Small(ish) Estate in Scotland

ev51

Relative has no heritable property and has been chatting about setting up his affairs to make things simpler to sort out for whoever is left to deal with it (currently no Will/PoA, so that’s one job).

Moveable estate in Scotland actually slightly above £36,000, but monies in each bank below their advertised threshold (I know they may still require Confirmation, but hopefully not).

Has anyone wound up a small estate, without Confirmation or Probate and can provide some pointers as to how an estate can be simplified beforehand to help with the process? Or, put another way, what unexpectedly created the need to apply for Conformation/Probate?

user1977

The obvious way of simplifying it is to get rid of it all before you kick the bucket...but I think that's tail-wagging-the-dog territory.

Also bear in mind that you can never be sure what your estate will comprise e.g. is there potential for him inheriting before he dies?

sheramber

When my husband died the house and joint bank account was automatically transferred to me. All that was needed was the death certificate.

His sole account ( £3k) required the death certificate and copy of will to be transferred to me. I was beneficiary and executor.

No probate or Confirmation required. 

https://www.gov.scot/publications/death-scotland-practical-advice-times-bereavement-revised-11th-edition-2016-9781786522726/pages/12/#:~:text=An%20executor%20is%20a%20representative,someone's%20property%2C%20money%20and%20possessions.