Death in Merton – a Step by Step Guide

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Dealing with a death in Merton.

This is what you need to know when dealing with a death the area. It can be a daunting task, but our printable list of what to do and who to contact should make it much easier and avoid the legal jungles some folk land themselves in. Be aware that you have just 5 days to register the death with (normally) the Merton Registrar.  Weekends and bank holidays are INCLUDED and reduce the time available. If the Coroner is involved, that may not apply.Many people will be able to manage without professional help, but we can introduce you to tailored services should you need help – just call 03 300 102 300 or use the form at the foot of the page.  If the death is sudden and unexpected, you should contact the Police non-emergency service on 101 to be on the safe side and always the deceased’s doctor See Probate delays.   Wrong area?  Go here.

  • I have tried to cover the essentials on this page for other useful information and tips, try here or use the search facility. If that fails to find what you are looking for, let me know. My personal aim is to make dealing with a death in Merton less stressful, but I cam also save money on Merton probate fees – sometimes a very great deal – use the enquiry form if you have any questions, or give me a call.

Please read the whole page as things may not need to be done in the precise order I have suggested, depending on the situation.To avoid confusion, I use the word Executor to include Administrator as the two are essentially the same.

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death in Merton (MCCD or Green Form)

Delaying this will delay other things, if the death was in a hospital, they may well provide it. If not, notify the deceased’s doctor and request the MCCD. If they haven’t seen the deceased within 4 weeks, or if the death was sudden they may refer it to the coroner, which may well mean the funeral is delayed. Any Merton funeral director will advise you.

Inform Next of Kin and Other Family Members.

One of the most important steps after someone dies is to inform their next of kin. This should be done as soon as possible, and all dependents/family members should also be informed. Ideally, this should be in place long before: create a plan that outlines who you want to contact, how you want them to be contacted, what details need to be shared and when you will contact them. It may also help to create a physical list or a form with all the necessary details in case further discussions come up while informing people. The address book is the obvious place to look, though these days that might be computerised.

Link to videos of What to do after a death and of Tell us Once Service which advises Government related organisations of the death.

 

Grief help

The executor should arrange to secure any valuables if the property is no longer occupied – we would recommend photographing everything before removing it. You MUST check with the insurance company as they will have specific requirements for empty properties, without which it is likely claims will NOT be paid, leaving the executor to pay personally. Vacant property insurance (the link is repeated below). It is prudent to have the locks changed as anyone might have keys but be sure that this is not done in a way to alienate anyone and is explained to appropriate beneficiaries, or it will upset anyone expecting access, which should ideally now be supervised.

Dealing with a death in Merton Registrar.
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If Relevant Repatriation of a deceased body after a death in Merton.

Advice about the repatriation of a deceased body abroad and the repatriation of a deceased body from abroad can be obtained from funeral directors.

The next step is usually to appoint a Merton funeral director to collect the deceased part 1.

Thousands of pounds can be wasted if there was a prepaid funeral plan and the wrong funeral director is used. We are trying to add a list of local Funeral Directors at the foot of the page.

Find a funeral plan.

This is less urgent if they died in hospital, as they can be kept in the morgue.HOWEVER, if the Merton Coroner is involved, you will need their agreement to move the deceased as they may wish to examine the body.  Speak to one of the Southwark Coroners Officers should the Coroner become involved.  Tooting, Merton, Wandsworth, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea are all covered by the Inner West London Coroner’s Court, Westminster.  Email: in**************************@*************ov.uk 020 8753 6800If the deceased lived in a care home, they will carry on charging fees (often well over £1000 a week) until both the deceased and their possessions have been removed. Other residents do find it uncomfortable.Technically, appointing the Merton funeral director is the job of the executor, so they should be involved if at all possible.  The person who appoints the funeral director can be held liable for the costs if the estate does not pay.Some families organise viewings of the body, but I would suggest these are restricted to adults (personal experience.)TIP: banks, if asked in advance, will usually pay out funds towards the cost of the funeral from the deceased’s accounts to the funeral director if invoiced direct to the institution.  They will NOT release funds to reimburse the executor or family if they pay the funeral director: they will have to wait until probate is granted (assuming it is needed) and claim as creditors.

Government help with bereavement.

Register the Death with a the Merton Registrar within 5 days:

Who can register the death      What the Registrar needs to know (PDF download).

