Partner passed away, no will and assets

tiggerbodhi

Hi, Partner passed away recently, fully understand that without a will probate will need to be done so will be finding a solicitor to do this, so many questions are reeling around in my head, but a few come to the front, possibly minor ones but:
I assume everything my partner owned is an asset for probate, does this mean I cannot gather up her clothes and donate to charity without getting them valued first?
How it is decided for items that are quite valuable whether they are mine, joint or hers? for example a ride on lawn mower, even our bed? 
if these things are not here when someone comes to value them how do they know they might have been in the first place? 
Or am I just completely in the wrong mental state and should wait to see what happens and what will be be will be.....
The estate will add up to about £600K for property not including the "little stuff" so know that IHT will need to be paid, just so much of the contents are "our" possessions, no receipts or proof of who paid for them originally etc 

RAS

Condolences at this difficult time.
There are a lot of things that affect the administration of an estate without a will (equivalent to probate). I'd hold off on the solicitor at the moment, and it may be that one is not needed anyway.

If the estate is £600K, does it include a property? If so, in whose name(s) is it registered?  Is there any mortgage, or life insurance?
Do you and your partner have any children together? If not does your partner have any surviving family?

Flugelhorn

condolences @tiggerbodhi - such a very difficult time for you. 
No-one is going to come and value anything, they just rely on what is written on the form so don't worry about that, anyway lots of secondhand stuff is not worth much when it comes to probate / IHT etc.
Key are the questions above - do you jointly own the property and is it Jointly owned or tenants in common? if the former then it becomes your and not included in the estate.
Please come back with any questions as I am sure people will try to help you and ultimately advise if it sounds complicated to contact a solicitor, many of us have managed without but sometimes they are needed.

elsien

You say partner so I’m guessing you weren’t married? Obviously there’s the intestacy rules to be considered - are you up to speed with those? 

Robin9

Unless you've got some expensive jewellery for estate purposes you can use something quite low say £1000 (and that's for everything).  Even that big TV you bought last week has little value. It sounds harsh.

That will is critical - I hope it names you specifically.

elsien

Robin9 said:

Unless you've got some expensive jewellery for estate purposes you can use something quite low say £1000 (and that's for everything).  Even that big TV you bought last week has little value. It sounds harsh.

That will is critical - I hope it names you specifically.

The title of the thread says no will. 

xylophone

Hi, Partner passed away recently, fully understand that without a will probate will need to be done 

You were  not married/in a civil partnership?

Did you and your partner own the property as joint tenants/tenants-in-common?

Or was she the sole owner?

If you were not married or civil partners, the rules of intestacy are here.

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

Did you have joint bank accounts?

Marcon

tiggerbodhi said:

Hi, Partner passed away recently, fully understand that without a will probate will need to be done so will be finding a solicitor to do this,  

A difficult time for you and I'm not surprised your head is reeling.

An unmarried partner can't apply to be the administrator of the estate. See https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate/who-can-apply for more information about who is entitled to apply (you can't just nominate a solicitor to do the job).

HobgoblinBT

Sorry for your loss.  I am not advocating using a High Street Bank for probate work, but many have useful online guidance on dealing with the practical stuff relating to a bereavement.

tiggerbodhi

Hi, thanks for the replies, a few answers.
There is property but purely in thier name.
No joint financial or links at all, as an ex bankrupt it was the best way to do it at the time, just, as you do, didn't expect her to pass before sorting a will out.
Luckily get on very well with her brother and father so they will do the administration of the estate.
The general feedback from others agrees with the rough sentiment of Robin9, unless you specific big expensive items it is not normal to come and count your CDs or clothes to put an IHT value on them.

RAS

Being an ex-bankrupt may not have prevented you from benefiting from your partner's will, particularly if you are discharged. You'll be very much dependant on her brother and father, as to whether they want to vary the intestacy rules to your benefit.