Valuing Estate

Cat8Woman

Finding valuing difficult as my partners items are in storage since eviction, all mixed up with mine. I have some key items like bike and clothes, other than that there is around £300 in a couple of bank accounts. 
There was an over 50's plan that partly paid for the funeral, the cash residue I assume forms part of the estate value?

There are then two pension plans which I believe have death benefits, am I right in thinking these do not form part of the estate value?...believe there are no beneficiaries named, dispersal is at discretion of the trustees.

Any advice gratefully received, just don't want to get this wrong!

Cat8Woman

My partner had very few debts when he died. I am assuming I should first write a letter to the creditors informing them of his passing and asking for the current balance of the debts and then write back later advising if they are not likely to be paid?  Is there an appropriate letter template for this as I know terminology can be so important?

Also, how do I know a debt is actually due to be paid by the estate or will be passed onto me?

At his death my partner and I were living in Temporary Accommodation supplied by the Council, we had been evicted under a section 21 some months earlier. The application for housing was in his name and he received two letters advising of Housing Benefit entitlement, and what they would pay to the landlord.  No bill or instruction as to what he/we should pay, when or how was received by us. Only service charge was paid as a card and instuction had been supplied for that.. Is my partners estate liable for the outstanding rent or will it be passed to me?

Another debt was that my partner had  was the landlords costs for evicting us, court advised payment of £5 per week as he was on ESA benefit.

As debts are paid by level of priority I believe both are considered to be unsecured creditors.. am I right?

FlorayG

Your partners debts are his debts, not yours. As long as you were not a joint tenant or in any way legally responsible for payments while he was alive then you are not responsible for them now
If his estate can pay them then it will be required to; you are not responsible

Flugelhorn

has your partner passed away? are you absolutely sure you need to do probate / admin?

there doesn't sound like there is much in the estate and you may not have to do anything. the pension plans will be as you say, at the discretion of the trustees

Cat8Woman

Yes passed away, sorry, head still a little scrambled. I believe letters of administration are required as possibly a couple of debts that will need writing off if nothing else

SiliconChip

Sorry for your loss. 

When you say the plan "partly paid for the funeral" and then mention a cash residue, do you mean that the plan paid fully for the funeral and part of the payment was left over? If so then yes, I think that will form part of the estate.

You refer to "partner", were you married or had a civil partnership? Generally any pension payout on death is made outside the estate of the deceased, but that payment is at the discretion of the trustees. Usually it is paid to the nominated person, especially if they were married or civil partner, but if that isn't the case they could decide to pay it to someone else (for instance, to children if there are any), or possibly not pay at all.

I'm not sure that the debts will be written off, if there is some value to the estate then that money may need to go towards paying off the debts. You can find help here https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/family-and-care/death-and-bereavement/dealing-with-the-debts-of-someone-who-has-died 

If the debts are likely to take up the whole value of the estate then you have the option to declie to administer it and walk away, it's not a process I know much about but others should be able to provide more help.

SiliconChip

Some of these questions are being answered in your other thread, I'd suggest sticking to one will prevent duplication or confusion. I'll ask if the threads can be merged.