Once it’s been established who should register the death, the next step is to contact a Registrar of Births Deaths and Marriages in Merton where the person has died. You can register the death elsewhere, but the death certificate will always be issued where the deceased died, so there will be an additional delay. Registration is needed so that a certificate can be issued and used for important matters such as applying for probate and sorting out any property that was owned by the deceased. You’ll need to provide some personal details, such as their full name, date and place of birth, home address and whether they were married or not. The Registrar will also need to know where, when and how the death happened.NB – the 5 days is NOT 5 working days, but a strict 5 days. Call the Registrar if this is a problem as it is a criminal offence, unless the Coroner is delaying things.We recommend taking advantage of the Registrar’s “Tell Us Once” service which will notify many official departments of the death and save time.

Contact details of the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Merton

You must register a death within 5 days (unless a coroner is conducting an investigation). You’ll need to make an appointment with us to register the death.Merton Register Office,  Morden Park House, Morden Park, London Road, MordenSM4 5QU  Email: re*************@********ov.uk Telephone: 020 8274 5777 Fax: 020 8648 0433

Areas the Merton Registrar typically covers:

If you do not live in Merton

If the death happened in Merton but you cannot attend an appointment there, you can give the details to any registrar in England and Wales, but it will slow things down.If you need any advice about registering a death, telephone 03000 415252.

Do use the Merton Tell Us Once Service

Arrange the Funeral with a Merton Funeral Director. Part 2.

Now it’s time to arrange a funeral: it can’t take place until the Merton Registrar has issued the death certificate. This is typically done by the family or (officially) the executor of the deceased, though most people will appoint a professional funeral director to take care of this for you. You’ll need to decide on the type of service and burial or cremation, any special requests and who will be invited. You may also wish to contact newspapers or websites if you’re planning a public service. It’s important to keep track of your necessary costs as they can be claimed back from the estate later.If you are not sure if the deceased left any funeral wishes, they are sometimes in the Will.

Find the Will, if there is one.

The executor appointed in the Will is responsible for everything and should authorise anyone wishing to take anything, as it may not be allowed by the Will. If there is no Will, then the next of kin can act as Administrator (essentially the same as executor). The next of kin is NOT a common-law spouse, who is in a complex situation and should take advice. Be very careful with potentially valuable items as their value needs to be established.

If professional help is needed, please contact The Probate Department (brokers) and we will find suitable help at a sensible cost.

Be aware that it is common practice for solicitors to store Wills, on the off chance that you will use them for the probate without ever comparing their fees with anyone else’s – when you might be able to cut them by 90%, this is not sensible! Even if the solicitors are named as executors, they can normally be asked to stand down (unless they have started work) if we can find you much lower fees, or you can do it yourselves. We don’t charge you anything to save you money.Be aware that lay executors cannot charge for their time, but they can recover any money they have paid out of the estate and perhaps mileage and post costs – keep records.  One executor decided they needed a car to carry out their duties, which was considered quite unacceptable by the court, so be prudent. Professional help can be reimbursed by the estate before distribution/Some executors refuse to give copies of the Will to beneficiaries: it is my personal opinion that this makes people suspicious and may well need to quite unnecessary legal action.

DANGER: We strongly suggest contacting us to find a competent and relatively inexpensive probate professional if:

  1. The person responsible does not have the necessary administrative skills.
  2. Inheritance Tax may be payable OR
  3. If there may be a probate dispute – I have seen so many families fall out over Wills, and it can often be prevented if they blame a probate professional!
  4. If there are Trusts involved (whether in the Will or not) 0r overseas assets.
  5. If there have been significant gifts made by the deceased within the last 7 years (sometimes 14). If these gifts are added back into the estate, might IHT be payable or increased?
  6. If the deceased’s home has previously been transferred to anyone else but they carried on living in it.

Professional services can range from just checking the forms to doing the whole thing, and we can usually save a great deal of money, often well over half.

If the deceased’s home has previously been transferred to anyone else but they carried on living in it. *

Their services can range from just checking the forms to doing the whole thing, and we can usually save a great deal of money, often well over half.

Merton Probate Service
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How to find a Will

No Will? Then the Rules of Intestacy apply.

Then the next of kin can apply for probate if necessary, but they are called Administrators rather than Executors and who inherits is decided by the Law rather than the deceased or the family and disputes are even more likely, with dependants who are not legally family (such as common law spouses) may have to go to Court to obtain anything.

