Debt claim after grant of probate

SaintAlf

Keep_pedalling said:

SaintAlf said:

Thanks everyone for the good advice.  Is there a time limit for this kind of thing?  It's now almost a year since probate was granted.

There is a 6 year period before debts become timebarred. 

Thanks - very useful

Marcon

SaintAlf said:

Acting as executor, the death was more than a year ago and the grant of probate was more than 6 months ago.  An invoice has now been received from an individual who claims to have provided a service that was not paid for.  This contradicts a statement from that individual by email that the services in question were provided free of charge.  They are threatening legal action.  Any thoughts on what we should do, if anything?  Thanks in advance.

People love threatening legal action, or suggesting others take it, without having a clue whether or not any such action would succeed.

If you have an email from the individual saying the services were provided free of charge, and have pointed that out to them, they are simply trying scare tactics - and it seems to have worked, because you're clearly rattled. 

If they contact you again, reply once, enclosing a copy of the email and saying you now regard the matter as closed. You can't stop them trying to take it further (?how much is at stake), but that email is going to pull the rug from under their feet unless there's more to this than you are have mentioned.