Died intestate with no assets and catalogue seeking payment

Billy12345

Hi, I hope someone more knowledgable than me can help.

My mother in law died intestate over 4 weeks ago.  Her policies paid for the funeral and she had no assets, the house was rented and she had very little left in the bank.  No letters of administration were applied for as the policies did not require these, neither did the bank.  In essence there was hardly anything left.  Fast forward 4 weeks and I have received a letter asking for payment of nearly £400 for a catalogue (who was notified of the death using the notification service).  

My question is does this have to be paid and who would be responsible for this.  There were no assets to sell and the little money raised covered the funeral.  

I hope someone can guide me along the right lines here.

TadleyBaggie

No one else is responsible for debt, any payment would need to come out of the estate. If the estate doesn't have the funds then that should be the end of it.

Billy12345

TadleyBaggie said:

No one else is responsible for debt, any payment would need to come out of the estate. If the estate doesn't have the funds then that should be the end of it.

Thanks for this however how do I prove the estate had no funds, what do I need to disclose to the company chasing payment

DavidT67

It is not on you to prove the estate is insolvent, do not intermeddle or take on the administration of the estate.

Simply inform the lender that the estate is insolvent. and leave it at that.

Billy12345

DavidT67 said:

It is not on you to prove the estate is insolvent, do not intermeddle or take on the administration of the estate.

Simply inform the lender that the estate is insolvent. and leave it at that.

Thanks for that, shall I just phone them up and tell them.  I helped my wife deal with the policies etc and those were used to pay for the funeral.  Is it easier to phone or write to them as I dont want to say the wrong thing on the phone.

Keep_pedalling

Billy12345 said:

DavidT67 said:

It is not on you to prove the estate is insolvent, do not intermeddle or take on the administration of the estate.

Simply inform the lender that the estate is insolvent. and leave it at that.

Thanks for that, shall I just phone them up and tell them.  I helped my wife deal with the policies etc and those were used to pay for the funeral.  Is it easier to phone or write to them as I dont want to say the wrong thing on the phone.

I would write to them. Explain that the estate is insolvent and that after funeral costs there is not her to distribute. Also add that no one is administering the estate, that should be the end of it. 

singhini

Is this any use:-


[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Date]

To: [Catalogue Company Name]

Re: [Your MIL Name] – Account No. [if known]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in connection to the correspondence you have sent regarding an outstanding balance on the above account. I regret to inform you that [Your Mother-in Laws Name], passed away on [Date]. Her estate is insolvent and, after paying funeral costs, there are no funds or assets to distribute.

For your information no one is administering the estate, and there will be no probate or letters of administration as there are no assets to warrant this.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Name]

SiliconChip

Your post is a little inconsistent, you say that "her policies paid for the funeral" and "she had very little left in the bank", then later you say "the little money raised covered the funeral". If the funeral was paid for by insurance and there was some money in the estate, albeit a small amount, what happened to it? If it went to a priority use that's fine, but if not then it should be offered to creditors. See Step 3 here under "How to pay off debts after death" for the priority order.

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/family-and-care/death-and-bereavement/dealing-with-the-debts-of-someone-who-has-died

la531983

singhini said:

Is this any use:-


[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Date]

To: [Catalogue Company Name]

Re: [Your MIL Name] – Account No. [if known]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in connection to the correspondence you have sent regarding an outstanding balance on the above account. I regret to inform you that [Your Mother-in Laws Name], passed away on [Date]. Her estate is insolvent and, after paying funeral costs, there are no funds or assets to distribute.

For your information no one is administering the estate, and there will be no probate or letters of administration as there are no assets to warrant this.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Name]

Very good but should also include a line along the lines of "please find enclosed a copy of the death certificate", and attach it with the letter.

All this is of course assuming there is no money, the above poster has pointed out this isnt clear.

singhini

la531983 said:

singhini said:

Is this any use:-


[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Date]

To: [Catalogue Company Name]

Re: [Your MIL Name] – Account No. [if known]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in connection to the correspondence you have sent regarding an outstanding balance on the above account. I regret to inform you that [Your Mother-in Laws Name], passed away on [Date]. Her estate is insolvent and, after paying funeral costs, there are no funds or assets to distribute.

For your information no one is administering the estate, and there will be no probate or letters of administration as there are no assets to warrant this.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Name]

Very good but should also include a line along the lines of "please find enclosed a copy of the death certificate", and attach it with the letter.

All this is of course assuming there is no money, the above poster has pointed out this isnt clear.

Did you not read the original post................... "(who was notified of the death using the notification service)."  
The catalogue company are already aware of the death............... that's why they sent their letter.
Sending a copy of the certificate is a unnecessary expense IMHO

Silvertabby

singhini said:

la531983 said:

singhini said:

Is this any use:-


[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Date]

To: [Catalogue Company Name]

Re: [Your MIL Name] – Account No. [if known]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in connection to the correspondence you have sent regarding an outstanding balance on the above account. I regret to inform you that [Your Mother-in Laws Name], passed away on [Date]. Her estate is insolvent and, after paying funeral costs, there are no funds or assets to distribute.

For your information no one is administering the estate, and there will be no probate or letters of administration as there are no assets to warrant this.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Name]

Very good but should also include a line along the lines of "please find enclosed a copy of the death certificate", and attach it with the letter.

All this is of course assuming there is no money, the above poster has pointed out this isnt clear.

Did you not read the original post................... "(who was notified of the death using the notification service)."  
The catalogue company are already aware of the death............... that's why they sent their letter.
Sending a copy of the certificate is a unnecessary expense IMHO

The letter was probably just a request for payment.  As this will not be forthcoming, they will need proof of death before they can close their records.