Probate

[sodthisforfun]

Wotchya..

Anyone been made executor of a will before? My dad has just died unexpectedly and found out I've been made executor. My brothers are keen to get probate sorted and been looking into it for the near future, though to be honest my brain is a bit fried having to do this at all at a time like this.

Seems fairly straight forward but the thing I can't seem to find out is that when valuing the estate, cars, money and the house etc is obvious, but what about the contents? My dad had no gold or anything of value, no antiques inside the house. Surely the tax man isn't interested in things like old white goods, furniture are they? Does anyone know exactly what is including when valuing the estate? Any help and clear advice really would be welcome as am a bit worried they may not believe me that there is no value inside.

Oh, and by the way, my dad was on this forum a few years back. It was him who recommended it and that's why I joined.

 

[Stivino]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss.
I've had to do that.
If I remember rightly we didn't even consider anything in the house as being part of the estate. It was my mother's house, I moved into it and inherited the wardrobe full of shoes, ten tea sets, twenty table cloths, piles of curtains etc. As most of my siblings live overseas, none of them wanted to take anything away with them in any case.

 

[JohnD]

You can get an auctioneer, or a dealer in used stuff, to look round the house and make a valuation.

They will charge.

Or, if you don't consider it to be worth much, knock off everything that you will bin or send to the charity shop, write down the rest of it, look on ebay for what second-hand things fetch. I'm afraid it's not a lot. A used washer or freezer might fetch a tenner; a used cooker, nothing, because people don't want the effort of carrying away such a heavy thing. A used modern dishwasher might fetch £20. I once sold some large stone garden urns for a few hundred.

Used clothes and curtains are effectively worthless. Furniture goes for nothing on Freegle.

Wedding rings and simple jewelry, you can weigh and look up the price of scrap gold online
https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/scrap-calculator/gold/18ct/25/

On the probate form you can put "household effects, £200" and if the estate is small that may seem reasonable. But remember "cash found in house" as well. Anything you actually sell, keep your detailed list, and put "effects sold £n"

If you're inside the inheritance tax allowance nobody will care much, except for the probate fee.

If there are heirlooms or jewelry that the family might squabble over, get them professionally valued, and say that members of the family can bid for them, the proceeds to go to the estate and be shared out. That way nobody can reasonably claim that Cousin Rupert got the valuable silver teapot, and all they got was the frying-pan. People often want rings, for example, or war medals and photos.

List anything of value quickly, and get it valued. Grasping relations, friends and neighbours will often pocket stuff, or tell you that Gran always promised it to them. Keep the list so you have an answer when people say "Whatever happened to...."

I once found some valuables that a relation had wrapped up and hidden in a drawer between date of death and day the valuer came in. I looked for them in the cupboard where they were always kept and they had gone. She denied all knowledge when challenged. She also helped herself to the car and drove around in it for a few weeks, bringing it back dented and without petrol. And claimed that my aunt died without a penny in her purse or in her housekeeping jar.

 

[EddieM]

You have my sympathies, it must be very hard going through someone else's life.

 

[Stivino]

valuables that a relation had wrapped up and hidden

What kind of relation?

 

[securespark]

You'd be surprised.

I've known more distant relatives do disgusting stuff after deaths of "loved" ones. One elderly aunt went straight round to the deceased's house after the funeral, literally elbowed her way in and walked round with a large laundry bag stuffing it with things "Hilda told me I could have".......

I went to my Great Aunt's funeral. Her children invited us back to GA's house after the funeral and sat there having a huge blazing row with each other about the money left behind. All while we were across the sitting room awkwardly sipping drinks.

Another relative of a friend stole some keys and raided the property at night. Fortunately the neighbour took photos and the culprit was caught by the police with the loot in their garage.

And these are people who claim they loved and cared for the deceased.

Really??

 

[sodthisforfun]

Thanks lots for the info - esp John. So white goods etc are to be listed - damn it. Luckily there's only one gold ring my dad had and he has a watch. He does have a whole lifetime of DIY tools, I guess I should look into valuing those but am pretty sure there isn't much of a market.

As for relatives and friends, yes, the greed already started...

 

[EFLImpudence]

My condolences, Sod.

 

[Bodd]

Sorry for your news Sod must be such a shock being so sudden. Hope you get all sorted. x

 

[HERTS P&D]

Sorry for your loss, condolences to you and your family.

Andy

 

[Brigade77]

Sorting out me mam's a few years after me dad is probably the hardest thing I've ever done, both emotionally & mentally.

I actually own the house she lived in, I bought it so dad could retire with a bigger nest egg from the sale of their house. I'm still in a legal battle with my brother who thinks my house is rightfully is . . .

Good luck, you gonna need it.

 

[Diver Fred]

Yes. Are you the only executor? If so change the locks - TODAY! If not, change the locks ASAP. You will be surprised who has keys or where such are hidden, I certainly was! As executor you are responsible but a good solicitor is worth their weight in gold in a difficult case.
once locks are changed only let others in the property in your presence, don't let anyone take anything without you recording it.
Don't rush Probate, it will take as long as it takes.
Photograph the contents.
Get a solicitor and take their advice on what to do. You need the Will, it must be the original. With the will things are easier, so follow the instructions, the solicitor is your friend here.
when you get a valuer in tell them it's for probate.

If you move anything out of the property for security record what it is, where it is and when it was moved; storage facilities are good value here.

Timeline, four to six months if your lucky, could be as much as twelve before Probate is issued. Ideally Do not distribute anything until probate is issued.

 

[bernardgreen]

My condolences on your loss.

The advice to employ a solicitor is good advice.

The funeral directors may be able to give you the name of a solicitor who is experienced in matters of probate.

 

[Mottie]

Very sorry to hear of your loss. My condolences, thinking of you at this sad time. On a practical side, I’ve seen some terrible family rows break out at times like this and As others have already said, good, impartial legal advice can be invaluable at a time like this so it may pay you to seek out a solicitor where you will be told all you need to know.

 

[durhamplumber]

You'd be surprised.

I've known more distant relatives do disgusting stuff after deaths of "loved" ones. One elderly aunt went straight round to the deceased's house after the funeral, literally elbowed her way in and walked round with a large laundry bag stuffing it with things "Hilda told me I could have".......

I went to my Great Aunt's funeral. Her children invited us back to GA's house after the funeral and sat there having a huge blazing row with each other about the money left behind. All while we were across the sitting room awkwardly sipping drinks.

Another relative of a friend stole some keys and raided the property at night. Fortunately the neighbour took photos and the culprit was caught by the police with the loot in their garage.

And these are people who claim they loved and cared for the deceased.

Really??

After my Gran died..we found her stuff on ebay within days..Some relatives even had all the plants dug out of the garden within days...Utterly dispicable.I occasionally end up in empty houses because of deaths,people gone into hospice,dementia etc....A lifetime of memories for someone in a few boxes of photos,ornaments etc...V V sad