Help with simple probate…….a bit lost

kevinyork

Apologies in advance but I’m getting somewhat confused by online guidance. 

So Mum died in Feb. She had a will leaving it all to her husband, now deceased, then to my sister, also,deceased, and I with me and my sister as executors.  She had no property and her estate consists of a few thousand in the bank account (already transferred out and account closed) and furnishings in her home. 

It appeared I didn’t need probate due to the simplicity of things however Mum had some health insurance that covers accidental death, which it was.  They say if/when they approve the payout I have to have probate.

I've looked gov.uk with a view to applying online but it won’t go further as I haven't filled in a form and got a IHT reference but the IHT pages suggest I don’t need to fill in a form as it can be dealt with as an excepted estate as part of probate.

Could any one advise in simple terms how to go about getting probate for what appears to be a simple estate?  Thanks so much in advance.

swingaloo

You say she left everything to her husband. Did he outlive her? Did he leave a will?

kevinyork

swingaloo said:

You say she left everything to her husband. Did he outlive her? Did he leave a will?

Sorry should have said, her husband died before she did leaving everything to her. 

Rodders53

Did sister (deceased) have a married spouse or children and did she have a will?  Her share of Mum's estate may not be yours - depending on the precise wording of Mum's will.

If the Estate totals (after funeral costs and any debts) less than £5,000 then there is no fee for Probate and you should be able to apply online:  https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate/apply-for-probate  
How far have you got... have you registered with an e-mail address and then got stuck with this IHT / HMRC form issue?  (If yes hopefully someone else can advise).

The alternative, but slower, method will be to do a paper form Probate application ... https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/form-pa1p-apply-for-probate-the-deceased-had-a-will 
Citizen applicants PA1P as there's a Will.

Keep_pedalling

Unless her will said otherwise your sister’s share goes to her children, if she did not have any then it goes to you. 

Sounds like the insurance payment falls within her estate so you may have to apply for probate just for that payment.

kevinyork

Keep_pedalling said:

Unless her will said otherwise your sister’s share goes to her children, if she did not have any then it goes to you. 

Sounds like the insurance payment falls within her estate so you may have to apply for probate just for that payment.

Thanks. My sister didn’t have a will or any children. 

kevinyork

Rodders53 said:

Did sister (deceased) have a married spouse or children and did she have a will?  Her share of Mum's estate may not be yours - depending on the precise wording of Mum's will.

If the Estate totals (after funeral costs and any debts) less than £5,000 then there is no fee for Probate and you should be able to apply online:  https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate/apply-for-probate  
How far have you got... have you registered with an e-mail address and then got stuck with this IHT / HMRC form issue?  (If yes hopefully someone else can advise).

The alternative, but slower, method will be to do a paper form Probate application ... https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/form-pa1p-apply-for-probate-the-deceased-had-a-will 
Citizen applicants PA1P as there's a Will.

My sister had no will, spouse or children. 

I have got as far as registering online but it sticks at the requirement to do the IHT part first despite the IHT website suggestion it can be done as part of the probate.