FORTHCOMING CHANGE: At Autumn Budget 2024 on 30 October 2024, the government announced it will apply inheritance tax to unused pension funds on death with effect from 6 April 2027. These changes are brought in by Finance Act 2026 and affect the way in which personal representatives will need to report on the value of pension death benefits from 6 April 2027. For more information, see Practice Note: Hot topic—the reform of inheritance

[enter stockbroker’s/fund manager’s name ] [enter stockbroker’s/fund manager’s address] Dear [[enter organisation name] OR [enter name of individual stockbroker]], [ The late [name of deceased]] We regret to inform you of the death of the late [name of deceased] [also known as [enter other

[enter name of telephone company] [enter address of telephone company] Dear [enter organisation name] The late [enter name of deceased] Account number[s]: [enter account number(s)] Address:[enter deceased’s address] We are instructed

[Insert company name] [Insert company address] Dear [organisation name] The late [name of deceased] Account number[s]: [account number(s)] Address: [deceased's address] We are instructed by the personal representatives of the above named [also known as [insert any other name(s) by which the deceased

This Checklist may be printed off and kept at the front of a paper file or saved in the matter’s electronic file. In any case it should be stored somewhere where it can be accessed and updated regularly. The boxes may be crossed when complete or the date of the relevant

This Checklist provides details of the fundamental estate administration issues that follow death and enables the practitioner to confirm what needs to be done and what has been done during the course of the administration process. This Checklist may be printed off and kept at the front of a paper file or saved in the matter’s electronic file. In any case it should be stored somewhere where it can be accessed and updated regularly. The late [NAME OF DECEASED] File ref: [insert file ref no] A FIRST STEPS Client to deal In hand Complete N/A 1 After death 1.1 Confirm death (firm database) 1.2 Register death 1.3 Funeral arrangements—arrange funeral/advise family of funeral wishes 1.4 Notification of funeral in local press and/or friends and family 2 Property 2.1 If property empty: check property is secure check insurance company notified and insurance confirmed OR alternative insurance cover organised immediately check arrangements in place for frequent visits and local key holder check

In administering the assets of an estate, there are some assets and liabilities that can be easily overlooked. As well as checking what assets and liabilities there are, the personal representatives (PRs) need to make decisions about which assets to deal with first, as well as dealing with matters that they may discover affected the deceased in their lifetime, such as ongoing litigation. Interests arising under a trust The deceased may have been a beneficiary of a trust and in some cases, the value of the trust interest accrues to the deceased’s estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes on their death. There are a number of types of trust that may have included the deceased as a beneficiary, namely: • discretionary trust—where the PRs are aware that the deceased was a member of a class of potential beneficiaries (or had a non-qualifying interest in possession in a trust) they should notify the trustees of the death. The trustees may request the return of trust property used by the deceased. As the deceased had no interest

Pay As You Earn and Self Assessment HM Revenue and Customs BX9 1AS [enter date] Dear HMRC The late [name of deceased] National Insurance

Inheritance Tax HM Revenue and Customs BX9 1HT [enter date] Dear HMRC The

[enter name of creditor] [enter address of creditor] Dear [enter organisation or contact name] The late [enter name of deceased]—[enter details of the

[enter name of the insurer] [enter address of the insurer] [enter date] Dear [enter organisation name] The late [enter name of deceased] Policy number [enter policy number] We are instructed by the personal representatives of the above named deceased individual [also

Estate of [insert name of deceased] Clients: [insert names of executors/administrators] File ref: [insert file ref] The information contained in this questionnaire is required in connection with the application for the grant of representation. Please complete it as far as you are able and also collect together the death certificate with any papers and passbooks as requested in the questionnaire. A Personal details of the deceased Copy death certificate provided YES / NO 1 Enter the title (Mr, Mrs, etc) and any professional title (eg Dr) 1.1 Enter the deceased's full name 1.2 Enter any other name or names that they were known by 2 Occupation of deceased 2.1 Was the deceased retired? YES / NO 2.2 National Insurance number 2.3 Unique taxpayer reference, please include income tax papers 3 A Enter the address of nursing home or care home (if this was the last address of the deceased, otherwise leave blank) 3.1 B Enter the usual address of the deceased 3.2 Is