Applying to be an administrator of Uncles Estate

atagirl

I wonder if you could guide me in the right direction for some advice, please?

My uncle died on 26th May 2021 without a will. He was fostered by my grandparents in 1935 and there are no other living relatives. I was his financial deputy during his later years and until his death. In law, I am not his blood relative, although I always considered him to be my much-loved uncle. I organised his funeral and still have his money in an account I set up when I was his deputy.

I contacted a solicitor for advice about his estate and was told it is now in the hands of the Treasury Solicitor. 

I want to know if there is any point at this stage in my applying to be his administrator? I have been told by the solicitor that I don’t have the authority to organise his interment, so his ashes are yet to be buried according to his wishes. This seems very unfair. 

I've looked on the Guv website about becoming an administrator, and I am more than willing to complete the forms necessary, but will struggle to find the fee- and wanted to know my chances of being recognised as his niece and closest relative and thereby able to administer his estate.

Many thanks for any help you can offer.

Keep_pedalling

Unfortunately with no living relatives, and not being adopted by your grand parents his estate will pass to the crown. Administering such an estate is not easy and as all proceeds go to the state it is something you should not tackle.

You could contact the Treasury Solicitor regarding the ashes.

Such a shame he did not make a will.

TonyMMM

You don't have to be a relative to administer an estate, so you could apply to do it if you wanted to, but as said above - it may be complicated and all the proceeds will be held by the Treasury Solicitor. You can't make any claim against the estate .....maybe an heir hunter will take it on (from the Bona Vacantia list) and manage to track down some distant relatives who would be the beneficiaries. 

Grumpelstiltskin

If he wasn't adopted then any inheritance is due to his birth family.

This is where Heir Hunter companies come in. They, if they take it on will look for relatives.

In his circumstances it's such a shame he didn't  make a will.