Consecutive deaths and probate

W.Ford

My dad passed away at the beginning of the month, leaving everything (house owned as tenants in common plus some savings) to my mum in his will. They both have some individual investments that trigger a need for probate. My mum is also very unwell and likely to pass in the next week or two. I am named as the executor in their (mirrored) wills. 

So far I have registered dads death and notified the appropriate banks and I'm waiting on final balance information to help value the estate. I have not yet started the application for probate. Can anyone give me a basic understanding of how the process works when the benficiary also passes away before probate is applied for/granted. The will(s) also have a clause stating 'where the spouse survived for more than 30 days', which is likely to happen (just). 

The value of the estate is under the £1million joint amount passable to a direct descendant.

Thanks - Will

p00hsticks

I'm sorry for your loss(es). It must be a very difficult situation for you. 

My understanding is that you would first need to complete the probate application for your father and, assuming that you mother survives him by the 30 days specified in the will, his estate passes to your mother, if still alive, or into her estate if she has died. 

When you have wound up your fathers estate you can then start to deal with that of your mother. you'd need to apply for probate for her estate, and may need to fill in a IHT return first if you are going to need to claim the RNRB(s), even if no tax is due.