Father has just passed away

Orville

Hi.

My father has just passed away.

He jointly owned a house with my mother. They also have two Scottish widows accounts in joint names totalling around 50k.

A will was left by him in which everything goes to her.

I have been made an executor along with my mother.

They had joint bank accounts and the bank has said to just bring in a copy of the death certificate and they will transfer everything over.

Can you tell us what we need to do next with regards to transferring the house into her sole name along with the Scottish widows accounts...

Many thanks.

TonyMMM

Call Scottish Widows and speak to their bereavement team. If the accounts were in joint names, they may pass automatically to your mother and all they will require is to see a death certificate, but it may depend on exactly what type of account/product they had.

When my father died  the house was just left in joint names until my mother decided to move and it was dealt with then by the conveyancing solicitor without any problem.

Depending on Scottish Widows response, you may not need to apply for probate at all.

Flugelhorn

I agree with TonyMMM - the bereavement departments will help you and you don't have to do anything about changing the name at this stage unless you want to - I discovered that my parents house was still in joint names 20 years after my father's death, it was sorted when the property was sold after mother's death - solicitor did not batt an eyelid.

Best just to take your time - no hurry for much of this 

Orville

Guys,

Sincerely, thank you for your comments.

It's much appreciated. :-)

Out of curiosity. If she did want to put the house in her name, what would we have to do..?

sheramber

You can download forms to change the  names from the Land Registry website , but I left our house in joint names until I sold the house. All that was required a copy of the death certificate. 

 My solicitor didn't charge  anything for doing it as part of the sale.

If you mother makes a new will she could do it at the same time but a solicitor will probably charge for doing it.

Orville

Thank you, she's a bit set in her ways and seems to think you have to get a solicitor involved and have the name changed over. I shall show her this and reassure her it does not need to be done.

Many thanks.

Marcon

Orville said:

Thank you, she's a bit set in her ways and seems to think you have to get a solicitor involved and have the name changed over. I shall show her this and reassure her it does not need to be done.

Many thanks.

You might also show her this, which looks reassuringly 'official' but is also written clearly and helpfully: https://hmlandregistry.blog.gov.uk/2018/02/13/property-owner-dies/

molerat

My uncle didn't do anything when my aunty died.  Left it to his family to deal with when he died - said if they wanted it they can sort it out!  Only down side of this was my aunty's side got nothing and her nephew, my younger brother, had been treated almost as their own child as they had none.

TripleH

My father passed away 2 years ago unexpectedly, you have my condolences.

My parents had mirrored wills so everything left to my mum.

She hasn't changed the name on the house, and is going to be selling it. She has been granted probate.

As said above, always ask to speak to the bereavement team for any company you deal with (if they have one).

Misswol

I am in a similar situation but a couple of weeks ahead of you. 

Call SW - we found them very helpful.  In my parents' case their SW account was managed by Schroders.  Schroders have implied that they require probate for anything over 30k.  So far they have asked for a certified copy of the death certificate and a form signed by the executor.

I've not even started to think about the house deeds yet but I believe there's a form on the land registry website.

Good luck.