What happens after probate is granted?

[ABox96]

Sorry this is a bit of a long and complicated one I've tried to make it simple.

In 2022 my Grandma passed away. She left me and my aunt in the will, my aunt as the executor.
July 2023 my aunt told me that bailiffs turned up at her door demanding payment for the funeral which she said she paid them, the sum was just under 5k. She said she wasn't aware bailiffs were coming as she sent all letters, unopened, to the solicitor.

I thought nothing of this at first but I relaid it to my parents who felt it sounded a bit odd so we did a little digging. The funeral was in Jan 2023, and the funeral directors confirmed to us they recieved payment in full on 13th April 2023. They also said its not their policy to send out bailiffs. (Its also a very short amount of time for bailiffs to be arranged I thought)

So my aunt appeared to have lied to us. I've tried asking her about this but since I have, she has completely overreacted, ignored the question and basically cut us all off.

Anyway. Jan 2024 probate was granted and the sale of the property is almost completed, I've been told it should be completed in March.

What I'm wondering is, what happens when the property has been sold? As far as I'm aware everything else has been sorted such as accounts closed, debts paid etc. So does this mean the funds will be distributed?

Also, once the funds are distributed, can I get a paper trail of what my aunt has spent during her time as executor? I think she has used the bailiffs as a cover story and that she's used the 5k for her own personal use, but I don't know how to prove this? Would this go through the solicitor who has been dealing with this?

Thanks for any info/advice!

Who paid the funeral expenses ?

As far as I'm aware the solicitor got the invoice and paid from the funds

I’d just double check that with them before you query with aunt - just to be certain

Are you the residual beneficiary I.e. were you left a % share or a fixed amount.

If you were left a % share you are entitled to a copy of the estate accounts. These list executor expenses, funeral expenses etc.

I agree the bailiff story about the funeral costs does not sound like a normal process.

I am going through probate for my mum. I am executor but I didn't know that initially when she died. I appointed a probate solicitor. They contacted the bank etc and accounts were frozen. This means nothing can go in or out. I arranged funeral and as this was stated in mums will the funeral directors were paid in full from estate funds. Only the solicitor can access estate funds until grant of probate is received.
I give all the bills and letters about accounts etc to my solicitor and she pays them.
I am unable to personally access mum's funds like bank account savings etcetc so neither should your aunt be able to,

Sounds like something is up so I would be phoning sols in the morning. My funeral director billed the solicitor and only sent me a copy of the bill after it was paid all I had to do was instruct payment. I do recall remittance was 30 days but surely they would chase solicitor for payment?

So my aunt appeared to have lied to us. I've tried asking her about this but since I have, she has completely overreacted, ignored the question and basically cut us all off

Just to say that scams after death aren't unknown because deaths are often publicly accessible information - obviously after probate, but even before that seeing the funeral cortege leave a house or obituary in the paper. It's not impossible there were people at the door who were death scammers knowing that someone in the house had died.