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Original poster

Cousin wants deceased relatives car

34 replies

MumsiesF · 13/08/2025 22:42

Hi,
looking for opinions here. An elderly relative recently passed away and am now executor of will. Said elderly relative bought a second hand small run around car about a year or two ago for 4k. Was told by aunt that all of a sudden cousins car had clapped out during the week and he would like the car. The car is considered an asset although not worth very much and solicitor had said it was ok to sell and proceeds could be put towards beneficiaries which include a couple of aunts and uncles and nieces/nephews. Relative did not have children. Awaiting valuation of car but aunt thinks it is worth nothing and cousin should just be given it. I feel that something should be put towards it or else that the valued amount should be deducted off his share at the end of probate if not willing to pay anything. It’s a very sensitive family situation which could quite easily escalate into a row. Maybe I should cut my losses for the beneficiaries which would probably work out at a very small amount anyway and just give him the banger! Can’t help but feeling annoyed, wouldn’t mind so much if there was offer of some cash but I just feel some people are very entitled and think they are free to help themselves to belongings because it’s ‘family’ and nobody should mind. Maybe I’m overreacting but aunts in favour of this. Hubby not happy & feels cousin should pay fair price. Sorry for rant! Just curious as to what people’s take on this would be?

OP posts:

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 13/08/2025 22:44

The solicitor has said it’s ok to sell it. Not give it away. So they can buy it, but they can’t have it out of the estate.

porridgecake · 13/08/2025 22:46

Just tell them what the solicitor said. There are rules around probate and execution of a will.You can't just gift parts of the estate just because somebody wants something.

HeddaGarbled · 13/08/2025 22:47

Are the aunt and/or cousin amongst the beneficiaries?

If they are, you could tell them they could have it in lieu of all or part of the inheritance. You’ll be able to find an approximate current value online right now.

Newmum738 · 13/08/2025 22:48

Yes people get very funny about these things without considering process and decision making. It isn’t as easy as they are making out.

Fuckitydoodah · 13/08/2025 22:49

If the cousin is a beneficiary of the will, then I think it's only fair that the value of the car is deducted from the amount they get. The car forms part of the deceased relatives estate after all. I'm guessing the aunt or cousin would be less than impressed if it was given away to a different relative. Best to do things fairly and equally in these situations.

JohnofWessex · 13/08/2025 22:50

Put the details on we buy any car, knock a few hundred quid off because you wont get what they initially offer and thats a valuation.

I dont know what the Cousin is going to get but the value can be taken into account.

It seems to me like a pretty easy way of sorting out getting rid of the car and you have a valuation for probate/the accounts

Otherwise it sits around/has to be insured/you have to dispose of it somehow

Theunamedcat · 13/08/2025 22:56

The rules always used to be no gifting a lady i knew bought her sister a TV she passed a few months later and most the family thought they should give it back to her for free the executor was told she could buy it back she refused in the end

GameWheelsAlarm · 13/08/2025 22:59

You can sell it, but there's no such thing as a car that's worth nothing. Even if only its scrap value. There are loads of valuation service websites for cars, some of which will be scammers but personally I'd recommend Parkers. They will tell you what a dealer would give for the car as a trade-in price, which will be about 20-30% lower than what you might be able to sell if for as a private seller, if you can find a buyer. It's your duty as executor to get the best price reasonably obtainable for the assets, you cannot give it away.

JDM625 · 13/08/2025 23:00

Sorry for your loss OP x

Why is the aunt contacting you and not your cousin? Its a bit like saying 'Well I'm renting, so I should move into the deceased relatives house because I need a house'! Ridiculous!

Follow legal advice and keep all documentation of conversations and get them in writing. Get at least 3 quotes for the car and sell it to the cousin- don't just give it away! I'd be annoyed at the request also. Sorry but your aunt sounds like a CF! Just tell her that you need to follow the solicitors advice.

caringcarer · 13/08/2025 23:07

There is a used car value guid called Glass guide. Use that putting in same make, model year and how many miles on the clock. It will give you a value. Tell nephew that is it's book value so he pays it or you sell it elsewhere. As executor you must follow fiscal rules. You just can't hand things out for free or cut price.

Ellie56 · 13/08/2025 23:33

A car that was bought a year ago for £4k will have depreciated but not by 100%!

Your cousin and aunt are being entitled CFs (Presumably she's his mother?)

You have to do things by the book OP. The car is part of the deceased relative's estate and needs to be dealt with as such.

