Re probate

joe134

SevenOfNine wrote: »

"Wife says I have OCD" :rotfl: The more I read, the more I think you do actually have a good idea regarding just looking at the process - but don't give yourself a massive heart attack before completing this educational task leaving the family to figure it out on their own!

In our marriage I'd have once looked at the forms & said neither of us were capable of dealing with it & waltzed off to a solicitor. But I think Badmemory #14 has summed that up succinctly, it doesn't take long to realise that it's the executor/partner/children who will have to give them all the info to put on the form anyway. So as long as they have reading/writing skills they may as well give it a go first. Quite often I think it looks more daunting than it is because the forms aren't being cross referenced with the instruction paperwork (they are pretty 'step by step' helpful). When an estate isn't overly complex DiY saves money, & more importantly, time, IMO solicitors have a fairly common speed...…….slow!

At the moment you're intestate anyway so they'd be applying for Letters of Administration/Grant of Representation, not probate. Though it's the same forms as probate, can't recall if some of your answers may be different.

Good luck with this, personally I see it as a ruse to get out of the Christmas shopping...……...:beer: lol.

Thanks S, actually I’m not intestate, I/we made out DIY mirror wills from WHSmith 15 years ago, they are in the safe.
The reason I am going to the solicitors now is because, there’s no provision in my diy ones should we both go together.
So far we have been lucky.
Everyone on here has said, never diy it!
No good asking advice if I’m not going to take it.

I have a longish thread on the savings with this topic, because I posted it on the wrong one, and swapped to here.
When I made them out, we didn’t have the money we do now, how things change eh!
Wife is out Christmas shopping now with the daughter, she shops for England.
I hate shopping, and alas ,Xmas too.
Bah humbug.����
Thanks for everything.
Nice when we can share our problems.
This site is invaluable, and the people who give their time and advice free are only to be commended.:beer:
I have no intention of giving myself a heart attack.
Been told in the past, it’s a swinging brick anyway
Ps. Making mince pies at the moment.��
:rotfl:
Merry Xmas.

Savvy_Sue

The other thing to remember about DIY probate is that you can take advice on specific aspects of the process. Which is what we did each time.

badmemory

Definitely do your wills via a solicitor but do not use them as executors.

joe134

When I make my new will out tomorrow, how many copies from the solicitor should one normally require.
I have read that the Probate Office require the Original plus two photo copies ?
Haven’t seen the original yet, so will photocopy one of the copies, without splitting it, if that’s possible ?
Splitting is mentioned in the probate form of the original for photo copying ?

:beer:

relaxtwotribes

Not sure why you would consider 'splitting' the wills, whatever that means. Usually a solicitor will keep the wills in their safe and give you a certified copy. At the appropriate time, get the will back from the solicitors and take two photocopies without messing with the will at all. The original will goes to the probate registry with the photocopies.

joe134

relaxtwotribes wrote: »

Not sure why you would consider 'splitting' the wills, whatever that means. Usually a solicitor will keep the wills in their safe and give you a certified copy. At the appropriate time, get the will back from the solicitors and take two photocopies without messing with the will at all. The original will goes to the probate registry with the photocopies.

Thanks R, that’s ok then.
There is a question in the probate form which I have just read,
Why is the will split, was it for photo copying, ?
so I assumed they must have a few that are split, to photo copy, otherwise, that question would not be there ?
Do the executors not require a copy ?
:beer:

relaxtwotribes

On my Form PA1P that I completed last month I do not see that question. On the front page in the right hand column, under 'Checklist note' it says 'Do not attach anything to or remove anything from the original will/codicils. Also, make sure that you keep a copy for yourself.'

As I mentioned earlier, you will have a certified copy from the solicitor. Keep that one.

joe134

relaxtwotribes wrote: »

On my Form PA1P that I completed last month I do not see that question. On the front page in the right hand column, under 'Checklist note' it says 'Do not attach anything to or remove anything from the original will/codicils. Also, make sure that you keep a copy for yourself.'

As I mentioned earlier, you will have a certified copy from the solicitor. Keep that one.

Hi R, appreciate your reply.

This is from the PA1P.
3.8 will and Codicils

Did you separate the will for photocopying purposes?
Yes - please explain the details in the box below including who separated
it, when they did and why they did it.
Box yes/ no and a larger box to explain reason for separating !
:beer:

Savvy_Sue

Just don't separate it. Copy it without removing any staples, ribbons etc ...

Frogletina

SevenOfNine wrote: »

At the moment you're intestate anyway so they'd be applying for Letters of Administration/Grant of Representation, not probate. Though it's the same forms as probate, can't recall if some of your answers may be different.

Actually, the forms for probate and letters of administration are different. I've just had to deal with two bereavements and the first time I applied for probate on form PA1P and the second was for letters of administration on PA1A.

However, I did not find either form that difficult to fill in once I'd got together all the relevant information.

One more thing, a slightly different version of the PA1A was produced while I was in the process of filling it out - I went to print just one page out to amend a figure and found that it had changed and the page I wanted now had a different number. I filled it in anyway and substituted it for the original page I had printed and hoped for the best. Luckily it was accepted.

Just wanted to mention it, as there is no point in filling one out even partly in advance as it is likely to change before it is needed.