Death without a will

[kinderegg1]

My darling mum has recently passed away without a will. I know that I will probably have to apply to court for Letters of Administration. However, I have also been told that if its only a small amount funds may be released on death certificate. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciate.

I can ask DH for information later if you like. He is out til later this evening. DH is a solicitor, a partner who specialises in this area of law with a lot of experience. So he could advise on next actions.

Have you looked at the Probate Service website? It has lots of useful information.

I also found the Which? guide to what to do when someone dies was very useful. Your local library may well have a copy of that or something similar.

This page is good too.

Some banks and building societies will pay out without a grant of representation if the account holds less than £5k, you would need to check with them. They usually ask you to sign a form to say that you are the person entitled to receive the funds.

If your mum owned a property you will need a grant of letters of administration to be able to sell it (or transfer it into the name(s) of those entitled to inherit). You may also need one if she owned shares or other assets.

There is lots of info on the court service website as posted by exexpat. The staff at the probate registry are generally very helpful (although they cannot offer legal advice) and will guide you on the practical steps you would need to take if you do need to apply for a grant.