The solicitor said the car could be sold, so that's what you do. PP above have given good advice on how to get a valuation. If cousin wants the car he can either pay the market price or have it taken out of his share of the estate.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 13/08/2025 23:42

Pop the car details into we buy any car or similar offer to cousin at that price. If you give away bits of the estate then you can personally be held liable so if any of the other beneficiaries think it’s unfair then it’ll be you who pays . I think the legal term is vitious intromitter.

Dabberlocks · 13/08/2025 23:55

Who are the actual beneficiaries of the estate?

WhoaaaBodyform · 13/08/2025 23:56

I’m afraid that the behaviour here shown by your cousin/aunt is very crass. This isn’t acceptable to try and profit off the deceased in this manner.

if your cousin is interested in owning the car, then they should pay for it - your aunt shouldn’t expect for them to be given it. I’d keep an eye on her during the process as she may very well be on the take for a number of other things too…

froggybiby · 14/08/2025 08:17

Follow the advice of your sollicitor. Cars are nowadays selling for much more than years ago. You won't be able to please everyone anyway...but some will always want everything for nothing.

Simplegazette · 14/08/2025 09:45

Similar happened to me, just get a valuation from webuyanycar and offer to sell to relative less about 20% in anticipation of knocking down for cosmetic damage - print the valuation as evidence for estate paperwork.

As executor you have a legal responsibility to collect a fair value for the estates assets, explain that but also they are getting a good price.

Ohmygodthepain · 14/08/2025 09:53

Executors have to follow rules and the other beneficiaries can hold you hugely to account if you don't follow the words of the will explicitly.

It's not a 5 year old telly, or a pile of kitchen crockery that would be tipped otherwise, it's a car, which will have value, if only a couple of hundred for scrap.

You're damned if you don't let her take the car, and damned (legally) if you don't.

Your relative is a cf.

Jumpthewaves · 14/08/2025 09:53

I do think it slightly depends on the values we're talking about (though they are sounding a bit rude). If you're all inheriting 1 million it really wouldn't make much of a dent. If that's not the case then yes the car needs to be paid for, even if it isn't at as a high a price as it's actually worth.

RentalWoesNotFun · 14/08/2025 09:55

Agree with those who said get a quote on we buy any car and knock a couple of hundred quid off for issues they will see when the car got taken there, and that’s the price. If they want it fine. If not it gets sold and with their share (presumably they are beneficiaries) they can go ehsewgere for a cheap car.

It’s certainly not with zilch.
They are CF’s for suggesting that.

RB68 · 14/08/2025 10:23

You need to agree what it is worth even if it is 500 quid and the cousin needs to either forfeit any inheritance he is due to that amount or pay the costs and its a real sale.

As Exec you are responsible for realising the assets and distributing them ACCORDING TO THE WILL so you just say you are sorry but your hands are tied. I would get on with divvying up the assets and if your Aunt was due some inheritance (I doubt cousin was but cld be wrong) and the agreed value of the car is taken off that. Sounds like she will be a pain so would go via solicitor though so there is no family fall out

CrotchetyQuaver · 14/08/2025 10:31

Get it valued, discuss with the other beneficiaries and "sell" to the aunt. No cash need necessarily change hands if that amount is taken from her share when you're in a position to pay out the estate proceeds. Yes she might be after a bit more than the others by taking it on, but then again she might not. You're going to have to sell it anyway so this might work out well for everyone.

Pootles34 · 14/08/2025 10:35

I would proceed as you're doing, get the valuation. If she's right, it'll be zero, fine.

If she kicks off, blame it all on the solicitor - say he's said legally you have to sell it (because he has).

Simplegazette · 14/08/2025 11:14

BTW you don't need to discuss with other beneficiaries if you don't want to, it's only a matter for the executors, the beneficiaries can have access to the final estate accounts at a later time if they want to see the financial details of the estate and how their inheritance was determined.

whowhatwerewhy · 14/08/2025 12:46

I agree the car needs to be valued and purchased off the estate. Should this cause drama I would relinquish my position as executor and let a solicitor handle it .

user2848502016 · 14/08/2025 12:52

Similar thing happened when my grandad died and my brother needed a car. Solicitor advised that the car couldn’t just be given to him because it was part of the estate, probate rules etc. So they got a we buy any car valuation and my brother paid that to “the estate” for the car.
If you’re really not bothered about the money you could always have your nephew pay then refund that amount when all the money is settled.

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