Letters of Administration

Marcon

dollypeeps said:

So will probate be needed because of the size of the estate?

And then probate is done after LoA?

I’m so sorry for what seems like basic questions. I have been reading up on it and I seem to be tying myself up in knots.

TIA

I was responding to the solicitor's' comment which you quoted as 'He was reluctant/unable to give me much information ( data protection fe) but did say that the estate hadn’t been dealt with as LoA had been applied for/ requested.' 

I took it to mean that he was aware that LoA were still in the course of being issued, which would imply probate would be required - otherwise no need to apply for them. You've said 'I imagine the estate to be sizeable. To the best of my knowledge, there will be a house, possibly a car or two and bank accounts, plus personal effects' so yes, probate will be needed - and that can't be applied for until LoA have been granted.

I wonder who instructed the solicitor?

If your mum is anxious to have the gold bracelet, there's nothing to stop her writing to the solicitor and explaining that it belonged to her father and she would be very grateful to have it to remember him by. She'll only get a non-committal answer at best, but the point will have registered.

dollypeeps

Thank you so much Marcon.
i was curious as to who was dealing with his estate as his wife has passed ( she was an only child) and they didn’t have children.
I assumed that the solicitors were dealing with everything but obviously that may not be the case. 

I think I will check periodically if probate/LoA have been granted and then possibly pay the small fee to see who is dealing with the estate.
In the meantime, I will be writing to the solicitor regarding my grandfathers bracelet for my mother.
We have been keeping an eye on houses for sale, so if the property appears on the market then I imagine the relevant authorisation has been granted.
Thank you once again and no doubt I will be back with more questions as they arise.

Savvy_Sue

You can register a property alert on the Land Registry website: you'll then be told if the house sells. However that would be a bit late for getting the bracelet, so yes, worth keeping an eye on estate agency websites. 

Do you live near enough to mooch round there at regular intervals?

dollypeeps

Savvy_Sue said:

You can register a property alert on the Land Registry website: you'll then be told if the house sells. However that would be a bit late for getting the bracelet, so yes, worth keeping an eye on estate agency websites. 

Do you live near enough to mooch round there at regular intervals?

Thank you for your reply. I didn’t think of the land registry. 

No, we don’t really live that close tbh

Marcon

dollypeeps said:

Thank you so much Marcon.
i was curious as to who was dealing with his estate as his wife has passed ( she was an only child) and they didn’t have children.
I assumed that the solicitors were dealing with everything but obviously that may not be the case. 

I think I will check periodically if probate/LoA have been granted and then possibly pay the small fee to see who is dealing with the estate.
In the meantime, I will be writing to the solicitor regarding my grandfathers bracelet for my mother.
We have been keeping an eye on houses for sale, so if the property appears on the market then I imagine the relevant authorisation has been granted.
Thank you once again and no doubt I will be back with more questions as they arise.

The solicitors could indeed be 'dealing with everything' but must have been instructed by someone, not least because they'll want their fees paid! If your mother writes to the solicitor, that should ensure whoever is administering the estate (once it gets to that point) knows of her interest.

If you set up a 'standing search' you will automatically be sent a copy of the grant of probate if one is issued in the next 6 months. Cost is £3 and you can renew at six-monthly intervals for a further £3: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60ed615ad3bf7f568ffe8704/PA1S_0721.pdf (tick the box on the second page for 'standing search').

Marcon

Savvy_Sue said:

You can register a property alert on the Land Registry website: you'll then be told if the house sells. However that would be a bit late for getting the bracelet, so yes, worth keeping an eye on estate agency websites. 

If you register an alert with the Land Registry, you'll get told of 'activity' in relation to the property - things which happen during a potential sale process. This is what I received a few days ago in relation to a property on which I have an alert set (you do get the info - the 'xxxxx' is me redacting):

Property Alert reference: xxxxx

There has been activity on the following property for which you have requested a Property Alert notification.

