Died intestate with no assets and catalogue seeking payment

singhini

Silvertabby said:

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.  

You said it

singhini

Furthermore it went through a notification service not through hearsay 
PS - Not sure why people are messaging me, try telling the OP what your suggestions are!

la531983

No harm in being belts and braces and sending a copy of the actual document, or even just a photocopy.

Grumpy_chap

SiliconChip said:

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

Agreed, and I was going to comment similarly.
There being "very little left" might still be sufficient to clear the £400 debt to the catalogue and should be cleared before any residue is distributed under intestacy rules.