Wife,s dad passed away yesterday but do not know what to do.

Sarahspangles

If he had no will, no assets/money and his insurance won’t cover the funeral costs then you don’t really need to do anything other than inform the Council so they can arrange a funeral.  The hospital will need to be informed as they will want to transfer him into the care of a funeral director.  It is a difficult time - you’re bereaved and suddenly there is all this paperwork stuff to resolve but unless it is in your financial interests to do so, you can simply register the death and then let the authorities deal with the rest.  But do communicate with them, so they know they’re able to proceed.

rich_shot2003

its all very stressful at the moment as my wife,s dad fell out with most of the family so no one is speaking out and saying they will help with costs or even help us sort things out so we have been all left to it which is a bit unfair.

After a death certificate has been issued can other members of family get copy,s or can only 1 be issued?

Sarahspangles

Yes, but remember you don’t have to pay for things either.  A copy of the death certificate is £11.  You only need copies if you’re going to administer the estate e.g. to close bank accounts and if he had no money that may not be in your interest.  When you get the certificate the Registrar will give you a ‘Tell Us Once’ code to use on a website and this informs people like the Council and Pensions.

gwynlas

There is absolutely no need to worry about costs he would be entitled to a socially funded funeral though if there is a life insurance policy this might cover it. Any family and friends who wished to attend would be entitled to do so and there is a normal commital service. Regarding his flat and property check through paperwork, personal effects and anywhere he might have squirreled away valuables then walk away. Tell the HA that there is no money in the estate if that is in fact the case and that you will not be responsible for flat clearance. They are used to clearing properties where people have died with no next of kin.

elsien

You could also try hospital lost property and if you know which ward he was on ask them to check the ward safe. I’ve known missing money to turn up there sometimes.

rich_shot2003

Just a update.

Hospital found his wallet so will be picking that up tomorrow as well as the death certificate.

still others members of his family not contacted us to ask if we want any help.

Hoping that we can pick up keys to his flat this week so we can get in there and pick up any paper works and bits that we will need and due to the fact that we have no transport and live many miles away from his flat we will get the council to clear it out and as they now have our details we will have to pay for that.

also due to the fact of we having no money and we think he would not have much we will let the council deal with funeral but would we still get his ashes back if we went down that route? how does it work when you let council deal with that side of things?

have to say as his son in law i have never come across a family where no one wants to help or know and with so much in fighting between family members and with all apart from my wife who i am supporting with all this no one wanted to know dad in law.

so hope this week things get moving and hope by end of the week we will see light at the end of the dark tunnel.

Grumpy_chap

rich_shot2003 said:

have to say as his son in law i have never come across a family where no one wants to help or know

There is no Will and the Estate may be insolvent.  If that is the case, then the other family members may be prudent not to be involved in the Administration of the Estate - are you sure you want to be?

rich_shot2003

Grumpy_chap said:

rich_shot2003 said:

have to say as his son in law i have never come across a family where no one wants to help or know

There is no Will and the Estate may be insolvent.  If that is the case, then the other family members may be prudent not to be involved in the Administration of the Estate - are you sure you want to be?

Have to say as a bit of a outsider(i am married to his daughter) i really do not want to be but i am supporting my wife as best as i can.

Flugelhorn

You say about the council clearing the flat and you paying - it is the estate that pays and if there is no money to do so then be careful in arranging things. If there really is no money then stand back and let the council deal with it all. 

Your wife may feel she ought to do things but it may be wiser to stand back and consider the options first

rich_shot2003

Flugelhorn said:

You say about the council clearing the flat and you paying - it is the estate that pays and if there is no money to do so then be careful in arranging things. If there really is no money then stand back and let the council deal with it all. 

Your wife may feel she ought to do things but it may be wiser to stand back and consider the options first

I think that is what we will do letting council deal with it but the wife wants to get into his flat to get out as much paper work and things like that as we can.

he just seems wrong to like stand back and let council deal with it but understand that it may have to happen.