Transfer house ownership after death

ericonabike

Briefly, my brother died last month, leaving a widow and naming me as executor. I've sorted most things out, but the house was in his sole name. I've applied for probate and was assuming the house would be sold, but his widow wants to stay there and have the house out in her name. 
Has anyone done this? I've researched it, and the process seems far more complicated than anything else I've done as executor. So much so that, uniquely, I'm thinking of getting a solicitor to do it...

kimwp

Did he die without a will?

ericonabike

Well no. Otherwise I wouldn't be executor. 

SimonWebs

Better pay a solicitor conveyancer to the work, you'll know it will be done right without the stress!

Emmia

Did he have life insurance that pays off the mortgage in the event of death?

Why are you seeking to sell? Does the will specify this? Or do you need to release money for beneficiaries who are not his wife*? Why did you assume the house would be sold if he's left a widow?

*Was he married to his widow? Does the will predate any marriage?

Keep_pedalling

Is a lot easier to transfer the house to his widow than sell it. Have a look at forms AP1 and AS1 and if you don’t feel up to doing it yourself, hire a conveyancing solicitor to do it. 

https://www.gov.uk/update-property-records-someone-dies

Voyager2002

SimonWebs said:

Better pay a solicitor conveyancer to the work, you'll know it will be done right without the stress!

I second this.

I acted as executor for my father's will, and had to transfer the ownership of his home. I paid a solicitor, and some months later received an unpleasant letter from a debt collector! I could not understand this letter, but it was clear that something had gone wrong with the transfer of ownership: I do not know what. Eventually it turned out that there had been a mistake in the solicitor's office. The cost of putting it right and dealing with various fees (including to the debt collector) amounted to well over a thousand pounds, but since it was clearly not my fault the solicitor paid the lot and put everything right. 

ericonabike

Thanks most. Solicitor it is!