We have not long completed probate. I say we as my OH is executor, but I've done all the leg work he just signs stuff as and when.needed and makes phone calls as for obvious reasons they won't discuss things with me.
All I wanted to say was don't worry where the probate office is, as we filled in all the forms. And on the form is a box to tick to say you want to swear the oath at a local.solicitor office. They send the grant back, you go to the solicitors office and swear it contains the truth etc. They stamp it and sign it and you send it back.
Cost £5 and five minutes. Didn't even need an appointment at solicitor as the receptionist just asked whoever was free to come and swear the oath. Just need to a solicitor who is a commissioner for oaths. Our was one of several in the high street.
Also beware of banks trying to sell you their probate services, in fact in our case.only one bank tried and tried them tried again. Barclays. Just tell them no thanks very firmly.
------------- Shelli
Campers do it in the mud!
Hubby says we can
When my father passed away last December, we notified the bank straight away. Account was frozen, but no probate required. We then notified all the utilities giving them final reads and also the housing association.
All the utilities were sympathetic and generated bills within a few days. In the meantime the bank had consolidated all his accounts and transferred the money into our account.
The only hassle was with the unsympathtic housing association who wanted an additional 2 weeks rent as my father had not given them notice of his death although he was two weeks in advance! We paid off all dad's accounts and then about 3 months later got a demand from the HA for two weeks rent. We told them that the money had been used up and to put a claim into the estate. That was the last we heard from them.
Thank you shelldean, sounds like I am in the exact role as you were, doing the leg work and phoning, amazingly so far company's have not minded talking to me, probably 'cos they would not get information out of my departed Mum in Law.
Brilliant, your information on swearing oath at a local solicitors office.
Can I ask who you contact for the forms, is it Gov.uk ? I know I can print them out, but a proper form is easier and cheaper.
Some did speak with me, but as I am not executor some refused, and were within their rights to only discuss with executor. The reason i did all the legwork and form filling, is because I'm a SAHM while the executor works. Also I do all the form filling for us as a family anyway!!
I think I called the probate office and then they posted the relevant forms out. But in the end I actually filled in the probate forms online then printedoff two copies. Keeping one for our records.
Remember to pay for a couple of extra copies of the grant. As like the death certificate people require the original, and you don't want to wait for it to be returned before you send it to the next company. Or worse still your only copy gets lost. It's only 50p a copy. I think we got four copies so an extra £2 on top of the fee of £215.
------------- Shelli
Campers do it in the mud!
Hubby says we can
On Gov.uk it mentions advertising a 'Deceased Estates' notice in the local paper and in the Gazette newspaper, has any UKCS member done so ?
I always thought that was only done if there was no will, or the Estate was worth a fortune.
My Nan died.on the Saturday of a bank holiday.
So on the Tuesday we set about sorting things out, and we notified the council, the cheeky mare actually put her hand.out for the keys...yes she expected us to give her the keys back there and then.
Then she said about handing back the property on the Friday. When my sister and I said that wouldn't be enough time as we had lots to do sorting things, plus we had families of our own to tend and Nan lived the other side.of the borough and neither of us drove ( so nightmare moving things)
The council worker got really atrophy and said we'd be liable for any rent etc. No mention of the estate being liable, she actually emphasized the fact that my sister and I would be liable.
My sister had to restrain me at one point.
We finally agreed on a date just under three weeks away.
So less than three weeks to clear the house Nan had lived.in for 80+ years plus organise the funeral etc and look after our families at the same time.
Somehow we managed it.
We then got the demand for the rent owed told them the estate was insolvent after the funeral had been paid. And to be fair they accepted that.
Pity the other council dept wasn't so nice.
We received a bill for £1500 for clearing the house.
We'd left the three piece suite, one wardrobe, a coffee table and an almost brand new cooker.
They sent us photos with the invoice to back up their claim. These included the local directory we'd left on the stairs for the next tenant, and the pile of EMPTY boxes we'd forgetting to flatten and put out for recycling. Along with the sofa, wardrobe and table. Funny enough no photo of the cooker complete with instructions!!!!