Property address: xxxxxxxxx

Title number: xxxxxxxxx

The activity details are:-

Search lodged by xxxxxxx

On: 01.Feb.2024 At: 10:57:44

Customer reference: xxxxxxx

HM Land Registry reference: xxxxxxxxx

To protect a pending: Lease

In favour of: xxxxxxxxxxx


You aren't actually told if/when it sells - but as probate is needed for any sale to conclude, registering a standing search (see my post above) would flag that a sale could then proceed.

Keep_pedalling

Marcon said:

p00hsticks said:

Marcon said:

p00hsticks said:

dollypeeps said:

Would I be able to see if LoA have been granted and to whom?

TIA

Assuming the deceased was in england or Wales, you can search here
Search probate records for documents and wills (England and Wales) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

That will show if LoA have been granted, but I think you'd have to pay £1.50 to get a copy to find out to whom. 

Only after probate has been granted, and in this case it clearly hasn't.

Well, if you search and there is no result returned, then that shows that no LoA has been granted - the absence is as indicative as a presence. 

No; the absence tells you that probate hasn't yet been granted.

dollypeeps said:

Thank you for all your replies.
I’ve searched using the link above and as of today, nothing has been granted.
Does anyone know how quickly the website is updated once LoA has been granted?

The answer above is misleading. The website isn't updated once LoA are granted. LoA are granted well before probate, so LoA could be granted many months before the probate records show that probate itself has been granted.

What do you mean LoA are granted before probate? An administrator applies for LoA or probate, and as the process if identical for both, the time taken is the same. 

Marcon

Keep_pedalling said:

Marcon said:

p00hsticks said:

Marcon said:

p00hsticks said:

dollypeeps said:

Would I be able to see if LoA have been granted and to whom?

TIA

Assuming the deceased was in england or Wales, you can search here
Search probate records for documents and wills (England and Wales) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

That will show if LoA have been granted, but I think you'd have to pay £1.50 to get a copy to find out to whom. 

Only after probate has been granted, and in this case it clearly hasn't.

Well, if you search and there is no result returned, then that shows that no LoA has been granted - the absence is as indicative as a presence. 

No; the absence tells you that probate hasn't yet been granted.

dollypeeps said:

Thank you for all your replies.
I’ve searched using the link above and as of today, nothing has been granted.
Does anyone know how quickly the website is updated once LoA has been granted?

The answer above is misleading. The website isn't updated once LoA are granted. LoA are granted well before probate, so LoA could be granted many months before the probate records show that probate itself has been granted.

What do you mean LoA are granted before probate? An administrator applies for LoA or probate, and as the process if identical for both, the time taken is the same. 

It means I've gone brain dead...apologies. Too many nights without sleep!

Keep_pedalling

Marcon said:

Keep_pedalling said:

Marcon said:

p00hsticks said:

Marcon said:

p00hsticks said:

dollypeeps said:

Would I be able to see if LoA have been granted and to whom?

TIA

Assuming the deceased was in england or Wales, you can search here
Search probate records for documents and wills (England and Wales) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

That will show if LoA have been granted, but I think you'd have to pay £1.50 to get a copy to find out to whom. 

Only after probate has been granted, and in this case it clearly hasn't.

Well, if you search and there is no result returned, then that shows that no LoA has been granted - the absence is as indicative as a presence. 

No; the absence tells you that probate hasn't yet been granted.

dollypeeps said:

Thank you for all your replies.
I’ve searched using the link above and as of today, nothing has been granted.
Does anyone know how quickly the website is updated once LoA has been granted?

The answer above is misleading. The website isn't updated once LoA are granted. LoA are granted well before probate, so LoA could be granted many months before the probate records show that probate itself has been granted.

What do you mean LoA are granted before probate? An administrator applies for LoA or probate, and as the process if identical for both, the time taken is the same. 

It means I've gone brain dead...apologies. Too many nights without sleep!

We all do it 😀

poppystar

Just as a general point …who else is able to instruct solicitors in this case, or any other, where there is a close family member who is first in line to apply for LoA? I know that heirhunter companies do employ solicitors but I thought that was only after they had traced beneficiaries and been instructed by them.