Probate queries

[Grace212]

Hi there

Trying to deal with the mess left by dad. If he had lots of NSI certificates and premium bonds, does anyone know, do I need to find every bit of paper? Or can the solicitor ask them to find all his holdings by his name?

There are certificates from the 90s and I don't even know if they are still valid.

Also, if I find anything else, is it normal to say to a solicitor that I've found another account that needs to be actioned?

And finally, does the solicitor cancel credit cards and does a note go on credit files when someone dies?

Grateful for any advice, thanks.

N.s.i. are the company that deal with premium bonds, either you or a solicitor contacts them on the bereavement line, name and address will suffice, they ask for a copy of the death certificate and any savings will be paid into the estate, I think they pay out any winnings for a few months after someone has died too. If you find any bank, building society, shares, pensions anything financial then give it all to the solicitor to sort out if you are not doing it yourself. Bank accounts and credit cards should be cancelled when they receive notification that someone has died.

Thanks
So I don't need to make a note of each bond number? I am sorting the paperwork myself as the solicitor fees will be very expensive and his stuff is just boxes of random chaos.

With the bonds, there's newer paperwork so I'm guessing that's all inclusive of the bunch of papers from the 90s but I don't know for sure unless I sit down and compare tons of numbers, but they might have different numbers since 30 years ago!

We just called them, they sent a form to fill in, we didn't have numbers. You will need several copies of the death certificate to send to all banks, building societies. Gather all the individual papers up and call each companies bereavement line. Are you named as an Executor.

Thanks Holey, I'm trying to look at the online form but the iPad keeps crashing

I'm not the executor, mum is. Unfortunately she never even read a bank statement before dad died, so insists on using a solicitor as she is terrified of it all.

I wouldn't have minded doing the work for her to save the fees, but she won't let any of the information go on a computer even. She doesn't trust them. I am literally going to be handing the solicitor a handwritten list. I feel like I'm operating in the Victorian age!

We did get some copies of the death certificate to do the rounds

I'm going to have to take her round the banks to see if they will let her change the joint account names without a solicitor. I'm single and have never had a joint account, but she doesn't have any in her own name, it's dad's or joint.

We used a solicitor, 7k fees. I made up a file with bank statements, pensions, benefits, tax, anything I could find. The banks were helpful and it was easy to transfer joint ac into sole name. The solicitor will need to see the Will.

My mum is also against giving any paperwork to the solicitor, but the solicitor said she's fine to work from a list.

I might see if I can give it another go, persuading mum to just put a bank statement etc in a file instead of me handwriting lists!!

Your Dad would have a personal number - entering the number should let NSI trace his premium bonds.

Can you screenshot instead, lot quicker

No computer facilities in the house and mum doesn't trust them

I've told her this morning that I'm not handwriting all the numbers though and she accepts there's no need. Unless she changes her mind...

I'm just in the process of helping a relative with exactly the same things. We are not using a solicitor though. I've done several estates before - in laws and parents. A solicitor does nothing that you can't do yourself, you still have to sort through the paperwork.
This relative had various savings certificates, bonds and premium bonds. Even an old book that looks about 50 years old.
The NS&I website is very helpful and you can print off the forms from there to ask for a valuation. There is a form to print off called a death claims form, you send it along with a copy of the will and death certificate.
They have a tracing service for people with no paperwork but if you have a reference number that should be enough.
You have to have a valuation of all assets before probate is applied for.

Just noticed about the credit cards.
You should notify them of the date of death. If any money is owing it will be repaid out of the estate, if there is enough (there is a pecking order).

Thanks all

I would have done probate for mum if she'd let me but it's her money and she wants to use a solicitor. I have a feeling that will make it slower. Oh well, we just have to accept it will take ages.

My sister and I have recently dealt with our dad's estate. A solicitor wanted nearly £2K to deal with it but we did it ourselves. Dealing with premium bonds and inland revenue were the hardest & most bureaucratic.

Dealt with my late dhs estate - so far has been surprisingly easy. Bereavement staff at banks and building societies have mainly been very helpful. On production of death certificate will send details of all accounts held with amounts.
NS &I sent me a complete list of all holdings.

thanks for this
mum is very insistent about using the solicitor, it's going to cost a fortune but hey ho

I said on another thread, she has a total panic attack about every bit of paper that comes through. I don't mind taking responsibility for paperwork, but I can't cope with her stressing about it so much, so I guess handing it all over to a solicitor is the best thing.