Help regarding late fathers estate please

[enquirer]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

I was named as executor of the will and everything has to be divided between my sister and I [...] believe that these things should be sold and the money divided between us,my sister is proving to be awkward about this ...

You are the sole executor. Although your sister is a beneficiary, she has no say in the matter unless she wishes to allege that you are behaving improperly.

... says that if I want them selling I need to come up from Kent to Wales and sell them myself as she is refusing to do it.

If you are unable to travel, you can appoint someone to act on your behalf. If they charge a fee, this will come out of the estate.

... I know the minute I said to my sister that we would just forget about selling my fathers things she would sell them straight away and keep all the money ...

These items are obviously of some value and are part of the estate. As executor, you cannot 'forget about them'. They must be disposed of properly and the money accounted for.

Given your sisters attitude, it would be wise to make sure that your fathers estate is correctly wound up. If she thinks she has been 'cheated', you could looking at a lot of trouble in the future.

[Gemgirl]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

Thanks everyone,you never expect things to turn sour after a death but I can see it does happen.My father always told us we had no need to worry about paying for his funeral as he'd paid upfront for it,there was no paperwork relating to that so what little he had left in the bank just about covered the cost,even though I am executor my sister was able to go to the bank to have the funeral director paid direct,where the actual funeral money is is a mystery and I wouldn't know where to start trying to find it,the solicitor didn't have any details about it but then again he also didn't have any details of the insurance policy.

[Inca]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

Is it possible the insurance policy was for the funeral (was in all our cases)....?

[Gemgirl]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

The insurance policy will be for around £1,500,my father was very clued up so he will have known that wouldn't cover it but from what he always told us he'd paid for his funeral quite a few years ago in a lump sum but like I said I really wouldn't know how to go about finding out about it so it may just be one of those things that never gets solved.

[Inca]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

That doesn't sound right hun....Obviously I didn't know your Dad but it wouldn't make sense to say it for no reason.
You have access to his bank account I take it? I'd start there. As enquirer has said,,as sole Executor it is down to you to ensure his wishes are adhered to,,and it's all properly wound up.

[Sapphire]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

I think you need to contact your fathers bank/insurance company and funeral directors, you will be wise to phone first then follow up with a letter, they will probably need proof that you are the executor so photo copies of any paperwork relating to the will be good, you can ask the bank whats gone from the bank accounts, the balances and so on and if your sister has drawn any monies out, I would also stop her having access too. The insurance bods you should ask if there was a pre-paid funeral in place and do the same to the funeral directors.
I'd also get in touch with the local pawn shops and find out if there's anything been pawned by your sister.
Sounds harsh I know but believe me where there's a will, there's a relative and a row, its nearly always the same.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

Might he have bought a pre-paid funeral plan?

[Gemgirl]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

My sister arranged the funeral opting for the cheapest,as soon as my father died I had his bank account frozen and as I was executor I still don't know how my sister was able to go into the bank and arrange for them to pay the funeral director,I would have thought they needed me to ok that,I have a feeling my father may have paid into a funeral plan but with no record of it and the solicitor not knowing either I think as suggested I may have to ask the bank for statements,I feel from what my father said that the funeral was paid for maybe about 8/9 years ago but until I contact the bank I'm not sure if they keep records dating that long back.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

A Subject Access Request in the name of your departed daddy will cost £10.

Back statements will cost a lot more!

[Gemgirl]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

Thankyou,that's very helpful

[enquirer]

Re: Help regarding late fathers estate please

My sister arranged the funeral opting for the cheapest ...

In order to maximise her inheritance, no doubt. Wills always bring out the worst in people.

... as soon as my father died I had his bank account frozen and as I was executor I still don't know how my sister was able to go into the bank and arrange for them to pay the funeral director,I would have thought they needed me to ok that ...

The bank is in serious trouble here. You need to make them aware of this.

I have a feeling my father may have paid into a funeral plan but with no record of it and the solicitor not knowing either I think as suggested I may have to ask the bank for statements,I feel from what my father said that the funeral was paid for maybe about 8/9 years ago but until I contact the bank I'm not sure if they keep records dating that long back.

This may need a detailed search of the house. It's amazing what turns up.