What to do after death
The Will
It is important to find out if there is a will. The person who deals with everything owned by the deceased is referred to as the Personal Representative or Executor
A will stipulates what should happen to the deceased’s money, property and possessions. The personal representative is responsible for paying all debts, taxes and expenses, including the funeral expenses. These payments are made from the estate, not their own income or savings.
Funeral costs will normally be met by money left by the deceased. The funeral should be paid for before any other bills or debts. Even if a bank account has been frozen following the death it may be possible to have funds released to pay for the funeral on production of the death certificate.
If you are the personal representative you may have to apply to ‘prove the will’ or, if there is no will, apply for ‘letters of administration’. These will give you permission to pay bills and deal with the estate. The Probate Helpline can offer advice on Probate and Inheritance Tax matters.
When these duties are finished the personal representative can share out the remainder of the estate, according to the wishes of the deceased.
If there is not a will the personal representative distributes anything left of the estate, sharing out the estate according to the rules that consider the rights of a surviving spouse, children, parents and other close blood relatives. For details contact the Probate Registry www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk.