Death and DCA's what are my options regarding my mothers estate

[Ethel Street]

Sorry to hear of your loss @Gwolst77

 

Royal Mail Redirection is for a max of 12 months at a time but can be renewed annually up to a maximum of 4 years.  However when it comes up to its next 12 months anniversary it cannot be renewed in your late mother's name. It would have to be a new Redirection application in your name as Adminstrator of her Estate. You would have to have a formal appointment as Adminsitrator from the Probate Office to do this, not just be doing it as next of kin.

 

If redirected post arrives at the sheltered housing after you have handed back the keys will it be passed to you?

 

Will you be applying to the Probate Office to be appointed as Administrator? [Jargon note: 'Administrator' is equivalent to 'Executor' when someone hasn't left a Will]. 

 

The bank accepted your notification of your mother's death, which is presumably why the DDs have been cancelled. But will they let you have the money now or will they require to get a formal appointment as Adminstrator from the Probate Office? You can apply online but I've heard that there are delays in the Probate Offcie and it takes several months before they issue the formal document, the 'Letters of Administration'.  Applying for probate: If there is not a will - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Can you clarify whether your late mother had been making regular payments on all the debts you have identified? Is it the DDs making repayments of debt that have been cancelled?

 

As a general rule of thumb if you get a formal appointment as Adminstrator you do have a legal duty to pay the debts of the Estate. But solely as next of kin you are not liable for your late mother's debts. [Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.]

 

[Ethel Street]

2 hours ago, Andyorch said:

It's your decision but I would be informing the Halifax at the least...yes, they will write back to you asking about here estate but you respond and state there is no estate end of.

 

I'd be inclined to say that as I'm not the Executor I am unable to confirm anything about the Estate rather than state something that I know isn't true (as there is an Estate). I might also say that as she owned no property and was living in sheltered housing I doubt the Estate is very much,.

[Ethel Street]

Sounds like you won't need to apply to be officially appointed by the Probate office as Administrator. No need if all the money/assets will be passed to you without it.

 

The pension plan was paying a pension to your mother presumably, you sent them the death certificate, and payments have ceased, yes? In which case all you need to say on the form is 'Estate too small to require Probate, no Executor/Administrator appointed'.