Contesting a Will as Next-of-Kin

maman

RomfordNavy said:

maman said:

I can't believe that @RomfordNavy would get into any trouble if they were to explain the situation to the beneficiaries either directly or through the solicitors. If he says he acted in good faith by informing Tell us Once as he thought he should as named NoK then that's quite innocuous.

I told Tell-us-once because I had been instructed to do so by the registrar when registering the death.

I'm sure the Registrar made you aware of the facility to help you. While that's not literally the same as instructing you (as you do have a choice not to use it) it still means that you have only tried to do the right thing, nothing you'd be prosecuted for or whatever concern you have about not moving the process forward through your solicitor or personally so that the funeral can be arranged. Inaction isn't helping anyone. 

RomfordNavy

74jax said:

On registering the death, you would not have been instructed to use TellusOnce service, it's voluntary. It's exceptionally easy and very useful - for those dealing with the estate.

It's sounds like a simple 'lost in translation' situation.

I'm sorry but you don't seem to have any idea what you are talking about.  The Registrar sends out a unique serial number and an Internet URL to use to access the Tell-us-once service.  I have just checked that email and there is nothing in there to suggest it is only volantary, it reads as if it is an obligation.

elsien

There are people commenting who have used the service themselves and been told about other options. Pretty sure they do know what they’re talking about, in those circumstances. 

Mojisola

It was definitely offered to us as a "and do you want to use the TUO service" - no obligation to do so.

maman

You've done nothing wrong. As next of kin you were eligible to use the service. I've looked at the government website and it does push you in that direction and says that the registrar will tell everyone registering a death about it and provide them with a link. It also says what to do if you choose not to use it.

But that's not really the point. You used the service which is fine but that doesn't help move the situation forward and get the funeral arranged. 

Manxman_in_exile

RomfordNavy said:

74jax said:

On registering the death, you would not have been instructed to use TellusOnce service, it's voluntary. It's exceptionally easy and very useful - for those dealing with the estate.

It's sounds like a simple 'lost in translation' situation.

I'm sorry but you don't seem to have any idea what you are talking about.  The Registrar sends out a unique serial number and an Internet URL to use to access the Tell-us-once service.  I have just checked that email and there is nothing in there to suggest it is only volantary, it reads as if it is an obligation.

!!!!************!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*************!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!****!*!*!*

Each month my bank sends me a credit card statement.  For the last 20 or so years I have cleared the balance each month by automated direct debit.  The statement my bank sends me each month has a bank giro credit form attached to it.  The bank giro credit form is pre-printed with my name and address and my card number on it.

Despite them doing this, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE BANK WANTS ME TO STOP THE DIRECT DEBIT AND PAY THE BALANCE MANUALLY BY DRAWING A CHEQUE AND PHYSICALLY PAYING IT IN AT THE BANK!!!

They are just doing their best to be helpful - like the registrar.

Just as you have misinterpreted your having no right to see the will as being the equivalent of not being permitted or not being allowed to see it, I suspect you have misunderstood the registrar trying to be helpful by saying something like "You'll now need to inform various government bodies of the death.  You can use Tell Us Once - I'll send you the details" as giving you an instruction that you must carry out.  I think not.

Manxman_in_exile

Robin9 said:

Presumably you completed  this box

• if there’s no surviving spouse or civil partner or their spouse or civil partner is not able to deal with their affairs, the name and address of their next of kin

If the OP sees a box and "Next of kin" is mentioned, they'll complete it...

Gers

RomfordNavy said:

74jax said:

On registering the death, you would not have been instructed to use TellusOnce service, it's voluntary. It's exceptionally easy and very useful - for those dealing with the estate.

It's sounds like a simple 'lost in translation' situation.

I'm sorry but you don't seem to have any idea what you are talking about.  The Registrar sends out a unique serial number and an Internet URL to use to access the Tell-us-once service.  I have just checked that email and there is nothing in there to suggest it is only volantary, it reads as if it is an obligation.

I know exactly what I'm talking about - I've just been in the sad position of registering the death of my beloved mother. The tell us once service is purely optional. 

Yes, the Registrar offers it to you as an easy way to inform a lot of local and central government departments which saves time and effort. You are not obligated to accept the offer. Even when the email with code comes through it can be ignored if you choose to. 

I hope that you can find some peace and acceptance of the situation you find yourself in. 

BooJewels

RomfordNavy said:

74jax said:

On registering the death, you would not have been instructed to use TellusOnce service, it's voluntary. It's exceptionally easy and very useful - for those dealing with the estate.

It's sounds like a simple 'lost in translation' situation.

I'm sorry but you don't seem to have any idea what you are talking about.

What a preposterous comment to make - each of us commenting about Tell Us Once have already told you that we know how it works as we've been recently bereaved and actually used it - I know that myself, Gers and 74jax have all recently suffered at least one loss.

My most recent Tell Us Once code arrived in the post with the Death Certificates - printed as a letter on a sheet of A4 paper, wrapped inside a 4 x A4 sided colour leaflet explaining how it can be used.  On the first page it explains that Government departments and councils will need to be informed of the death and lists the ways this can be done - online, by telephone and in person.  It further explains how each of those options works, lists what information you'll need, lists what departments will be informed and even gives an outline of who can use the service.  The letter itself (generated by the Government portal generating the code) repeats much of the same information, but does suggest that the on-line version will be quicker as they are experiencing significant phone delays and some offices are closed to personal callers.

For what it's worth, it doesn't say anywhere that this needs to be an executor, but does state that it must be a close family member and defines 'next of kin' as "the closest relative by blood or marriage" and if the person using the service isn't the closest person or executor, they must have their permission to proceed and will need some information from them to do so.

74jax

RomfordNavy said:

74jax said:

On registering the death, you would not have been instructed to use TellusOnce service, it's voluntary. It's exceptionally easy and very useful - for those dealing with the estate.

It's sounds like a simple 'lost in translation' situation.

I'm sorry but you don't seem to have any idea what you are talking about.  The Registrar sends out a unique serial number and an Internet URL to use to access the Tell-us-once service.  I have just checked that email and there is nothing in there to suggest it is only volantary, it reads as if it is an obligation.

Having done it 3 times in the last few years I beg to differ. 

I guess even the government TellusOnce website doesn't have a clue what it's talking about, as it lists alternatives if you don't want to use that service. Perhaps you'd like to inform government they are wrong rather than just accept you simply misunderstood. 

As I've said, you are on the verge of now getting letters requesting over payments to be paid back, you have completed a service as though you are administering the estate.

Which you have said you won't.

You need to step back now and hand the administration over to the beneficiaries or you will be liable for any mistakes you make.

The senders of the letters you now recieve in the coming weeks need to be made aware you did not mean to start administering the estate.

You will get letters.

You can not bury your head now.