Brother-in-law died, no will, no up to date paperwork, no state pension, loads of bills!

naedanger

Bobbysoxx29 said:

Thanks again everyone. I've just received a 2 minute long video from the landlord showing us the state of the house now the clutter has gone. I'm assuming he wants us to clean it up properly. He has already been in touch with one of BIL sisters to ask when we are going back to help him clean it up. Do we say its not negotiable and it's up to him now.

Yes.
(If you wish you could reiterate that you cleared the house at your own personal expense, which you were not obliged to do. If he held a deposit then presumably he could use that to offset any costs at the end of the tenancy; but to the extent there is any shortfall he is welcome to apply to administer the estate. If he chooses to do this then he should let you know as you are owed money from the estate for the cost of the funeral [and other some other expenses]. 

And if he contacts you again then simply reply that you have nothing to add to your previous correspondence.)

74jax

Bobbysoxx29 said:

Thanks again everyone. I've just received a 2 minute long video from the landlord showing us the state of the house now the clutter has gone. I'm assuming he wants us to clean it up properly. He has already been in touch with one of BIL sisters to ask when we are going back to help him clean it up. Do we say its not negotiable and it's up to him now.

I'd just reply simply saying thanks for the video.  Unfortunately there's been a misunderstanding and you are not administering the estate.  
I don't think at this stage you need to be curt etc, just a polite thanks etc and then I think I would block him.

EDITED as I posted when naedanger was also - I like their reply too, more explanatory of the situation, than mine.

Bobbysoxx29

Hi folks, it's me again, in need of your help yet again. After all your advice we informed the debtors to the Estate that it wasn't being administered and thought that would be the end of it. 
However, one of BIL sisters has received letters about the private pension that BIL was in the process of trying to claim before his death. We assumed that this was the end of it so the family walked away without doing anything with this private pension. After a couple of emails to the company and a telephone call from them, it transpires that the policy is still there waiting for someone to claim it. They have sent application forms for the policy and they did disclose that there was a substantial amount available. If we decide to proceed would Probate come into play or Letters of Administration be needed?
There is no other Estate and we would settle his debts of course, but should we be mindful of any legalities that may come to light?
Many thanks 

Sea_Shell

AIUI, a private pension pot would fall outside of any estate, and payment would be at the discretion of the pension trustees, or by a nominated beneficiary form.

Probate would not be required, and it would not count as intermeddling with the estate.

naedanger

The sister should ask the pension company whether the payout forms part of the deceased's estate. I suspect it won't, in which case the amount can be claimed without any need for probate or any legal requirement to pay the estate's debts.

(If the recipients wish to repay the estate's debts is up to them. But if they do they could do so without bothering to administer the estate.)