Deceased parent / home ownership

[JANetChick]

Hi
My parents’ wills left everything to each other - then to me (an only child) when the second one of them died. All fairly normal. They owned a property, their home, together. I’m the executor.

Dad died in August aged 84. Mum is frail and grieving and I’ve had issues at work and covid! So I’m only now thinking of applying for probate so that dad’s half of the bungalow can be transferred to mum. Need to obtain probate, then I have to contact land registry I think.

However mum is now very very unwell. Not eating. I’m handling that with the help of the GP and the social worker and carers (all amazing people) but the legal aspect is bothering me. What if she dies before I get the chance to transfer dad’s half of the bungalow to her? I wish I’d cracked on with this in August but it’s been an horrendous time.

Any advice would be so helpful. The will solicitor is no longer in business.
Thank you

Sorry for your loss.
Are you sure you need probate? When my Mum died, I just filled in a land registry form to transfer the property to Dad. I checked with a solicitor first (not the one who wrote the will)

Oh wow. I assumed I would even though there is no IHT or anything. Maybe it’s not required given they were married. ….

Thank you for the response.

Aurorie's right. You don't need probate for this.

Thank you Dillydolly

If the house was owned by your parents as joint tenants, your mum is automatically now the sole owner.

If it’s held as joint tenants, and your dad’s will gave all of his estate to your mum, she’s the sole owner.

Don’t worry too much about getting it registered in your mum’s sole name, it’s a nice to have but in your mum’s current circumstances it’s not a priority to get it registered.

Thank you Mumble

No probate needed.

When my dad died, we somehow missed changing the deeds over into my mum's sole name, which we only discovered when mum died this year. Our solicitor sorted it while arranging probate for my mum's estate, so please don't worry.

Thank you Gertrude

Best of luck to you @JANetChick, it sounds like you've been through a terrible time. Stay strong