Important update! We have recently reviewed and updated our Forum Rules and FAQs. Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the latest version.
Applying Grant of probate in uk / plus land abroad.
9 replies
540 views
pearl123
Forumite 1.7K posts
A quick question. Can I tackle only part of probate?
Can I apply for Grant of probate to deal with my mothers estate in the UK. Ie money and house, which come under the £300.000.
So i get all the uk details together and sort it out myself to save money.
Can I then get a international solicitor to do the second part. A foreign or international solicitor to see to the more complex sorting out of valuing land abroad of which i have no clue where to start.
Can I apply for Grant of probate to deal with my mothers estate in the UK. Ie money and house, which come under the £300.000.
So i get all the uk details together and sort it out myself to save money.
Can I then get a international solicitor to do the second part. A foreign or international solicitor to see to the more complex sorting out of valuing land abroad of which i have no clue where to start.
0
Quick links
Essential Money | Who & Where are you? | Work & Benefits | Household and travel | Shopping & Freebies | About MSE | The MoneySavers Arms | Covid-19 & Coronavirus Support
Replies
Would you not be best advised to take expert, qualified advice?
The land is either worthless or near worthless, as it has access issues. However, it still need to be accounted for.
My mother is English and she inherited a small amount of land in France.
Banks have their own rules about how much cash they will release without a Grant but assuming that your mother was the sole proprietor, you will definitely need one to deal with the property.
If the land abroad has no value, then that might simplify applying for probate in the UK ... does not resolve the foreign land situation, which is why expert advice is suggested. Whether it's worth it of course we can't know!
Completed: TWO adult cardigans, 3 baby jumpers, 3 shawls, 1 sweat band, 3 pairs baby bootees, 2 sets of handwarmers, 1 Wise Man Knitivity figure + 1 sheep, 2 pairs socks, 3 balaclavas, multiple hats and poppies, 3 peony flowers, 4 butterflies ...
Current projects: pink balaclava (for myself), seaman's hat, about to start another cardigan!
You might find that France is the same, but you need advice from a solicitor/;awyer/notary there...
The UK will is perfectly valid fo French property.
https://www.wansbroughs.com/files/WTTPGUIDES%20-%20French%20Will.pdf
What you are going to need is to to get professional help in France to both get a proper valuation and to sell the land. No land is totally valueless although legal fees might cost more than its worth, but you don’t really want to lumber your executor with the same problem so the time is right to off load it once and for all.
In the mean time you can still get on with applying for probate in the UK. If you have not got a valuation for the French property by the time you have all the UK assets sorted, you can still submit IHT 205 with an estimated nominal value. You only need to notify HMRC of any change to that value if it takes the estate over her NRB of £325k (up to double that if she was a widow). This must be done with 6 months of the original submission.
You certainly don’t need a UK solicitor at this stage.
Years ago a solicitor said it was worth nil value. The solicitor at the time tried to sell it for a token gesture and nobody was interested.
Can I get a valuation of the land and then ask a french solicitor to deal with the technicalities of probate? If I ask a french solicitor to get a valuation it might cost more. (There is also zero mention of the land in the uk will)
Also can I apply for a grant of probate in the uk and then later if I feel anything is too complex, pass it onto a solicitor?
Thank you for the link.