What to include in spouse's probate application

getmore4less

With the everything to spouse  that exemption kicks in.

It becomes a paper exercise.

Second death is the one that ends up being the one that counts.

Sea_Shell

Downthedrain said:

We're looking at this jointly, but my main priority is to make sure my wife has all the documents she needs should I die first. Right now we're putting everything together and dry-running through filling out the relevant  probate forms and providing the correct information so that when necessary she has a feel for the process. This has been a really useful exercise because it's raised a lot of queries that are better answered now while I'm still around.

It's great that you are planning.  But what if you both go together in a car accident???    It's OK that YOU know what to do if your wife passes, and you are preparing the basics if you go first, but will both your alternate executors know what to do if neither of you are here?

Do you have alternative executors as well as each other?

Downthedrain

Our beneficiaries would not be capable of handling probate etc. Out wills are at draft stage and we've left instructions for our solicitors to act on our/their behalf and details of savings accounts will be kept with our wills in the solicitor's safe. That covers if we die together. There is the same provision should a surviving spouse be unable or unwilling to act as executor.