Identifying Unknown Creditors

HappyScotsman

Mother passed away but had personal liability for water services to a vacant non-domestic property in Scotland. I have a memory of a company contacting her to tell her they would be supplying the premises and to confirm property details which she did. Since then silence and I have no idea who the water company was.

Should I be placing an announcement somewhere to ask unknown creditors to present themselves to the Executors?

Keep_pedalling

Announcements in the London Gazette and a local paper would overcome you responsibilities as an executor for any debts that crawl out of the woodwork after distribution, but not the beneficiaries, so if you are the sole beneficiary I would not bother.  

theoretica

Do you have details of and access to the property?  Apparently any non-domestic water supplier could help you identify the current supplier. https://www.scotlandontap.gov.uk/

HappyScotsman

Keep_pedalling said:

Announcements in the London Gazette and a local paper would overcome you responsibilities as an executor for any debts that crawl out of the woodwork after distribution, but not the beneficiaries, so if you are the sole beneficiary I would not bother.  

Thanks. I have my reservations about using a local paper since the water company could be anywhere in Scotland but The London Gazette would seem the best route. I had a quick look. I hadn't realised using it gives a cut off date for claims to be made. I thought claims could be made right up until the estate is wound up and closed.

HappyScotsman

theoretica said:

Do you have details of and access to the property?  Apparently any non-domestic water supplier could help you identify the current supplier. https://www.scotlandontap.gov.uk/

Another avenue to explore. Thanks