Reasonable expenses - executor ?
Discussion
Hi all
Can anyone point me to advice on what might be construed as reasonable expenses ?
A distant family member has passed, and my mother in law is designated executor. She is 81 and lives in Northumberland. The relative was in Swindon. My wife drove 350 miles from our house to collect MiL and then back to bring her to ours this week.....and this week has driven twice to Swindon to begin the processes (starting with securing house, sorting insurances etc) and gathering relevant paperwork.
I understand the executor can claim reasonable expenses against the estate, does this include mileage for my wife who is effectively chauffeur and support to her mum in trying to sort everything out. If this can be claimed...any advice on what to log to prove / expense and is there a mileage rate etc ?
Thanks if you can point me to any help or advise on what is reasonable so we aren’t out of pocket. Depending on how long it runs on, there is a likelihood of a few thousand miles being put on the car with getting her mum either to Swindon when she is staying with us initially but also taking/fetching her to and from her home.
Can anyone point me to advice on what might be construed as reasonable expenses ?
A distant family member has passed, and my mother in law is designated executor. She is 81 and lives in Northumberland. The relative was in Swindon. My wife drove 350 miles from our house to collect MiL and then back to bring her to ours this week.....and this week has driven twice to Swindon to begin the processes (starting with securing house, sorting insurances etc) and gathering relevant paperwork.
I understand the executor can claim reasonable expenses against the estate, does this include mileage for my wife who is effectively chauffeur and support to her mum in trying to sort everything out. If this can be claimed...any advice on what to log to prove / expense and is there a mileage rate etc ?
Thanks if you can point me to any help or advise on what is reasonable so we aren’t out of pocket. Depending on how long it runs on, there is a likelihood of a few thousand miles being put on the car with getting her mum either to Swindon when she is staying with us initially but also taking/fetching her to and from her home.
45 pence per mile is HMRC standard rate.
Remember it's expenses NOT wages so if time has to be taken off work maybe a small allowance for that will be reasonable.
Why not ask the solicitor who is handling the will for reasonable guidelines so as not to offend any of the beneficiaries but also to recoup reasonable costs.
Deaths, wills and money have a funny habit of changing family behaviour and relationships.
"Passed"?
You mean died surely.
I know that I'm maybe being a bit of a smart arse but have never bought into this Americanism.
Good luck.
Remember it's expenses NOT wages so if time has to be taken off work maybe a small allowance for that will be reasonable.
Why not ask the solicitor who is handling the will for reasonable guidelines so as not to offend any of the beneficiaries but also to recoup reasonable costs.
Deaths, wills and money have a funny habit of changing family behaviour and relationships.
"Passed"?
You mean died surely.
I know that I'm maybe being a bit of a smart arse but have never bought into this Americanism.
Good luck.
Many thanks. We’re already in touch with solicitor who has confirmed there is a will and MiL is named executor & confirmed it was her duty to secure the house etc. Beyond that we don’t know anything as it’s waiting for coroner / death certificate which is awaiting autopsy we believe. Lots of questions for next week. High likelihood the cats home will be very happy in a few months time ! My wife had POA that was never enacted. No other close family members at all. I think MiL was the only one to ever keep in touch, talking every fortnight on the phone. We only sent cards etc but hadn’t seen her for 3 years.
We just want to make sure everything is tied up with as little fuss and bother as possible without leaving anyone out of pocket. MiL apparently has to present herself to solicitors to prove she is who she says she is once death certificate issued so the will can be read and next steps sorted. It’s highly likely MiL will want to appoint the solicitors to deal with most of it as she can’t be running up and down the country 700+ mile round trips with my wife as driver....but we might need to regularly travel to Swindon and check on the house in the short term on her behalf.
We just want to make sure everything is tied up with as little fuss and bother as possible without leaving anyone out of pocket. MiL apparently has to present herself to solicitors to prove she is who she says she is once death certificate issued so the will can be read and next steps sorted. It’s highly likely MiL will want to appoint the solicitors to deal with most of it as she can’t be running up and down the country 700+ mile round trips with my wife as driver....but we might need to regularly travel to Swindon and check on the house in the short term on her behalf.
Edited by Steve Campbell on Sunday 28th March 18:35
MiL feels an obligation for the moment. She was the only family the person had and they grew up as kids living in same house though they are cousins. There is simply no one else.....we live the closest of the rest of the family anyway.
She died in her home and was found by neighbours, hence coroner etc.
She died in her home and was found by neighbours, hence coroner etc.
105.4 said:
The Mad Monk said:
MIL could refuse to accept the position of executor.
I.
What happens in such circumstances?I.
But if not anyone can put themself forward as an Executor, or one can be appointed by a probate court as I understand things.
Thanks all. Solicitor meeting booked for Thursday. Was felt better F2F as there are hard copy documents to be shared (see below).
They have confirmed reasonable expenses can be made for things like mileage and just keep accurate records .... my wife was an accountant so no problems there.....she has spent the last 4 days (with her "auditors hat on") trying to make sense of all the paperwork and done a good job of tracing all the bits and pieces which will likely be handed over to the solicitors on Thursday and save a lot of hours of someone being paid ££££/hr to do it. Luckily the dear old lady was very old fashioned and had a cupboard stuffed full of paper going back nearly 20 years. Whilst a tedious job, it's very much easier than if it was all conveniently on a computer with a password no one knows ! My lounge is now back to it's normal self rather than what started as a "large heap" of paper and was gradually turned into neat and orderly files.
Made us think about our wills and what we have documented in terms of summaries etc on paper v on computer with passwords !!
Very helpful coroner office also confirmed today that an interim death cert will be issued as it has to go to inquest but can at least start all the other balls rolling as the body will be released to the undertakers.....and turns out the deceased was very organised many years ago as she already had a funeral plan in place.
The better news is that the picture is starting to emerge on what needs to be done and when which is putting MiL mind at rest for now.
The big unknown is what the will says so that should be interesting on Thursday !
They have confirmed reasonable expenses can be made for things like mileage and just keep accurate records .... my wife was an accountant so no problems there.....she has spent the last 4 days (with her "auditors hat on") trying to make sense of all the paperwork and done a good job of tracing all the bits and pieces which will likely be handed over to the solicitors on Thursday and save a lot of hours of someone being paid ££££/hr to do it. Luckily the dear old lady was very old fashioned and had a cupboard stuffed full of paper going back nearly 20 years. Whilst a tedious job, it's very much easier than if it was all conveniently on a computer with a password no one knows ! My lounge is now back to it's normal self rather than what started as a "large heap" of paper and was gradually turned into neat and orderly files.
Made us think about our wills and what we have documented in terms of summaries etc on paper v on computer with passwords !!
Very helpful coroner office also confirmed today that an interim death cert will be issued as it has to go to inquest but can at least start all the other balls rolling as the body will be released to the undertakers.....and turns out the deceased was very organised many years ago as she already had a funeral plan in place.
The better news is that the picture is starting to emerge on what needs to be done and when which is putting MiL mind at rest for now.
The big unknown is what the will says so that should be interesting on Thursday !
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