Issues with partners estate after death

NWOIHTS

Hi

My long term partner (not married) recently passed away and I was the only person at the time to have access to their house. While everything is being sorted out (there was no will) the relations are starting to say I shouldn't have been in the house etc. but I already had a key from the deceased for 10 odd years and had more or less access to everything personal to her and in the house. 

They waited a week to say this and they never changed the locks until now, which I think they should have done immediately if they were that concerned about it. Immediately after the death I secured her cards and cash for safe keeping until such time they could be haned over to the executor whoever that was going to be.

I'm wondering why they are now saying this and am worried they may be trying to get access to her money before they are actually appointed exectors of the estate then fit me up with stealing something.

What is the legal standing here and and any advice what I should do?

Thanks

N

elsien

I suspect that you are probably overthinking it a little, and that they are just making  it clear how things stand from here on in. 
People who are grieving  sometimes respond in ways that they would not do at any other time. 

Emmia

If there's no will then the rules of intestacy will need to be followed - as an unmarried partner, I'm afraid that means you'll not be entitled to anything

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will


I advise that you walk away now, don't go into the property etc.

RAS

If there is no will, there is no executor.

You  need to ask them collectively who going to administer the estate, so you can forward the stuff you secured.

That means they have to discuss who is taking the lead. It also means they understand your intentions.

NWOIHTS

Emmia said:

If there's no will then the rules of intestacy will need to be followed - as an unmarried partner, I'm afraid that means you'll not be entitled to anything

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will


I advise that you walk away now, don't go into the property etc.

I'm not really wondering what I am entitled to, I realise I won't inherit anything, I was just wondering about why they are saying I shouldn't have had access to the house but I already had a key and they never mentioned it before and were happy for me to go in and keep an eye on her fish and the house in general in case anyone had tried to break in, there was no one else to do checks at the time.

Flugelhorn

NWOIHTS said:

Emmia said:

If there's no will then the rules of intestacy will need to be followed - as an unmarried partner, I'm afraid that means you'll not be entitled to anything

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will


I advise that you walk away now, don't go into the property etc.

I'm not really wondering what I am entitled to, I realise I won't inherit anything, I was just wondering about why they are saying I shouldn't have had access to the house but I already had a key and they never mentioned it before and were happy for me to go in and keep an eye on her fish and the house in general in case anyone had tried to break in, there was no one else to do checks at the time.

this is all pretty new to them and someone has probably got a a bit worked up about you having access whereas others may have been happy that you were checking the place and looking after the fish - it only takes one out of a few to start stirring things - relatives can start acting very strangely when money is involved and start creating a mountain out of a molehill. Best to just ask who is admin and if they want you to keep checking / feeding the fish or will they be starting to do it?

Brie

My guess is that they were perfectly happy to have you coming and going and ensuring the house looked active and the fish was fed and the mail didn't pile up on the door mat.  

And then someone said "OMG! What do we really know about this person??"  And panic set in and they went all atwitter and over-reacted.  

As RAS has said just explain you were feeding the fish, ask what they want to do with the fish in the meantime, is there any way you can continue to help, please take my mobile number in case you have any concerns and want to ask me about anything, etc etc etc.  The vast majority of people are reasonably civilised and will act that way when not caught in a panic.  If they were not close to your partner and don't know you they have every right to be concerned but likely just conveyed that more strongly than intended.  

Hoenir

NWOIHTS said:

What is the legal standing here and and any advice what I should do?

Wait for someone to be appointed to administer the Estate. In the meantime do nothing further. 

Flugelhorn

Hoenir said:

NWOIHTS said:

What is the legal standing here and and any advice what I should do?

Wait for someone to be appointed to administer the Estate. In the meantime do nothing further. 

really someone needs to feed the fish or move them out

NWOIHTS

Hoenir said:

NWOIHTS said:

What is the legal standing here and and any advice what I should do?

Wait for someone to be appointed to administer the Estate. In the meantime do nothing further. 

Does that mean I shouldn't hand anything over until they are officially executor of the estate?

RAS

No-one can ever become executor because your partner had no will.

Administration is basically how "some one" takes responsibility to complete the task normally done by an executor. In a functional family they'll probably identify someone with time, proximity and skills necessary to undertake the task. In dysfunctional families, you may get someone fast out of the blocks who goes for it before the others have stopped grieving, perhaps well intentioned, perhaps not.

So there may be additional anxieties in the family before you even start. They haven't even got that sorted and you have the paperwork. 

Since you have been looking after the fish, definitely use "what do you want to do with the fish?" as an intro to "when you've agreed can you let me know who needs the paper work" and, "happy to hand back the key whenever but do you want me do an external check if no-one's going to be there"?