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What to Do After a Loved One Dies (Part 2)

July 28, 2019 By Richard Farrell

This is the second post in a three-part series about handling the paperwork after a loved one died, and entrusted the sad task to you. You may have never actually spoken about it. However as their partner you have decided it is your sad duty to follow through.

We discussed the admin side in Part 1, where we worked through telling an authority they passed away, registering the death, telling all concerned, and arranging the funeral. Now it’s time to move on to making the wishes come true they described in their will.

Step 1: Find Their Will, List Their Assets and Liabilities

Your first task is to find the will, read it through and understand the content. The document will explain what they want done with their property and other possessions as the case may be.

A will usually nominates a person to execute those wishes, hence their executor. We wrote this article assuming you are that person. However, if the deceased nominated someone else, than most of what follows becomes their task.

Obtain access to all their possessions and papers, secure them, and write them up on a list. This should produce a database of assets, liabilities and any moneys owed. Inform the relevant creditors and debtors. Ask them how they suggest finalising these matters.

Step 2: Administer the Estate

Open a bank account on behalf of the estate. Deposit any cash in hand and receipts as they start trickling in. Once you have a grant of representation (see the paragraph following) you can write cheques to pay expenses directly related to the estate.

Establish the value of the estate by assessing every asset and liability separately. You may benefit from a professional evaluator at this point. You can bill the estate for their fees. Obtain and complete the necessary forms for inheritance tax and forward them to HM Revenue and Customs.

HM Revenue and Customs will decide whether the estate owes any inheritance depending on the value you placed on it. You cannot move forward with distributing the assets until this is paid. Consider appointing a professional tax adviser at this point. You can bill the estate for their fees.

Step 3: Obtain Permission to Distribute the Estate

The UK government manages the distribution of estates through its probate system. There’s a minimum value threshold below which this does not apply. That value was set at £5,000 at the time of writing although change was in the offing.

Some estates are automatically excluded from these controls, if:

  • The deceased had jointly owned land, property, shares or money (these will automatically pass to the surviving owners)
  • The deceased person only had savings or premium bonds (because their values are beyond dispute)

If the estate with which you are dealing is not exempt, but has a will, then you apply for a grant or probate. However, if there is no will, you should apply for letters of administration to distribute the estate according to the laws of succession.

The Final Stages of Administering the Estate

Our third and final post in this short series addresses how to go about finalising the estate of your loved one. Come back soon for the final instalment. Although you have lots to think about right now.

Filed Under: Probate Valuation Tagged With: administering an estate, distributing a deceased estate, finding a will, probate valuation guide

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We provide a full house clearance and property management solution:

  • We clear hoarded houses, regardless how big or how cluttered
  • We clear all types and sizes of property, irrespective of location, or access is restricted or where parking is difficult or not available.
  • We can help avoid water damage by draining the central heating system.
  • We can secure the property and change the locks.
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As well normal house clearances we specialise in clutter clearance and we can clear a hoarded house which may contain years of accumulated possessions, or which have abnormal amounts of general household items, sometimes as a result of compulsive hoarding syndrome.

Equally we can help to clear a property where the occupants were previously unwell and unable to care for themselves or their property which sometimes results in insanitary, dangerous or just plain unpleasant conditions.

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by Edward Harvey on Avery Associates
Probate Contents Valuation London

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Dear Jeff. I can not thank you enough . The house clearance wen like clock work. What a great team you sent me. Mr Wood

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