House and contents insurance after death

Greguk123

Hi folks,

My mother has died.  She owns her house (mortgaged).
She was not married/no partner
She has left no will
My sister and I are next of kin
My sister still lives in my mother's house, I live elsewhere

What do we do about building and contents insurance now?

Flugelhorn

I am sorry to hear of your loss. 

I think that your sister will have to speak to the insurance company and change the insurance to her name as she is living there. 

Have you spoken to the mortgage company yet?

Keep_pedalling

It should be a lot easier to arrange with your sister living there than it would do if it was empty. 

DullGreyGuy

Most insures will initially put it into the name of the Estate Of but not all insurers are happy to renew it as an Estate rather a living person. Ultimately your sister should speak to the current insurers and take their advices. They may say to let the policy run as it is (other than updating the bank details if it's paid in instalments) and switch at renewal. 

Greguk123

Flugelhorn said:

I am sorry to hear of your loss. 

I think that your sister will have to speak to the insurance company and change the insurance to her name as she is living there. 

Have you spoken to the mortgage company yet?

Thank you.  We have no idea who the current insurers are!

Sarahspangles

Greguk123 said:

Flugelhorn said:

I am sorry to hear of your loss. 

I think that your sister will have to speak to the insurance company and change the insurance to her name as she is living there. 

Have you spoken to the mortgage company yet?

Thank you.  We have no idea who the current insurers are!

If she died without a will you’re (that’s you/sister) going to need to apply for letters of administration to sort out the estate. The exception is if it isn’t worth anything, which seems unlikely if there is a house involved. Have you posted on the Deaths, funerals and probate board?

As executors you can look at bank statements etc, but you can’t start to deal with the estate until you have letters of administration. You may be able to see a payment out to an insurance company. Unless she banks online? There may be a policy somewhere in the house. You and your sister both have an “interest” in insuring the house if not. You can either transfer the policy or start a new one.

Flugelhorn

Greguk123 said:

Flugelhorn said:

I am sorry to hear of your loss. 

I think that your sister will have to speak to the insurance company and change the insurance to her name as she is living there. 

Have you spoken to the mortgage company yet?

Thank you.  We have no idea who the current insurers are!

agree with post above - check on bank statements for payments. otherwise get it insured in your sister's name