The death of a loved one can be overwhelming and is an emotional and stressful time for the family and friends. SWW Trust Corporation will guide you through this challenging time with sympathy and professionalism.
Following a death, there are certain steps that need to be followed before the funeral can be arranged and the estate administration can begin.
Obtain a Medical Certificate
In order to register the death and obtain a death certificate, you will require a medical certificate which will be given to you by a healthcare professional shortly after the death. However, if there is coroner involvement a medical certificate may not always be immediately available. Don’t panic if the coroner becomes involved, they will issue an interim death certificate so that you can arrange the funeral.
Register the Death
In most cases, it is the responsibility of the next of kin or family of the deceased to register the death. Alternatively, should the family be unable to register the death, the registration can be undertaken by the individual who is arranging the funeral or the executors of the estate.
In order to register the death, you will require the following information:
- Medical Certificate
- Date and Place of Birth
- Date and Place of Death
- Full Name, including any other names they may have been known as
- Marital Status, Full name and Occupation of Spouse
- Place of residence at death
- Any pension or benefits details
Tell-Us-Once Service
When registering the death, you will be given the opportunity to use the free, government run “Tell Us Once Service”. By using Tell-Us-One, all relevant government departments will be notified of the death. This presents or limits pension or benefit overpayments and advises who is responsible for the deceased’s estate.
Finding the Will
A crucial part of the estate administration is locating any Will that the deceased may have written and identifying the executors. It isn’t always obvious where someone may keep their will, or even if they made one at all. If there is no will or one cannot be found the deceased will have died intestate.
To help find the missing will, try the following:
- Contacting local law firms or will writers with whom the deceased had contact with to determine if they have a copy or indeed the original.
- Search the National Will Register or National Will Archive
- Ask family or close friends
Arrange the Funeral
Once the funeral has taken place, it is then the responsibility of the executors to undertake the estate administration. However, if the executors are unwilling or unable, the SWW Trust Corporation are able to act on their behalf in a capacity which best suits their needs.
Administration of The Estate
One important task an executor may have to undertake is to obtain a Grant of Probate (or letters of Administration if intestate). Once you have the Grant of Probate, you can then begin to collect in the estate assets. This includes selling or transferring any property, stocks and shares, or investments, as well as closing any bank accounts.
Executors must keep full and accurate records of all the funds in the estate including any expenses and liabilities paid as well as funds received in the estate and how they have been distributed.
Being an executor is a time-consuming and stressful process which involves being accountable for a loved one’s estate. This includes paying the liabilities and ensuring the administration process is properly adhered to. In addition to this, you will also be managing your own personal affairs and responsibilities which may become overwhelming and mistakes can be made. At SWW Trust Corporation, we can help relieve that pressure and burden by working with you to ensure that the Executors are safe in the knowledge that the entire estate is administered correctly. Unfortunately, Executorship does not come without its risks. If mistakes are made in the process of administration, then the Executors may be held personally liable and in extreme cases be fined or even prosecuted.
If you have been made the Executor of an estate and are unfamiliar with the administration process, mistakes are easily made. By appointing SWW Trust Corporation to work with you, you can rest assured knowing that the probate process is being dealt with by a dedicated and experienced team. Most importantly, the SWW Trust Corporation will take on the liability associated with the administration of an estate are be fully insured in the unlikely event of any issues arising.
You’re in safe hands
SWW Trust Corporation specialises in the administration of estates and will, offer you full advice and guidance throughout.
With you every step of the way, at SWW Trust Corporation we have helped thousands of bereaved families where a loved one has died with or without a Will. We are always here to listen, empathise with your circumstances and discuss how we can guide you through this difficult process.
Our Estate Managers are all legally qualified professionals with years of experience in Wills, Probate and Estate Administration.
Friendly and approachable, we also don’t charge per letter or for the time we take speaking to you personally over the phone. So that’s one less thing to worry about.
To find out more about how we can help you, contact us or call 01522 581 570.