WARNING: some executors or administrators think they can do whatever they think is best with the proceeds and ignore the Will or Rules of Intestacy.. This is not so, and unless done in a legal fashion is potentially THEFT. They must do what the Will dictates, or follow the Rules of Intestacy. It is potentially possible to make changes via a Deed of Variation, but only if any beneficiary losing out is of sound mind and over 18. In that case, Court approval will be needed. We can point you at relatively inexpensive advice.

The Executor Should Secure the Deceased’s Property and Possessions.

After the funeral and burial or cremation is complete, it’s time for the executor/s to start dealing with the deceased’s property and possessions.

  • If their property is no longer occupied, the insurance of both buildings and contents needs review, contact the insurers as claims on empty properties may not be paid. More on insurance for empty properties.
  • You should also consider changing the locks (see below) as no one knows who has keys. If it is rented, with the landlords’ permission or arrange for it to be valued and cleared quickly to reduce the rent payable..
  • Secure any valuables if not already done – we would recommend photographing everything before removing it.
  • Tracking down any assets that have been left in a will, administering or arrange to be set up any trusts set up before death,
  • You’ll need to contact banks, insurers, mortgage lenders and other companies if applicable.  You will need to establish date of death values for both assets and liabilities. HMRC must be informed of the death to ensure they deal with any relevant tax issues, but if the Tell Us Once Service was used, they will be aware..
  • If Inheritance Tax is a possibility, we would strongly recommend that you contact us so we can find you a suitable adviser as things can get very complex. For example, and gifts made within the last 7 years may be pulled back into the estate before tax is calculated.
  • Where there may be debts, it would be prudent to advertise the death in the approved fashion in the local paper and Gazette to avoid creditors suing the executor.  If there is a business too, you may need to advertise in Trade papers as well.
  • Unclaimed assets – many people have privatisation shares and other accounts which they have forgotten about so it is wise to check for unclaimed assets.
  • BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU THROW AWAY!

Merton Independent Financial Advisers.

It is also probable that you would benefit from the services of a genuinely Independent Financial Adviser local to you, both personally or during the course of the probate and estate administration.

Organise Financial Affairs with Banks, Insurance Companies and HMRC.

It is important to contact banks, insurance companies and HMRC as soon as possible after a person has passed away. For all assets or liabilities you will need a date of death balance, including any interest accrued but not yet added, so the executor might as well ask for it immediately. This means organising financial affairs and dealing with any debts that may be outstanding. . Obtaining probate (a legal document often required when administering an estate) can also help gain access to certain accounts. If inheritance tax is owed, it must be paid BEFORE probate is granted either from the estate or from the beneficiary’s own resources before inheriting or by way of a probate loan.

Paying IHT

Applying for Probate or Letters of Administration in Merton.

Probate is not always required, but the executor should keep careful notes of all assets and liabilities, partly as they have to account to the residuary beneficiaries (the ones who get shares of the estate rather than specific amounts or items), and partly as one item may turn up later which cannot be released without a Grant of Probate/ Letters of Administration and if you have not kept the notes, you may have to do everything again!Forms to apply for probate can be obtained by calling 0117 930 2430 or 0300 123 1072 (not us). Whilst our site helps with DIY Probate, there are three circumstances where we recommend you contact us to be introduced to a suitable probate adviser who can provide the level of help you need, from just checking the forms to doing everything.These steps could well be of benefit to both Executors and Beneficiaries:

  • If not already done, at this stage it is wise to open an executors account with a bank, as allegations of all sorts can arise if you pay any funds into your own bank account.
  • Putting a notice in The Gazette to ensure that there is protection against unknown creditors. Plus the Local Paper – perhaps https://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/
  • Searching for unknown assets such as privatisation shares, paid-up insurance policies (some insurance policies require no further payments after a certain age, so there may be no evidence of them on banks statements) etc.

Estate Administration in Merton

Once you have the Grant or Letters of administration, you will need more copies than you expect. then you can gather in the assets, pay any outstanding debts, pay out the specific legacies such as £1000 or the mantle clock, get the estate accounts agreed by the residuary beneficiaries (they are the ones who get a proportion of the estate) and right at the end, once they have all agreed the accounts, you can pay them.All paperwork should be kept for six years.Should you need professional support, give The Probate Department (brokers) a call on 03 300 102 300 – leave a message after hours or if we are already engaged.There is a list of local crematoria and cemeteries below this form.

