Renunciation

MillieJean

Trying to help my sister through a very tragic time. My dear brother-in-law died abroad in Greece last October. Just a couple of days after arriving Skiathos early September 25, he was diagnosed with a bleed on his brain and rushed across the sea to hospital near Volos. Three surgeries to relieve pressure failed placed in induced coma on life support from the first op. It was doubtful he would recover. My sister paid all her costs on her credit card including flying their son from Canada to say his farewell to his father, and their daughter from the UK. Attempted repatriation after 40 minutes in the air. Emergency landing in Thessaloniki where he died, second repatriation to Uk. The awful details and anguish of this experience has shattered her. These desperate months and the lack of care and support by the insurance’s claims handlers continued as she attempts to settle the claim. She and her husband had a joint will, joint assets, joint bank accounts, no IHT, solicitors executors. Probate is not needed. But the insurance company insisted she must get a Deed of Renunciation get it completed and return to them. Overwhelmed by grief in no state to argue forced into a corner she conceded, now we discover nor fully understanding the consequences. She suffered large debts and needed the claim settling. She chased the claim and now the claims handlers will not even speak to her as she is not the executor, after months I’d speaking to her. They now instruct the only way they can speak to,her is if she gets probate. I’m helping her build a case to complain and I anticipate the Ombudsman. She has been treated disgustingly without any duty of care.

Keep_pedalling

Are you sure it is a deed of renunciation they asked for, I really can’t understand why they would even ask for such a thing.

What do you mean by joint will? Mutual wills are rare so do you mean mirror wills?

mebu60

Who is being asked to renounce what?

Who is the insurance company?

MillieJean

Keep_peddaling

thanks for reply. Yes PA17 for my sister’s and late husband’s solicitors to renounce as executors. Solicitors also couldn’t understand either. But they declined to help as it would look as though they were meddling and if issues arose in the future they may be liable, so felt they could/would not assist. Neither could my sister but it’s too late now, I read Renunciation cannot be revoked, currently there is no executor. Gallagher Bassett insisted and my sister was struggling with day to day stuff, she caved in under the pressure. After some research I did wonder if it may be to do with small settlements maybe. The travel insurance claim is around £6 to £7k. So according to Gallagher Bassett she will have to spend about half this in probate, jump through HMRC hoops and solicitor to conclude the claim. When to settle their estate it’s not needed. At the mo she has no fight in her.

mebu60

Yes sorry I do mean mirror whoever dies first everything goes to the remaining beneficiary. can’t recall who my brother in law paid for travel insurance but this was then brokered to Zurich, who use Gallagher Basset claims handlers (these are the problem) and Helix was the repatriation company (very good and compassionate). In September whilst my sister was in Greece she contacted Gallagher Bassett it’s been a saga of constant chasing. Alone, abroad, in this awful situation, language problems, no idea what she could claim for, Gallagher Bassett her told they have four days to confirm everything OK. She chased and chased and finally 4 minutes to midnight deadline on 4th day she got the OK. There’s a saga of poor service, my sister complained to the original company who complained on her behalf, resulting in a final £100 offer compensation from Zurich (I think) which she’s rejected. I just want to go straight to Ombudsman.

MillieJean

forgot to add, the complaint was well before this recent insistence on forcing her to make legal decisions when she wasn’t wholly capable at the time. Then later dropping the bombshell they would not speak to her until she becomes an executor.