Fathers Pension but no beneficiary named

mini_lidi

Hi guys, am getting confused in relation to my late fathers pension. He recently passed away without a will and was not married to my mother, so his estate is now going through probate.
We discovered he had a private pension from his younger years and am not sure if this will be included in the total value of this estate.

Have spoken to the provider who confirmed there was no beneficiary’s named on the pension but they won’t tell me anymore details until they have received a letter from a solicitor who’s dealing with dads estate (which I do understand)
But after some research, some people say pensions don’t count in the total estate but others say it will because no one is named.
Any advice or help, would be greatly appreciated

Dox

mini_lidi wrote: »

But after some research, some people say pensions don’t count in the total estate but others say it will because no one is named.

Clearly the usual well informed selection of people!

The fact that no-one is named is neither here nor there. The pension falls outside the estate, assuming there is a pension benefit payable.

If it was a defined benefit scheme, it may be that there is nobody eligible to receive a pension at all, in the absence of a spouse or 'eligible' children (unless there are some quite young children).

mini_lidi

Thanks Dox!
So the pension should be paid out to either my sister or myself or split accordingly?

That’s the issue with googling questions, to many people who think they know ����

Flugelhorn

It depends what type of pension, if it is a defined benefit then there is no pot and it will depend what benefits the scheme give to dependents eg to spouse or children under 23. If it is a defined contribution / private pension then there will be a pot that will be passed on to beneficiaries

mini_lidi

Sorry it was a private pension through prudential as my father was self employed and my dad passed away at 58, not sure if that makes any difference.

Dox

mini_lidi wrote: »

Thanks Dox!
So the pension should be paid out to either my sister or myself or split accordingly?

That’s the issue with googling questions, to many people who think they know ����

If there was no will, the Pru will need to make enquiries about suitable recipients - hence wanting to hear from the solicitor being doing anything further. If your mother was living with your father at the time of his death, and was financially dependent on him, they may well decide she should receive some or all of 'the pot'. If on the other hand they'd be living apart for years, and you and your sister are the only close relatives, it may well be that the pot is split between the two of you.