Mum Died, myself and Siblings Executers, advice please
Discussion
So Mum died earlier this week after a short stay in Hospital, myself and my 2 siblings are the next of kin and I know we have been named joint Executers.
Will is simple with various small lump sums to the grand children etc, and rest shared evenly between us 3. I'm the eldest and live literally just round to corner from her house, broth and sis both 4 hours away, but are brilliant and have been up alot recently and will be in the future when work allows, but I'll probably be doing most of the paperwork etc.
Just after any advice going forward, We've got an appointment next Thursday to register the death and am aware after dealing with Dads death 20 years ago to get plenty of originals, but that was even simpler then with everything passing to mum.
We've been helping mum run her bank account for the last few years, my wife did her shopping with mums debit card, I made various purchases for her using the same, and I looked after her bank account with online banking.
I think I know the right answer for this, but can I continue to use mum's account to make various arrangement, cremation etc, or do I need to make these payments then claim back once we've sold the house and split the estate?
Bank account, if the above is no, then I believe we let the bank know, they then freeze it? What happens to the various DD's to cover on going utilities until the house is sold?
Anything other advice would be great, thanks in advance
Will is simple with various small lump sums to the grand children etc, and rest shared evenly between us 3. I'm the eldest and live literally just round to corner from her house, broth and sis both 4 hours away, but are brilliant and have been up alot recently and will be in the future when work allows, but I'll probably be doing most of the paperwork etc.
Just after any advice going forward, We've got an appointment next Thursday to register the death and am aware after dealing with Dads death 20 years ago to get plenty of originals, but that was even simpler then with everything passing to mum.
We've been helping mum run her bank account for the last few years, my wife did her shopping with mums debit card, I made various purchases for her using the same, and I looked after her bank account with online banking.
I think I know the right answer for this, but can I continue to use mum's account to make various arrangement, cremation etc, or do I need to make these payments then claim back once we've sold the house and split the estate?
Bank account, if the above is no, then I believe we let the bank know, they then freeze it? What happens to the various DD's to cover on going utilities until the house is sold?
Anything other advice would be great, thanks in advance
Don't delay applying for probate, they've been taking ages. Follow the online instructions, straightforward but you'll need your ducks lined up.
Most organisations accept scanned copies of the death certificate. Banks will have a bereavement service, ours (Santander)worked really well. NS&I are a nightmare, really awkward, felt like pulling teeth.
Most organisations accept scanned copies of the death certificate. Banks will have a bereavement service, ours (Santander)worked really well. NS&I are a nightmare, really awkward, felt like pulling teeth.
Send me a PM, and I will forward something I got to signpost me through my mothers affairs. Might help.
In theory, once you inform your mum's bank, the only thing that will come out is the funeral expenses. So change the utilities , council tax etc first.
If you need an executor's account, the number of banks who will accept three signatories is extremely limited (Barclays, by the way). Most banks view it as something unclean, and certainly none of the challenger banks were remotely interested or capable.
Be aware of the HMRC forms you'll need to fill in, as those need doing before probate.
In theory, once you inform your mum's bank, the only thing that will come out is the funeral expenses. So change the utilities , council tax etc first.
If you need an executor's account, the number of banks who will accept three signatories is extremely limited (Barclays, by the way). Most banks view it as something unclean, and certainly none of the challenger banks were remotely interested or capable.
Be aware of the HMRC forms you'll need to fill in, as those need doing before probate.
Sorry for your loss.
Details of the official 'Tell Us Once' service are available here...
https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you...
Details of the official 'Tell Us Once' service are available here...
https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you...
Sorry for your loss. I recall when my mother died my sister and I were both executers but her living some distance away (as per your scenario) meant it was difficult getting two signatures on forms and so on, so she legally withdrew as executor - it made life simpler.
Also, your mothers bank account will be frozen once you notify the bank, until probate is granted. You (or more accurately the bank) can pay funeral expenses out of her account while frozen however.
Also, your mothers bank account will be frozen once you notify the bank, until probate is granted. You (or more accurately the bank) can pay funeral expenses out of her account while frozen however.
I would not be in a hurry to notify the bank, especially if you have some access to the account. It will be handy to have access for funeral and other probate bit n bobs, as well as making sure property utility services are closed down gracefully. By all means get the probate ball rolling - it took 3 months before the probate service started on my FIL's case last year, but was dealt with pretty quick once it got to the front of the queue.
Mogul said:
Sorry for your loss.
Details of the official 'Tell Us Once' service are available here...
https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you...
This all day please use this service, wife used it when her dad sadly passed last year, all the official Gov organisations get the information at the same time, council tax, pension, passport, dvla etc. Still had to deal with utility, BT etc but a whole lot easier than contacting official sources.Details of the official 'Tell Us Once' service are available here...
https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you...
Dashnine said:
Sorry for your loss. I recall when my mother died my sister and I were both executers but her living some distance away (as per your scenario) meant it was difficult getting two signatures on forms and so on, so she legally withdrew as executor - it made life simpler.
Also, your mothers bank account will be frozen once you notify the bank, until probate is granted. You (or more accurately the bank) can pay funeral expenses out of her account while frozen however.
The only thing we needed probate for was NS&I, Santander were happy to transfer balances up to £50k on production of will and death certificate.Also, your mothers bank account will be frozen once you notify the bank, until probate is granted. You (or more accurately the bank) can pay funeral expenses out of her account while frozen however.
