Let The Madness Commence. April 12th.

[Mike Todd]

1 hour ago, The Happy Nomad said:

 

Shares and foreign property ownership often add complications that make it more difficult for the DIY 'probater', true. There can be occasions when it may well be appropriate to engage a professional.

 

But when it involves disposing of a house, a car and some savings and dispersing them amongst the beneficiaries of the will it really can be straightforward. (But for me it wasn't a blood relative so I was perhaps a bit more detached from the person and accept if someone is it can be too upsetting to deal with).

 

The key is to keep careful records and accounts and receipts where appropriate. I just did this with an Excel spreadsheet. I opened a dedicated current account with the Halifax and everything went through that so nothing got tangled up with our own money. When the final payments were made to the beneficiaries I just closed the account.

 

One of the reasons Solicitors will store a will FOC is they will often use the opportunity of someone asking to access the will to 'sell' their services to manage the process. I could swear the guy on the reception at my MIL's solicitors actually looked really surprised and disappointed when I said I just want access to it and take it away to do it myself.

 

 

To some extent it may depend on whether there is urgency in obtaining probate. If, like we were with my mother's estate (not very difficult in any event) the beneficiaries were in no particular rush then it is just a matter of patient admin, keeping good records and chasing when appropriate. Once everything was in order, probate was granted without question and speedily. Realising the estate may take a while but there was nothing that needed specialist knowledge. We found that most financial institutions have specialist departments to deal with the death of a customer and were generally quite helpful and understanding that I was not necessarily able to locate everything immediately. 

 

On the other hand, at one stage, if either I or my wife died v suddenly then it could be a bit more urgent as it mat mean that the business is unable to operate, unless the correct provisions were already in place. I know that some small private businesses collapse at this point unless probate is dealt with v quickly. 

 

Of course there may be a beneficiary pressing for distribution asap for their own reasons but it may just have to be a matter of fending them off (they probably cannot do much other than huff and puff!) but if they are a close relative it can be difficult.

 

But do anticipate that each organisation you have to deal with will have their own ways of doing the same thing, especially in terms of what information has to be supplied. Setting up a means of getting formal copies of documents (some at least they did five years ago) insist on being sent they physical document which means that some matters have to be done serially rather than in parallel.

 

[matty40s]

4 hours ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

That's so the exhaust fumes are nearer to being off the boat!

 

I'd not run one there ...

She's been running that or similar off the back deck like that for the last 6 years....and still alive.

But , no, neither would I.

Loads of boats again now, only hire fleet not seen so far is a Wyvern.

[Momac]

13 minutes ago, matty40s said:

 

Loads of boats again now, only hire fleet not seen so far is a Wyvern.

I guess everything seems busy now after being so quiet for so long ?

 

[BilgePump]

Was a bit wary of towing a small boat up the M6 to Blackpool/Fleetwood way at 9am on Monday because I thought there would be quite a lot of traffic heading up to the Lakes. As it transpired, didn't see many heavily packed cars or caravans on the way. Maybe they hit the road at sparrowfart or it just got busier north of Lancaster. This morning going back up seemed the same and towing again coming back down this evening was clear, except for some poor folks on the M61 whose car was on fire, not accident or injuries just dramatic and causing a bit of congestion behind it.

 

The river has been really active on each tide around midday. Seen a healthy few speedboats and small sailboats each dinnertime and some from the club have already gone out for a few days, having spent much of the preceding two weeks getting their boats ready after the winter lockdown. The weather has helped as it's been clear and dry albeit cold by dusk, but because it's nowt like this time last year, sitting outside a pub in the evening probably isn't the warmest place to be.

 

There's a really nice pub round the corner from the club which is pretty big, normally mixed food, drinking and large games / pool / TV room and a large beer garden but for the expense of starting up five weeks before indoor service and to be at the mercy of the Lancashire weather, just not worth it to them. A favourite pub, The Navigation at Bugsworth has been doing food takeaway, deliveries and BBQs via the same through the lockdown period and as far as I know were opening this week.. When I can get a night on the canal, you can guess where I'm heading for a couple of scoops. My local at home has a few tables outside but is shutting as it gets dark, one similar is waiting for indoors. Each landlord and their type of business (manager/tenant/freehold etc) will make the call based on lots of factors. By the time I got home yesterday evening there were only four people outside my local and it was getting a bit cold. I did go for a couple by closing with them but it's not the same fun as years gone by, having to spend all your time outside. I've really enjoyed the last few weeks doing boaty stuff and a lot of it is to do with the social aspect of it. You catch up with old friends, people with similar interests, it's outside and on the water. I always did love those things but I think I value time on the water more now, because, in words we all know, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats

[David Mack]

19 hours ago, Mike Todd said:

We found that most financial institutions have specialist departments to deal with the death of a customer and were generally quite helpful and understanding that I was not necessarily able to locate everything immediately. 

I found it notable just how helpful most organisations' bereavement departments were. Even where their requirements were particularly bureaucratic, staff were helpful and willing to take the time to explain what was needed, and on the whole quick to respond to phone, email and postal enquiries. And all for a service that costs money to run but isn't likely to generate much new business.

Something some of their other departments could learn from!

[frangar]

6 minutes ago, David Mack said:

I found it notable just how helpful most organisations' bereavement departments were. Even where their requirements were particularly bureaucratic, staff were helpful and willing to take the time to explain what was needed, and on the whole quick to respond to phone, email and postal enquiries. And all for a service that costs money to run but isn't likely to generate much new business.

