When someone dies without leaving a Will, it is known as dying intestate. Intestacy can complicate the probate and estate administration processes, as the law decides who will deal with the estate and who will inherit from it. In this blog, we aim to answer frequently asked questions about the processes involved when someone dies without a Will in the UK.

Bereaved families and estate administrators across England and Wales continue to face delays when applying for a Grant of Representation – the umbrella term for Grant of Probate (when there is a Will) and Letters of Administration (when there is no Will).

Please note that Kings Court Trust only deals with Premium Bonds when administering the estate of an owner who has passed away. We are not able to track, claim, or sell Premium Bonds otherwise. When someone passes away, all of their assets must be dealt with as part of the estate administration process. This can include property, personal belongings, cash, bank accounts, and more. One asset that is not as commonly discussed is Premium Bonds. However, Premium Bonds form part of an individual’s estate just like a bank or savings account and therefore must be dealt with when handling the assets.

The chain of representation refers to the legal framework that allows for the continuous administration of an estate after the death of an individual. When someone is appointed as an Executor under a Grant of Probate (if the deceased had a valid Will) or an Administrator under a Grant of Letters of Administration (if the deceased did not have a valid Will), they become the representative of the deceased person's estate. This representation is formally granted to them by the Probate Registry.

Estate accounts are one of the final stages in the estate administration process. These accounts are a detailed record of all the financial transactions that have occurred during the administration of an estate.

According to research from October 2021, over 10% of over 75s in the UK have not made a Will. When someone dies without leaving a Will, known as dying intestate, it hands one of their relatives a role they may not have been expecting, as an Administrator must be appointed. In this blog, we aim to clarify what an Administrator of an estate does, and we also look at the help available if you find yourself in this position.

As we shop, many of us collect loyalty points from various companies, and throughout a lifetime this can amount to a substantial value. However, many of these points will remain unclaimed.

Probate is a legal process that may be necessary when someone dies and leaves assets behind. It involves obtaining a Grant of Probate to give the Executor the legal right to proceed with estate administration. This includes identifying and valuing the deceased’s assets, paying any debts and expenses , distributing those assets to their beneficiaries, and much more.

The Executor of an estate has the authority to sell the property of the deceased, as long as it is specified in the Will or authorised by the court. However, the Executor needs to be sure there are no surviving joint owners or clauses in the Will that prevent selling the property.