Taking over as executor

[BeatriceLacey]

My dad's died and my mum is named as executor on his will (made in 1984). She is too elderly and upset to deal with it. My dad actually intended me to be executor but never got around to getting his more recent will signed.

I am totally confused on whether I can just take over or whether my mum needs to fill in a PA11 form or I need to apply for letters of administration. There is no need to apply for probate as the house and most accounts are in joint names. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

(I also posted in bereavement, hope that's ok)

Personally I would just get on with it, get your Mum to sign a letter saying she agrees to you acting on her behalf as executor. Fundamentally as most of it just goes to your mum its lots of letters to formalise that, a bank account check to make sure he didn't have any no one knew about, a tell us once for the government to ensure pension sorted (they sometimes over pay a little) and then any work pension he may have.

Any letters she can sign, if she really cant sign on her behalf and send a photocopy of her permission etc

It will just add to the time taken to process it all which drags everything out.

If he has a mobile phone make sure to get any photos, contacts etc off that before handing contract back as they just cut it off immediate effect.

Outside of that his funeral should come from his estate as well but Funeral DIrectors seem happy to deal with sons and daughters rather than partners. And whoever requests the funeral is the one billed even if it comes out of the estate.

Oh he has a will so wouldn't be Letters of Administration. As you say he had little outside of jointly held assets Probate shouldn't be necessary. The Government website is really helpful at walking you through the steps , As are the people when you go to register a persons Death. Make sure to get several copies of the Death Certificate as well as everyman and his dog want originals unfortunately