They was told no money in estate, but we had several threatening letters requesting the money before they gave up. Really wasn't what we needed at that point.
I apologise for the rant but I am still angry about it almost ten years later.
------------- Shelli
Campers do it in the mud!
Hubby says we can
Quote: Originally posted by Coast walkers on 08/6/2015On Gov.uk it mentions advertising a 'Deceased Estates' notice in the local paper and in the Gazette newspaper, has any UKCS member done so ?
I always thought that was only done if there was no will, or the Estate was worth a fortune.
We've not done.this yet as although probate was granted back in Jun 2014 we are waiting on a DWP investigation regarding benefits overpayment. So that is something we.May well do once we'reready to distribute
Edited to add we're dealing with an interstate death, no will
------------- Shelli
Campers do it in the mud!
Hubby says we can
Thanks again Billyx, Gov.uk did not explain it in simple terms like you have.
What a silly go round in circles probate helpline line phone number, anything but helpful. No I do not want to print it all out myself, I want to talk to a person and be sent through the correct forms needed.
I now have to wait 10 days to see if my recorded message of them asking me which forms I require and my name and address got through or not, cannot talk to anyone, it just sends you back to the website to print your own forms off.
How frustrating.
shelldean the dwp investigation, takes time the grandkids money could not be paid out as the dwp were investigating, according to my solicitor, in the end i rang the dwp and they have a breavement dept, and they investigate incase the person had been in hospital and claiming pension, there was a outstanding amount as the pension was paid monthly. once this was done all monies could be paid out. when you ring the dwp make sure you have all the details, ie; date of birth, nat ins number, etc. and they will tell you if you owe any monies.
Quote: Originally posted by kbcalypso on 08/6/2015shelldean the dwp investigation, takes time the grandkids money could not be paid out as the dwp were investigating, according to my solicitor, in the end i rang the dwp and they have a breavement dept, and they investigate incase the person had been in hospital and claiming pension, there was a outstanding amount as the pension was paid monthly. once this was done all monies could be paid out. when you ring the dwp make sure you have all the details, ie; date of birth, nat ins number, etc. and they will tell you if you owe any monies.
kbcalypso,
Wish it was that simple. She wasn't in hospital she was claiming benefit she wasn't entitled to. DWP won't speak with me as I am not executor. Luckily their dept recovery dept is open until 8pm. So OH who is the executor can call when he is home from work.
They first contacted as when the grant of probate was granted, asking for more informed by a certain date early August. This was supplied.
Next contact was Jan 2015 asking for bank account balances.on two dates. To be provided by a Feb date. Also supplied. Tho it took longer than it should as one bank supplied the wrong info, because they didn't listen n. Yes it was Barclays again!!!
We discovered.end of May that Barclays had not followed.our instructions and there was still an account held by the deceased.
We notified dwp investigation on hold whilst we dealt with Barclays. Investigation has now been resumed.
How much longer they will take.....your guess is as good as
mine.
There is money owed we agree, just a question of how much.
Coastwalkers, it's been an interesting learning curve that's for sure.
Which number are.you dialling btw?
------------- Shelli
Campers do it in the mud!
Hubby says we can
Thank you all, just reporting to sayhow easy it is to DIY Probate. We have started to do our own probate and that it is quite simple as long as you double/triple check all questions and all answers on the probate form and check you have all correct documents needed.
I have now managed to get through to the probate office at last and they are sending the appropriate forms and tax forms we need, but will take be up to 10 days to arrive, so I have printed them off (not so many pages as I first thought) and have penciled in the answers ready for when the probate forms being sent through, (eventually) arrives.
The booklet our solicitor would give you to fill in to get all their information for doing probate, must surely have all the same questions as the probate forms as solicitors would need to get the information from you in the first place, so solicitors would probably just copy your answers over from the booklet you have filled in for them and write your answers onto the probate forms, so you might as well do the lot yourselves if you can.
Not saying it will all be plain sailing as we might still have a few more high hurdles to jump over.
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Topic: Advice please, Deceased`s Bank Accounts
