operates in Scotland.

These tasks wouldn’t normally be undertaken by a solicitor hired to close the estate.

I have an appointment on Friday to close down all Bank accounts. Not sure what to do about Home Insurance and Gas and Electricity accounts.

It's called Once and Done and it applies in Scotland too. I did that yesterday and it cancels DWP benefits, HMRC, DVLA Council Tax.

Keep_pedalling

Peco141 wrote: »

I have an appointment on Friday to close down all Bank accounts. Not sure what to do about Home Insurance and Gas and Electricity accounts.

It's called Once and Done and it applies in Scotland too. I did that yesterday and it cancels DWP benefits, HMRC, DVLA Council Tax.

Speak to the inrurence company, if they will no longer cover the house you will need to make other arrangements, although if you remove anything of value you won't need contents insurance.

You do need to inform the utility suppliers of the death, and as winter is fast approaching you will need to keep the house heated so will need to take over ongoing bills although they should be minimal. Hopefully some funds will be available from the bank to cover these costs.

Linton

I have found the utilities very helpful - just ring their customer service line. They may have specialist staff to help you. In my case the water company simply closed the account and repaid the credit. Any water used from then up to the time the house was sold was free. Both electricity and gas were happy not to be paid until the house was sold. At that point it turned out that the accounts were still in credit which they refunded.

Peco141

I have a meeting with the Bank on Friday to find out what to do next. Most likely the account will be frozen. I spent most of Tuesday calling all the individuals DD accounts to stop them. I know that freezing the bank account will do all that for me but I felt it better calling them individually would ensure accounts were properly closed, refunds issued where necessary and postal mail to my mums home address cancelled there and then.

You were right Linton, Scottish Gas have ceased taking any payments and put the account on hold if you like whilst hanging on to the credit on the account to cover some if not all the final bill following sale.

The building and contents insurance with the Halifax on the other hand were trying to charge an additional £90. My mum was paying monthly payments of £37.49 which is £450 per year. They wanted to increase it to £50.34 which is double the price of my own insurance for a similar sized 3 bedroom house! No idea why my mum was paying so much.

They are sending out some paper work. I will most likely cancel this and try to get something better priced.

Does anyone know if you can get short term building and contents cover rather than tying into a 12 month contract?

Keep_pedalling

Unfortunately insurance for unoccupied properties is high, so finding an alternative option may be difficult, so don't cancel anything until you are sure you have something else in its place.