A thread for talking about wills/probate (UK)

Has anyone sorted out probate?

Did you open an "executor account"?

1. not yet - will do so this week.

2. what ? we appointed an executor should both my wife and i die at the same time, but that has not happened, so i think i am the executor. not 100% certain though.

I'm sorting out finances, following a death. Not wanting someone else's money to go in my day-to-day bank account, I was considering opening a second account. My bank suggested HSBC's "Executor's Account" but when I went into HSBC, the front-of-bank staff knew nothing about it and I couldn't see any information (and, truth be told, couldn't be bothered to hang around to speak to more knowledgable staff).

[If I'm reading your message correctly, condolences Mark].

djh : you read me correctly .. ta.

i have all this to sort out this week

who would ever have expected that after a year of evil lump shyte, i would have so much post death admin chaos.

for those left behind, dying is hard work.

Applying for probate information here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/governmentcitizensandrights/death/preparation/dg_10029716

I would recommend paying for multiple death certificates as most places will expect to see originals.

Going into banks seems straight-forward upto circa £4500 but above that a bit more admin/security kicks in.

Old Guardian article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2003/nov/13/willsandinheritancetax?INTCMP=SRCH

You'd think banks would get their act together when you go to see them about bereavements ...

the co-op have been brilliant for my situation.

for a flat fee - they do the whole lot.

of course, i've yet to get to the end of the process, but from the discussion i had with their probate team, it sounds like it should be relatively easy, and cheaper than a solicitor.

It seems reasonably straight forward ... It's things like having to chase people multiple times for forms etc. Or being seen by staff in the bank who clearly don't know what they're doing and/or don't have the social skills to even acknowledge a bereavement.

well, after a 3 hour paperwork session with the folks from the co-op, and a flat fee(something that seriously appeals given the scary sh*t that proper lawyers can charge for a 3 line letter), i believe that's me sorted.

now i just have to wait a max of 12 months beforfe it all gets finalised.

oh, and trust me, the estate aint that special, just that such things take this long as there has to be notices placed in specific (very specific !) newspapers over a certain period of time in order for people to contest my rights over the estate !

bonkers.

A twelve month wait seems ... challenging. I'd always imagined that finances in your situation would be straight-forward.

The whole probate thing has made me resolve to get my finances in order (by which I mean everything in the same box together, with a clear list).

yeah i know.
but this is supposedly the way it goes.
to be honest, for a couple of grand, i'm quite happy for someone to take the whole cr*p away and just deal with it ..
i just cant face the taxman chaos at the moment
apparently it makes no diff as to the value of the estate, the whole gubbins has to be evaluated to make sure that i'm not joining philip green and avoiding paying my fair share ..
hence the need to sort it all out and declare via the taxman etc.
hence the protracted period before its all done and dusted.

Any ideas how long it takes for probate to be granted once you're sworn an oath?

you've, obviously.