Cemeteries and Crematoria local to Merton.

Merton Council Cemeteries

North East Surrey Crematorium is the only crematorium in the borough, but it is not operated by the council. It is in Morden Cemetery, also known as Battersea New Cemetery.North East Surrey Crematorium, Lower Morden Lane, Morden, SM4 4NU  Telephone: 020 8337 4835. 

Battersea New Cemetery, Also known as Morden Cemetery
  • Cemetery
 1891 Lower Morden Lane, Morden SM4 4NU Telephone: 020 8788 2113Email: be*********@******lc.orgWebsite: Enable Bereavement website
Croydon Crematorium route
  • Cemetery
  • Crematorium
 1897 Mitcham Road Croydon CR9 3AT Telephone: 020 8684 3877Email: be*********@*********ov.ukWebsite: Croydon
Lambeth Crematorium and Lambeth Cemetery
  • Cemetery
  • Crematorium
 1854 Blackshaw Road Tooting London SW17 0BY Telephone: 020 8672 6342Email: Be*****************@*********ov.ukWebsite: Lambeth cemeteries and crematoriums
North East Surrey Crematorium (Morden Cemetery)
  • Crematorium
 1958 Lower Morden Lane, Morden SM4 4NU Telephone: 020 8337 4835Email: ne***************@****21.comWebsite: North East Surrey Crematorium
Putney Vale Cemetery
  • Cemetery
 1891 Stag Lane, Putney SW15 3DZ Telephone: 020 8871 7820Email: be*********@******lc.orgWebsite: Putney Vale Cemetery (Enable Website)
Randalls Park Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium
  • Cemetery
  • Crematorium
 1961 Randalls Road, Leatherhead, KT22 0AG Telephone: 01372 363181Website: Randalls Park Crematorium
South London Crematorium and Streatham Park Cemetery
  • Cemetery
  • Crematorium
 1908 Rowan Road, London SW16 5JG Telephone 020 8679 4164Website: Streatham Park Cemetery
Streatham Cemetery
  • Cemetery
 1894 Garratt Lane, Tooting, SW17 0LT Telephone: 020 7926 4466Email: Be*****************@*********ov.ukWebsite: Lambeth Council
Streatham Jewish Cemetery
  • Jewish Cemetery
 1915 Rowan RoadLondon SW16 Telephone: 020 7724 7702West End Great Synagogue 32 Cumberland Place, London W1H 7TN
Sutton Cemetery
  • Cemetery
 1889 Alcorn Close off Oldfield Road Sutton SM3 9PX Telephone: 020 8644 9437Email: su*************@********ov.ukWebsite: Sutton Council

Funeral Directors in Merton

Please use the comments function to add local funeral directors.

  • Coop Funeralcare, 91 London Rd, Morden SM4 5HP 020 8648 3598
  • Mears & Cotterill Funeral Directors 125 Merton Road, Merton Park, SW19 3PW
  • Knox Bros Funeral Service 100 Merton Road, Merton Park, SW19 3PQ
  • Frederick W Paine Funeral Directors 6 Coombe Lane, Raynes Park, SW20 8ND 26 Crown Lane, Morden, SM4 5BL 151 Epsom Road, Sutton, SM3 9EY.
  • Please do add more, see below.

Other Relevant Professionals

Estate Planning: making, reviewing or updating Wills and Powers of Attorney – and ongoing service as Tax, the Law and your Personal Circumstances change. Click the link.Financial Advice: it is also probable that you would benefit from the services of a genuinely Independent Financial Adviser local to you, both personally or during the course of the probate and estate administration. Click the link.Celebrants: please add your name and address and phone number ONLY as a comment at the foot of the page.

  • Kate Wood 07958 197365
  • Ceris Fender-Reid 07958 988 322
  • Geoff Coyne 07789 850 560

Probate Property Auctions

These are National Auctioneers for homes etc, not for goods.  We still need to add a good local General Auctioneer, suggestions welcome.Cash Buyer as an alternative.

Free Property Value estimate or formal RICS Valuation for probate.

 Property relevant pages indexed.Estate Agents & Valuers: please add your name and address and phone number ONLY as a comment at the foot of the page.Morden Estate Agents are apparently very shy!Lockmith Merton P J Harvey  0208 640 7529Florist:

Information / Enquiry Form Help with Merton Probate and more:

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