So many questions!

Yorkshireman99

nom_de_plume wrote: »

I doubt the council will meet the cost of a funeral here.

Why? If there are no estate funds and nobody willing to pay the local health authority have no choice.

Keep_pedalling

Yorkshireman99 wrote: »

Why? If there are no estate funds and nobody willing to pay the local health authority have no choice.

The OP said there were funds in the bank.

Savvy_Sue

Oh Fab, I am so sorry for your loss. Expected or unexpected it's always a shock,but to realise your mum has not been in a good way for a while must be very difficult for you. Please be kind to yourself: you tried to help, you were in touch, she wouldn't accept external help.

Finding the will: if you phone solicitors local to where your Mum's solicitor was, they may be able to help you. I believe they have 'systems' for checking with each other to see if any local company has a will if none can be found, and they'll probably know who took over the former company's files.

If you're the only beneficiary and executor, then obtaining probate should be straightforward without a solicitor, so don't be bamboozled by their offers to 'help' you. All you need to begin with is the will.

If I could thank DigforVictory's post more than once, then I would ... I would add to it: take things slowly, and get help - from friends, from professional house clearance, from a cleaner, a gardener, whatever you need. I say take things slowly, because in the early stages I realise you may not have the funds to pay for all the help you need, but if you can spend in anticipation of your inheritance, then that may be money very well spent. If you've got to wait for probate, so be it - but use offers of help from friends!

geminilady wrote: »

You do not have to have a funeral,I am not having one.You can just arrange a cremation if that is what you want and say goodbye to your Mum in your own way,sorry for your loss.

This is true, and you should do what you feel is right, but I'm just wondering if your mum had friends / neighbours who would want to express sympathy / say goodbye at a funeral? But if are going for the 'no funeral' version then I think what you're asking for is 'direct cremation' and I'm sure there will be a burial equivalent if that's your preference.

nom_de_plume wrote: »

First things first is probably to make sure Mum's house is all safe and secure.

Yes, and if you can remove any valuables promptly that is worthwhile. And if you can find details of the insurance company, get in touch with them, and assure them that you or A.N.Other will be inspecting regularly.

nom_de_plume wrote: »

With regards to arranging a funeral you can't do that without a death certificate and you won't get that until after the inquest.

I'm not sure that's always the case: I think there is something called an Interim Death Certificate. But I am sure if you phone the Registrar they will help you with this.

nom_de_plume wrote: »

Best advice I can give right now is buy an A4 notepad and start on a few to do lists, notes, etc.

And some document wallets / lever arch files / poly pockets and a highlighter pen ...

Mojisola

nom_de_plume wrote: »

I doubt the council will meet the cost of a funeral here.

The council will still arrange the funeral if no-one else is willing to do so but will reclaim the cost from the estate when it's sorted out.

newleaf

So sorry to hear of your loss, and I send you a big virtual hug. I lost my own mum yesterday, and came on here looking for answers too.
I was supposed to be going to the bank today to register as her attorney, and instead I am off to collect her death certificate and register her death, then apply for probate to deal with her fairly minimal funds.
Even though her death was anticipated, it still hit me like a train.
I'm an only child too, so my mum is having a Direct Cremation, and I will do something with the ashes at a later date when I'm less raw.
Be kind to yourself and take things a step at a time.

pollypenny

Sending sympathy to you both, fab and new leaf.

Excellent advice here.

Yorkshireman99

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

The OP said there were funds in the bank.

The OP suggested they might not be readily accessible. In those circumstances the LA should pay up front even if they can reclaim later.

FabApocalypse

Many thanks for your replies. I have been doing some small things; wrote to her GP, cancelled the papers. I'd already been to the house and removed paperwork and portable valuables.

I've had a call from the Coroner's office and they are going to speak to mum's GP and come back to me later to advise if a post mortem is needed or not; then I'll have more idea of a timeline.

I found a funeral company not too far from me though a little distance from mum who do a very basic arrangement; they collect, deliver to crematorium and arrange for the return of ashes afterwards. I can attend the crem if I like (and if I can get there, as they choose where the cremation happens), but there's no service.

There is up-to-date house/contents insurance and I'm wondering if that will pay to repair the window broken by the police (which is currently boarded up) but am having to wait until I have an 'official' date for her death (since it could be either of two).

I will be going back to the house regularly - though at the moment I don't feel much like it as I was a little unprepared for the scene when I got there - but my own health problems make it unlikely I could clean it effectively. Does anybody know if there are cleaning companies who would come in and blitz the place?

It's weird the way things keep coming back at me; I can be doing relatively well and then a something will hit me and I'll have trouble coping again. I suppose it's natural enough but with so much to deal with, I keep thinking: It wasn't supposed to end like this!

newleaf

Yes, there are specialist cleaning companies who deal with emptying and deep cleaning properties, ring your local authority housing department and ask them if they have one they can recommend, (they often have to use them for their properties where a tenant has died and there is no NOK).

faerielight

sorry for your loss