10 Wills and Probate
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5. What does an executor or administrator do?
7. Will I have to pay inheritance tax?
8. Who takes charge if there is no will?
9. Who gets the estate if there is no will?
10. What can I do if I think there is something wrong with the will?
11. What can I do if I think the will is unfair?
12. What if there isn't enough money to pay for the funeral?
By asking a funeral director to conduct the funeral, you make a contract agreeing to pay for the funeral. This means that, if you are the executor or administrator, you should do this only after you have made sure that there is enough money in the estate to pay for the funeral. Otherwise, you should be willing to pay any part of the bill that won't be covered by the estate.
If you need to arrange a funeral when there is not enough money in the estate to pay for it and you are receiving a means-tested benefit, you may be eligible for a Funeral Payment grant from the Social Fund. For more information about this, contact your local Social Security Office (see 'Further help' for details of how to contact them).
13. What if there isn´t enough money to pay the person´s debts?
14. Terms used in wills and probate matters
This leaflet is published by the Legal Services Commission (LSC). It was written in association with Paul Elmhirst, a solicitor specialising in wills and probate.
Leaflet version: July 2007
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