utility bills in debt

wheeler1970

also to mention would me closing his bank account class as administrating the estate? like I've said there's no money in the account so if it means me dropping myself in it i wont bother closing the account 

thegreenone

Wheeler, firstly, I am sorry for your loss.

My brother died intestate and I organised everything.  My Mum paid for the funeral with a payment from DWP? as she was on pension credit - just.  So, as above, don't get involved in organising a funeral.

Everyone (cc's/utilities/bank etc) need to be informed of his death but as a sibling and non-executor, you are not responsible for your brother's debts.  My brother had cc debts but once the company received the DC, they were written off and accounts closed.  I didn't pay a single penny towards my brother's debts.

wheeler1970

that's really interesting thanks for the advice   

RAS

You can write to (preferably) or email the banks and utilities and tell them the estate is insolvent, including a copy of the death certificate, scan would do or photocopy.

At least one poster here collected together all the financial paperwork in the house, took it home and offered it to the creditors when writing, if they wanted to administer the estate. Safe to say, no-one was took up the offer.

Same if you get any correspondence from the DWP.

thegreenone

Wheeler, I assumed your brother died without leaving a Will.  Sorry, that was presumptuous.  My post only goes if there is no Will.

wheeler1970

thegreenone said:

Wheeler, I assumed your brother died without leaving a Will.  Sorry, that was presumptuous.  My post only goes if there is no Will.

there was no will  

Mojisola

RAS said:

You can write to (preferably) or email the banks and utilities and tell them the estate is insolvent, including a copy of the death certificate, scan would do or photocopy.

Same if you get any correspondence from the DWP.

You can inform all the agencies and companies without giving any contact details for yourself.

It probably won't happen with utilities, etc, but some companies will pursue the informant and try to get them to pay debts.

es5595

wheeler1970 said:

also to mention would me closing his bank account class as administrating the estate?

Yes it would. Simply contact the banks, explain the situation and offer them a copy of his death certificate. 

Explain clearly and explicitly, in any written correspondence, “you are not administering the estate, simply providing the death certificate to aid their administration”. Repeat again and again. 

As previous posters have mentioned, give as few as personal details as possible, claim to be calling from a friends phone, no email and currently couch surfing, if possible!

If you cannot afford a funeral (and they are ridiculously expensive for what they are!) a public health funeral is definitely the way to go! 

I’m sure almost everyone would agree, I would hate to think any of my family getting in debt for a funeral, and would much prefer a public health funeral. 

wheeler1970

thankyou for the advice which ill follow   

74jax

wheeler1970 said:

Grumpelstiltskin said:

If as it seems the estate is insolvent DO NOT GET INVOLVED

I use capitals as it could unravel a huge can of worms.

Do not arrange the funeral, do not do anything involving any financial matters unless you are prepared for the fact you may become liable for the debts.

thanks, I'm the only family member so i have no choice but to arrange the funeral, at the moment I'm not getting involved with the financial matters, ill have to borrow money for the funeral  for obvious reasons  

Nope nope nope. They are not obvious reasons.
Please walk away from handling anything. 
The funeral will be provided for, you can still attend as his only relative. Do not sign anything, get any debt to cover bills etc. Do not administer anything.