Yesterday I found out that my father died last week. We've been estranged for 4 years. He and my mother separated 16 years ago but were still married. He has a sister who lives overseas, who the coroner has informed of the death, and a brother who is goodness-knows-where on the planet (not sure if my aunt knows where). I haven't spoken to my aunt or uncle in about 8 years, not through any ill-feeling, but simply because the family ties were never particularly close.
Tomorrow I am going to the coroner's office to sign some paperwork and collect the personal belongings that the police took with them when they found the body. There are no suspicious circumstances so the coroner is happy to release these, but a toxicology report is required before the death certificate can be issued. Once I have the key, the housing association has given me 2 weeks to take what I want from his flat, after which they will arrange the clearance of whatever is left.
So right now I'm slightly overwhelmed with the situation, and what needs doing and when, compounded by the fact that I'm six months pregnant with a 4 year old DD and full time job. I'm also in no position to start spending any money on legal advice, so wonder if anyone can shed some light on what happens next:
- I assume that my mother is the default for probate due to still being married, but she's liable to make this situation a lot worse by being a drama queen and would probably be quite happy for me to take charge. Is that possible?
- where do my aunt and I come in the priority rankings for probate? (I have no idea what her relationship was like with my dad by the end, so am really in the dark about how this will turn out. Maybe she'll get in touch and we'll work together on this, but I honestly can't predict this)
- will the coroner require someone to sign for the body, and does that person then have a duty to organise a funeral? I will probably sound harsh saying this, but I have neither the financial resources nor the energy to organise a funeral, and don't feel any desire for an event to mark 'closure'. I'd be happy to donate the body to science.
Any info would be gratefully appreciated.