Something some of their other departments could learn from!

Just after my father died my mother was sorting out various companies....one was insistent they talked to my dad to close the account....they went a bit quiet when my mum asked were they ok with holding a seance......

[Athy]

9 minutes ago, David Mack said:

I found it notable just how helpful most organisations' bereavement departments were.

I found Lloyd's Bank very helpful when I was acting as the executor of my Dad's estate in 2004. But I was rather upset when I opened an account with them for his assets and they called it a "Clubs and Societies" account. I did find that rather insensitive.

[David Mack]

13 minutes ago, Athy said:

I found Lloyd's Bank very helpful when I was acting as the executor of my Dad's estate in 2004. But I was rather upset when I opened an account with them for his assets and they called it a "Clubs and Societies" account. I did find that rather insensitive.

Its not a personal account, since the monies are not the executor's own, and a business account would involve charges, so this is probably the best way, although they could perhaps offer the same account with a more appropriate title.

[Athy]

7 minutes ago, David Mack said:

Its not a personal account, since the monies are not the executor's own, and a business account would involve charges, so this is probably the best way, although they could perhaps offer the same account with a more appropriate title.

My feelings exactly, yes.

[john6767]

33 minutes ago, David Mack said:

Its not a personal account, since the monies are not the executor's own, and a business account would involve charges, so this is probably the best way, although they could perhaps offer the same account with a more appropriate title.

In my experience they do, it is called an “executors account”, you sometimes have to push the bank to give you one as they are free. You used to need the account to be “Executors of xxxxx” so you could pay in cheques that were payable to the deceased person, but I guess you don’t often get cheques now.

[matty40s]

Probably about 25-30 boats past already this morning, including the first Wyvern.

...and not a single one called Probate.

 

Edited April 15, 2021 by matty40s

[Athy]

5 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Probably about 25-30 boats past already this morning, including the first Wyvern.

...and bot a single one called Probate.

 

 

I've never seen one called that, but I have seen 'Inheritance' and 'Legacy'. Where there's a will....

Still no Fox boats past here. Either their hire season hasn't started yet, or Salter's Lode is silted up so they're sending their hirers in the Peterborough direction.

[Lady M]

I certainly opened an executor's account with NatWest for my mother but that was some years ago.  If I recall correctly, the names under the signature line were mine and my co-executor 'as executors for ...'.  It didn't stop the counter staff asking if I had any plans for investing the money.

 

More recently, HMRC sent a tax refund by cheque for my father when I dealt with his affairs.  When it is necessary to use an executor's account, I don't think the method of receiving or making payments makes any difference.

[cuthound]

1 hour ago, Athy said:

I've never seen one called that, but I have seen 'Inheritance' and 'Legacy'. Where there's a will....

Still no Fox boats past here. Either their hire season hasn't started yet, or Salter's Lode is silted up so they're sending their hirers in the Peterborough direction.

 

There's a relative. ??

[jake_crew]

Standedge Tunnel on the Narrow open now.

 

This is boat one of the first through.

 

[Ally]

The southern end of the Soar has remained pretty quiet. 2 to 3 boats a day generally so far. Only seen one day hire boat. 

[mrsmelly]

Refreshingly busy ont toxford for past few days. Not manic but several passing us here each day and calling in for nosh and bar etc.

[Arthur Marshall]

Quiet on the Macc. Can't understand why...

[Hudds Lad]

2 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

Quiet on the Macc. Can't understand why...

 

trombone broken?  

[MoominPapa]

52 minutes ago, Ally said:

The southern end of the Soar has remained pretty quiet. 2 to 3 boats a day generally so far. Only seen one day hire boat. 

South of Leicester about the same, or maybe less. There have been three boats going North hopping with us, but two have turned back towards Foxton and one is stopped at Kilby Bridge. Met the first southbound boat since the summit today, and a Rothern workboat blocking a bridge 'ole.

 

MP.

[Dave_P]

1 hour ago, Ally said:

The southern end of the Soar has remained pretty quiet. 2 to 3 boats a day generally so far. Only seen one day hire boat. 

Yesterday afternoon there were about 2-3 every ten minutes going past me at Norton Junction on the GU.  A bit quieter today, but still a few per hour.  Judging by Moomin's comment above, they're mainly avoiding the Leicester line.  Maybe people think Leicester is still locked down, like it was last summer.

[Arthur Marshall]

1 hour ago, Hudds Lad said:

 

trombone broken?  

https://youtu.be/SbXNiwwUxDs

 

Edited April 15, 2021 by Arthur Marshall

[Ally]

24 minutes ago, Dave_P said:

Yesterday afternoon there were about 2-3 every ten minutes going past me at Norton Junction on the GU.  A bit quieter today, but still a few per hour.  Judging by Moomin's comment above, they're mainly avoiding the Leicester line.  Maybe people think Leicester is still locked down, like it was last summer.

Or all the newbies are terrified of the rivers! ?

[Hudds Lad]

52 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

https://youtu.be/SbXNiwwUxDs

 

 

excellent   top bobbing

[gatekrash]

6 hours ago, Athy said:

I've never seen one called that, but I have seen 'Inheritance' and 'Legacy'.

We went past an "Inheritance" this morning.

 

Quite quiet on the Worcester end of the W&B, although we're moored up with a hire boat each side of us, we've probably only seen 2 or 3 hirers all day and maybe a handful of other boats. Everyone we spoke to on the way down said this end of the canal is empty, but when we turned at Lowesmoor the ABC marina looked pretty empty so they must all be out there somewhere!