"Sorting through someone’s life after they have died can be emotional and feel overwhelming. This takes time. Contact people you can trust and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

"Managing all of this whilst I was grieving was exhausting”

Information
It’s important to find out whether the person who has died, made a valid will*. A will is a document that states a person’s wishes for what happens to their money, property and possessions (their estate*) after they die.

 

If you cannot find a will, you can search on the ‘Probate Registry’* or National Will Register.

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The will states who is responsible for following its instructions, known as the ‘executor’* of the will.

If an executor isn’t named in the will, or the executor is unable to manage this process, a beneficiary* can apply to the Probate Registry to be an ‘administrator of the will’.

 

If the person did not leave a will, close family members can apply to manage the process, but there are different rules, known as ‘rules of intestacy*’. This can be complex, if you can, you may wish to seek legal advice.

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If you are named as the executor, and the person who has died had any debts, you’ll need to ensure that any money or assets* from the estate are used to pay the debt. If the debts are larger than what was left behind, you should seek professional guidance.

 

Some people may need to pay inheritance tax, if they inherit assets over a certain value. The amount of tax varies - contact HMRC* if you have any questions.

 

Things to Think About

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• It can help to make a list of all the businesses and services that the person was connected to. It’s better to tell them of the death when you feel ready, otherwise they might contact you when you are not ready to talk

• If you can, contact a solicitor* for legal advice

• Citizens Advice Sheffield offers free and impartial advice

• Before distributing the estate, you may need to consider whether you should place a ‘statuary notice for creditors’*

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Glossary:

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Will: The legal document which states how a person’s assets should be distributed after they have died.

Estate: Everything owned by a person who has died
Probate Registry: The office which issues legal documents required to be granted probate ( https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills )
Executor of the will: The person who is legally responsible for carrying out the wishes of the person who has died, according to their will
Beneficiary: A person or entity, sometimes named in a will, who will receive a portion of a person’s estate after they have died
Intestacy: The term used to describe what happens when someone dies without a valid will
Assets: Anything owned by the person who dies that has financial value, e.g. property, cash, personal items, patents
HMRC: UK Government Department responsible for handling taxpayer’s affairs. You can contact them via www.gov.uk/find-hmrc-contacts/inheritance-tax-general-enquiries or telephone them on 0300 123 1072 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays)

Solicitor: A qualified legal professional who can represent your legal interests and provide advice on many legal issues
Statuary notice for creditors: A published notice that gives anyone who may have an interest in the estate 2 months to make a claim.