Somehow, applying for probate seems like a huge step to take – though a very necessary one if I ever want to be able to access Christopher’s savings. The probate office of HMRC were very helpful and sent me all the forms straightaway back in August. But I found the forms surprisingly intimidating and kept putting off tackling them, or indeed even looking through them properly. Surprising, that is, because as an engineer I’m pretty numerate, and as an ex-civil servant I’m well used to filling in forms. So it should have been a doddle and I was cross with myself that I kept procrastinating.
In the end I enlisted the Citizens’ Advice service that the hospice offers, and went through the forms with one of their very helpful staff. That forced me to confront the dreaded forms, and showed me that in fact it was all straightforward – Christopher left virtually everything to me, there is no Inheritance Tax to pay, and his estate is really very simple. I gave myself a good talking to, and forced myself to sit down with my box-file of paperwork and fill in all the forms the following Sunday afternoon. I knocked out a little spreadsheet on my computer and used that to do the donkey-work of adding up the various classes of assets and debts, so that it was then a simple matter to transcribe the numbers into the relevant boxes on the forms.
Today I had the probate interview at the court offices in Gloucester. It was quick and easy, only taking about 10 minutes, basically checking that I was who I said I was, and that I understood what was required of me. I had to sign a copy of the Will, and swear an oath. I went with a friend who was there to offer moral support and, since the interview finished at 12:25, we then had lunch at a little Italian restaurant in Gloucester to “celebrate” that important step being taken.
It should take another 10 working days or so for the Grant of Probate to come through. Then I’ll have to write back to all the banks where Chris had an account, and ask them to release the funds. I hope that I can see the light at the end of this particular tunnel now.
{ 3 } Comments
It’s amazing how draining it is to face the paperwork after the death of a family member. My father & grandmother died within six months of each other – I think it took my mother 2 years before she had everything settled.
My advice, for what it’s worth, is to get (hire) someone to help you get it all done. At least it’ll be someone who knows what needs to be done etc.
Hoping all is well with you, and that things are slowly falling into some kind of place.
Gillian,
Glad to see that you are keeping the Blog going.
I have some comments regarding probate.
Caontact me on my direct email address of djbarrettt@sky.com
Dave
I was confronted with probate for the first time in my life when my parents died on the same day. I am sure that you are a much more organised person than I am, but I found that once I settled down to it, it was pretty logical and strangely satisfying. If it’s any consolation, I found banks and insurance companies very sympathetic and helpful – even with my Dad’s penny insurance policy, which had become literally moth-eaten since it was taken out in 1908. 😉