Clarification on S27 notice

Annaojjo

I'm the sole executor of my mother's estate. I have two questions:

1.
I am about to put an S27 notice in The Gazette and wondered if it's necessary to pay the additional £215 + VAT to add it to the local paper? Mum did not own a property and I personally paid her outstanding rent (before I realised that it should have come from her estate. I am unlikely to get that back as she didn't leave enough to cover it.)   Another £215 is quite a lot of money for me to find.  Is The Gazette notice enough?

2.
I know there is an outstanding bill of about £2500 for the adult care she received. At the time of her death, she was disputing it because the carers regularly failed to turn up.  I have asked the social services to provide details of all the visits they are charging for and I am still waiting for their reply (2 months now).  When they finally do, is this charge against the estate, and so to be paid from the small amount of money mum left?  What if it's not enough or another creditor wants it? 

Thanks in advance.

Linton

If there is not enough money in the estate to pay the debts the usual advice is to not take on the responsibility for sorting out the deceased's affairs.  All you get is hassle, no thanks, and if you do  it wrongly you could end up being personally responsible.  Though not a likely outcome with such small amounts .

All the executor's costs and the cost of the funeral should be taken from the estate first.  If there is not enough left to pay the debts, the debts dont get paid.  However you do have to ensure that every creditor is treated fairly.  You cant just pay one and ignore another.

Others will probably advise on what you should do now given the debt owed to you for the rent arrears and perhaps other costs you may have covered.

Under the circumstances I do not believe it is necessary to pay for a notice in the local paper, certainly not from your own money.  I would question whether a Gazette notice would  be necessary either. - the reason for an S27 notice is to protect the executor from being held responsible if creditor turn up after the money has been distributed.  If there isnt any money to distribute it is rather pointless.