How to Deal with Death and Probate: A Self-help Guide

Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 10
Part One: How to Proceed on a Death......Page 14
Death......Page 16
Can one choose the time or manner of one's death?......Page 17
Living wills......Page 19
Capacity to decide......Page 22
Action in the patient's best interest......Page 23
Is there a right to die?......Page 24
Failure to assist......Page 25
Legal consequences of prolonging life......Page 26
Urgent practical matters......Page 27
Summary of procedures......Page 29
Coroners......Page 30
Inquests......Page 33
Organ transplants and medical research......Page 36
Who can register a death?......Page 38
How the death is registered......Page 39
Deaths abroad......Page 41
3 Arranging the Funeral......Page 42
Bringing a body back from abroad......Page 44
HIV/AIDS......Page 45
Burial or cremation?......Page 46
Alternative funeral arrangements......Page 49
Funerals with the aid of a professional funeral director......Page 51
Memorials......Page 54
The Ceremony......Page 56
Meeting the costs of the funeral......Page 57
Bereavement Payment and Bereavement Allowance......Page 61
The State Retirement Pension......Page 63
Working Tax Credit......Page 64
Assistance with children......Page 65
Benefits from local authorities......Page 66
Part Two: Winding up Money Matters......Page 68
If there is a will......Page 70
If there is no valid will......Page 79
The grant of representation......Page 80
Should one employ a solicitor or deal with the estate oneself?......Page 81
Jointly owned property......Page 87
If the gross estate is valued over £15,000......Page 89
Obtaining the necessary information to prepare the papers to obtain the grant of representation......Page 90
The assets and liabilities of the estate......Page 92
Preparing and lodging the documentation to have inheritance tax assessed and to obtain the grant of representation......Page 106
The personal representative's power to appoint agents......Page 112
Registering the grant......Page 114
What debts and liabilities must be paid?......Page 117
To whom should payment be made?......Page 118
Finalising inheritance tax......Page 119
Insolvent estates......Page 120
Precautions to take before making distributions from the estate funds......Page 122
The possibility of claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 as ammended......Page 123
Varying the terms of a will or the rules of intestacy after death......Page 126
Interest on legacies......Page 131
Interpreting a will and deciding what bequests and liabilities should be fulfilled......Page 132
Distribution in accordance with the laws of intestacy......Page 143
To whom should distributions be made?......Page 148
The transfer of chattels......Page 152
Transferring buildings or land......Page 153
Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax earned during the administration period......Page 156
Final accounts......Page 160
1 Specimen forms and letters......Page 164
2 Useful Addresses......Page 199
B......Page 203
D......Page 204
G......Page 205
L......Page 206
S......Page 207
V......Page 208
W......Page 209