Probate and essential journeys

[Lovingmylife]

We need to get a property valued for probate but it's 2 hours away. Is it an essential journey to travel down to let an estate agent in to value it? It needs valuing for probate and inheritance tax purposes. I suspect we will call the probate office for guidance.

Sorry thought I was in chat, not aibu..

I'd have said yes it is, unless you have a good alternative for getting keys to them (assume that would be why you'd be travelling)

Would you consider mailing the key direct to the estate agent? (Not sure I would be confident with this unless I knew them, iyswim)

I reckon though, that it is an essential journey as it is part of legal process of disposing of an estate. Too many ofs there but hey ho.

Just post them by special delivery.

I’m currently doing probate for my mum’s estate. I don’t consider it essential. It will wait until we’re allowed to travel again. Her house is over three hours away. I don’t think your trip is essential either. Sorry.

If I were I would make my own mind up and not rely on random people on here. You will know how important it is to you to do this. The house might well need closing down and how quickly you might need to sell it

I think it's more the legal deadlines that's the worry. I'd not be happy posting the key. I guess it's just wait a bit longer. Thanks everyone.

I work in probate and it’s not urgent or essential travel.

You’ve got ages to sort out probate; I wouldn’t worry about deadlines.

If you did post the keys, if you add a reference in the envelope, rather than the address or name, then it would be much safer.

Journeys relating to legal requirements are still permitted.

We just went through this and house sale completed during lockdown (already empty house so straightforward), albeit with solicitor working from home and having to get signatures witnesses from over 2m away. I had to travel to solicitor and to the house several times. We also exchanged and completed on the same day. Bizarre but had to be sorted out as it had dragged on and beneficiaries were waiting on me to sort it out as executor.