Died with no Will.

[pussnboots]

We have just been informed that a cousin has died and no Will has been found. He was an only child, not married, no children and both parents are dead. We have no idea where to start or what procedure to follow, can anyone point us in the right direction.

[tamborine]

Cousins can inherit if there are no close relatives. See midway down page

http://www.adviceguid...ules_of_intestacy.htm

[pussnboots]

Sorry I didn't explain. I am not meaning inheritance, what I don't know is who will decide on the arrangements for the funeral, who sells the house/car etc. Will the coroner sort things out or appoint someone.

[dotty.]

were you informed by the police as the next of kin on maybe patient notes? If so then probably you are considered the appropriate person to make arrangements or apppoint a funeral director

[boxtops]

If you are the nearesr relatives then you may be asked about arrangements - if not I believe that the coroner's office can appoint an undertaker, with the costs being met from the estate in due course. With no Will, I'd understood that the effects of the deceased go to the State?

[dotty.]

they do boxtops and then the estate is published as Bona Vicantia and left for 30 years in trust, unless a legal next of kin turns up to claim.

[Buenchico]

A flow chart might help:
http://www.justice.go...ate/probate-guide.pdf

If you find, from the information that Tamborine and I have posted, that you appear to be 'top of the tree' when it comes to inheriting from the estate (either solely, or jointly with others), you should apply to the Probate Registry for a 'grant of representation' to allow you to distribute the estate in accordance with the intestacy rules. (Since the cousin died intestate, the grant will be in the form of 'letters of administration').

Unless the estate is particularly complicated (or there are difficulties in determining who has the right to inherit), you do NOT need to use the services of a solicitor. (Probate registry staff are, in my experience, wonderfully helpful).

Probate registries are listed here:
http://www.justice.go...robate-registries.htm
To get the contact details, click 'Court finder', set 'Search by court type' to 'Probate', leave everything else blank and click 'Submit'.

Chris

[Buenchico]

I was typing (and looking for links) while you were posting.

Nobody is ever obliged to arrange a funeral. (If everyone refuses to do so, the local council must pay for a funeral , but they can then seek to recover their costs from the estate of the deceased person). It's entirely up to the family to decide who should make the arrangements. (It can be paid for from the estate of the deceased person).

Whoever obtains letters of administration, as mentioned in my first post, will be the person who should sell the house. Nobody else will have the authority to do so. He/she will need to refer to this information from the Land Registry:
http://www1.landregis.../public_guide_009.pdf

The forms referred to in that document can be downloaded by going here:
http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/
(Click 'Forms/Publications' and then 'Forms').

Chris

[pussnboots]

Thanks for the information, that's just what I needed to know. Thanks for the links Buenchico I have done what you said and will be getting in touch with the Probate Office tomorrow.