Executor of estate - where do I start?

WildRosie

My Dad died this week and I am executor of his estate. The value of the estate will be €1m+ but everything just goes to my mother so I assume that makes it more simple? But I don't know where to start? Do I just start ringing insurance companies and financial institutions and tell them Dad has died? I am meeting Dad's solicitor next week but I'm most concerned about making sure my mom has enough cash. They didn't have any joint accounts. I've written to social welfare to get them to transfer Dad's illness benefit to her for the 6 weeks and I have the widow's contributory pension form almost filled out but it asks for my mother's employment details pre 1979 and her memory is a bit hazy. I know Dad's work pensions will pay her but I don't even know how to claim them, through his employer I assume? I'm really lost so if anyone has any pointers I'd be very grateful.

ForstalDave

Very sorry for your loss, the link below details what needs to be done and how to go about it and you will find more information if needed on the site

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/death/the_deceaseds_estate/dealing_with_the_deceaseds_estate.html

coylemj

If the estate is worth 1M and it's as simple as everything going to your mother, do not give the job of probate to a solicitor, do it yourself, you will save a packet.

This poster (thread opened yesterday) is involved with a 'straightforward' estate worth 650K and the solicitor is charging 3% - €19,500 :eek:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057413961

Get copies of the death cert., write to your father's employer and ask that the survivor/widow pension be paid to your mother.

WildRosie

I really wouldn't be comfortable doing it myself, it also wasn't Dad's wishes that I do it DIY. I will be the fourth generation of the family using this firm and would be much happier to let them do it, I literally have no idea what I'm doing and need professional advice. Dad's death was expected and he has given instructions to the solicitor already. I am also a full time student and work 24 hours a week and don't think I'd have time/energy to do it. But thanks.

coylemj

WildRosie wrote: »

I really wouldn't be comfortable doing it myself, it also wasn't Dad's wishes that I do it DIY. I will be the fourth generation of the family using this firm and would be much happier to let them do it, I literally have no idea what I'm doing and need professional advice. Dad's death was expected and he has given instructions to the solicitor already. I am also a full time student and work 24 hours a week and don't think I'd have time/energy to do it. But thanks.

That's fine but at least negotiate a (reasonable) fee with the solicitor before you give him/her the job. And be aware that even if your father's will explicitly states that it is his wish that firm xxx should be used to do the probate, that is not binding on you as executor, you can give the business to any solicitor of your choosing.

I understand that you have a certainly loyalty to the firm, don't be blinded by that loyalty. As a tactic I would start off by vaguely suggesting to the solicitor that you are thinking of doing the job yourself, then ask for an estimate of his/her fee to do it.

WildRosie

Ok, thanks for that advice. I will discuss fees with him when I meet him next week. I trust this firm, our family have given them a fair bit of business over the decades and they have never been less than fair and professional. The managing partner ended up becoming a personal friend of Dad's and I would be very doubtful that he would try and screw me on fees, but as you say I will go in with my eyes open and discuss the fees up front.

Tow

As before. Negotiate the fees with the solicitor first and get it in writing. At least you will know where you stand, even if you don't get any other quotes. As for the 19.5 fees quoted above, a relatives of mine were charged over 60K, again just transferring the bulk of the estate to the wife and the remainder to the children.

Losty Dublin

When my Dad died some years ago I was given the number of a solicitor by a friend with view to assist me in tying up the ends of his estate.

The solicitor asked me what land or assets in his name, sources of income and any policies that were held in is name and if there were any debts to his name. All this took about a minute to go through. She quickly ascertained that there was little point in my engaging her. If I did, she said that she could only deal with what information that I could forward to her and even then most of them were items which which she couldn't assist with.

My point here is this; by all means consult a solicitor first off if you wish to do so here. If they are decent sods and see that there isn't any point in them to get involved then they will let you know quickly enough.