No will, only cash assets - Letters of Administration?

[debjones1004]

I'm dealing with the estate of my late sister in agreement with her only son as he feels incapable. She left nothing except cash and large bills. The debts have been paid, nobody asked for Probate or Letters of Administration, and there is no IHT payable. IHT205 has been completed, do I need to do anything else other than pass the balance of her estate to her son? I am confused as to whether I need Letters of Administration of there is nothing left to do! I would appreciate your advice please

[echat11]

des8 Can you please take a look and advise, many thanks.

[des8]

If you have been able to access all your late sister's assets without having to produce letters of administration, and as her estate only consisted of cash and personal items (ie no land or stocks and shares) you did not need LofA.

Did you advertise for creditors?
If you are sure all creditors have been paid there is no more to do

[debjones1004]

Sorry, to clarify, there was more than £5k left in her estate...I think I read somewhere that this amount was a deciding factor but can't find it now

[des8]

The real deciding factor is whether or not the bank or building society will release the cash to the person administering the estate, if that person does not have a grant of letters of administration.
Banks set their own limits, and most are far beyond the £5000 mark of yesteryear!

CAB have a good general advice page: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/fa...e-who-has-died
as does the Co-op: https://www.co-oplegalservices.co.uk...te-in-probate/

[debjones1004]

Thanks Des, yes I put an advert in the Gazette etc and I'm pretty certain that I found all her debts by going through her paperwork. Her son who has inherited understands that he will be responsible for anything else that pops up unexpectedly, but I could challenge that anyway... what's the point of the Gazette otherwise?! Most of them were already with Phillips and Cohen and Lowell, and I had them double check their records too. Thanks for the advice, guess I just leave it there now then.

[des8]

You seem to have done all that is required (except perhaps adverts in local paper?)

Interestingly the statutory protection offered by posting in the Gazette only benefits the administrator who has obtained a grant. It does show tho' that you have tried!