PositronicRay said:
Don't delay applying for probate, they've been taking ages. Follow the online instructions, straightforward but you'll need your ducks lined up.
Most organisations accept scanned copies of the death certificate. Banks will have a bereavement service, ours (Santander)worked really well. NS&I are a nightmare, really awkward, felt like pulling teeth.
Some banks 'bereavement service' seems to involve charging a lot to mess you about.Most organisations accept scanned copies of the death certificate. Banks will have a bereavement service, ours (Santander)worked really well. NS&I are a nightmare, really awkward, felt like pulling teeth.
randlemarcus said:
Send me a PM, and I will forward something I got to signpost me through my mothers affairs. Might help.
In theory, once you inform your mum's bank, the only thing that will come out is the funeral expenses. So change the utilities , council tax etc first.
If you need an executor's account, the number of banks who will accept three signatories is extremely limited (Barclays, by the way). Most banks view it as something unclean, and certainly none of the challenger banks were remotely interested or capable.
Be aware of the HMRC forms you'll need to fill in, as those need doing before probate.
If it's an excepted estate then you don't need to do the IHT forms anymore, just use the probate online to advise (and include your dad's IHT allowance). I'm doing it at this moment and it's all very easyIn theory, once you inform your mum's bank, the only thing that will come out is the funeral expenses. So change the utilities , council tax etc first.
If you need an executor's account, the number of banks who will accept three signatories is extremely limited (Barclays, by the way). Most banks view it as something unclean, and certainly none of the challenger banks were remotely interested or capable.
Be aware of the HMRC forms you'll need to fill in, as those need doing before probate.
As others said, "tell us once" - the local registrar will set it up for you and send you a reference number
As to bank account - tell them LAST ... (preferably once you have probate)
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Sorry to hear about your mum OP, but disappointing thread. 3 siblings who like each other, all working together as executors, no one trying to steal the money from anyone else. Can't you spice it up a bit? Surely someone in the family is a money grabbing swine.
Sounds good, but it ain't over til it's over!!OP make sure you keep the others in the loop, I've heard/seen things go some degree of sour, from a good/amicable position.
gashart said:
Thanks everyone, really excellent advice.
Will all 3 of us being named executers, does that mean we all have to sign documents or can any one of us?
For some documents, yes you are all needed. But it's also possible for one or more of you to "resign" (or whatever the correct legal term is) and then it's only the remaining people who are involved. This could be more efficient if there's good trust between the parties. Worth asking whatever solicitor you're using the pros/cons.Will all 3 of us being named executers, does that mean we all have to sign documents or can any one of us?
Jasey_ said:
outnumbered said:
gashart said:
Thanks everyone, really excellent advice.
Will all 3 of us being named executers, does that mean we all have to sign documents or can any one of us?
For some documents, yes you are all needed. But it's also possible for one or more of you to "resign" (or whatever the correct legal term is) and then it's only the remaining people who are involved. This could be more efficient if there's good trust between the parties. Worth asking whatever solicitor you're using the pros/cons.Will all 3 of us being named executers, does that mean we all have to sign documents or can any one of us?
Estate agents appear particulary problematic with wanting loads of signed info from all executors - and approved signed things witnessed by solicitors etc - pretty sure it's some sort of racket they run between each other!
Are you aware that if the house is going to the three of you then you have additional 175k from both your mum and possibly your dad along with any unused IHT from your dad before the estate incurs IHT - basically up to 1M. You do however need to separately claim the 175k or more (dunno how it's handled from 20 years ago for the other 175 from your dad) but it could still an excepted estate ..
arfur said:
Jasey_ said:
outnumbered said:
gashart said:
Thanks everyone, really excellent advice.
Will all 3 of us being named executers, does that mean we all have to sign documents or can any one of us?
For some documents, yes you are all needed. But it's also possible for one or more of you to "resign" (or whatever the correct legal term is) and then it's only the remaining people who are involved. This could be more efficient if there's good trust between the parties. Worth asking whatever solicitor you're using the pros/cons.Will all 3 of us being named executers, does that mean we all have to sign documents or can any one of us?
Estate agents appear particulary problematic with wanting loads of signed info from all executors - and approved signed things witnessed by solicitors etc - pretty sure it's some sort of racket they run between each other!
Honestly OP, if it is a simple estate and there is no IHT due then you really do NOT need a Solicitor for anything other than getting the original Will and possibly a few copies.
Are you aware that if the house is going to the three of you then you have additional 175k from both your mum and possibly your dad along with any unused IHT from your dad before the estate incurs IHT - basically up to 1M. You do however need to separately claim the 175k or more (dunno how it's handled from 20 years ago for the other 175 from your dad) but it could still an excepted estate ..
Scootersp said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Sorry to hear about your mum OP, but disappointing thread. 3 siblings who like each other, all working together as executors, no one trying to steal the money from anyone else. Can't you spice it up a bit? Surely someone in the family is a money grabbing swine.
Sounds good, but it ain't over til it's over!!OP make sure you keep the others in the loop, I've heard/seen things go some degree of sour, from a good/amicable position.
Sorry, no money grabbers involved, a few of the grandchildren are in for a surprise though about the gifts left, in a good way.
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