No will

elb86

Hi

looking for some help

My mum sadly recently passed away.   It was sudden. She hadn’t done a will. So obviously no executor and administrator  at the moment until probate 

I lived in the house with her (that she solely owned) and I was just wondering if it was possible to just transfer utilities and council tax into my name
As obviously they’ll have to be told, aswell as the bank (which might get frozen)

or do I have to wait until probate has been started with an executor or administrator named 

Thank you 

Keep_pedalling

With no will you will need to apply for letters of administration rather than probate (the process is vertically identical) but that does not stop you getting the utilities and CT put into your name before you do that. 

What was your mother’s marital status? Did she own the home or is it rented? Do you have any siblings? 

Brie

Keep_pedalling said:

With no will you will need to apply for letters of administration rather than probate (the process is vertically identical) but that does not stop you getting the utilities and CT put into your name before you do that. 

What was your mother’s marital status? Did she own the home or is it rented? Do you have any siblings? 

OP says she owned it.  Whether that's with or without a mortgage wasn't mentioned.

elb86

Without
I was just wondering if it was possible to do utilities and council tax before letters of administration/probate was applied for as from reading different things they might ask who that is
   

Thank you 

Keep_pedalling

Apologies for missing the bit an about ownership. Utilities and council tax are the responsibility of the occupants rather than the owner. If you are now the sole occupant you can get the signal adult occupant discount. 

elb86

Keep_pedalling said:

Apologies for missing the bit an about ownership. Utilities and council tax are the responsibility of the occupants rather than the owner. If you are now the sole occupant you can get the signal adult occupant discount. 

It’s ok
i do have siblings who don’t live at the address but they are happy for me to stay there

i just wanted to know if it was possible to change name on utilities and council even though we haven’t applied for the letters/probate yet.  Just unsure if they would ask for the executor/administrator which obviously we haven’t done yet   And weather next of kin would do if they did ask 

it’s just a bit of a minefield at the moment as have never had to do this before 

sorry for rambling x

RAS

There is no such thing in law as next of kin, unless you signed up for the forces. Or the hospital asks for a contact when you go in for treatment.

As sole occupier you, rather than the estate, are liable for Council Tax and utilities and media. All you do is ring the bereavement departments with the meter readings for utilities, and ask the CT people for a single person's discount application if you can't find it on-line.

Sea_Shell

Not an immediate concern, but...You say your siblings are happy for you to stay there...but for how long?  Forever?

Under rules of intestacy, you all inherit an equal share, so they will be entitled to joint ownership or a cash equivalent.

elb86

Thank you for your feedback 

so it shouldn’t be a problem with me changing things under my name (utilities/CT). Before letters of administration have begun? 

RAS

No problem, these are your debts, not the estates.

Linton

Also you should tell the house insurer of the death and ensure cover continues to apply, especially given that you are living in the house but are not the owner.