Overview

When the personal representatives (or their professional advisers) have been through the deceased’s paperwork and have identified the institutions that may hold assets on behalf of the deceased, the next stage is to write to those institutions to notify them of the death, and to obtain details and asset values as at the date of death. There may also be liabilities of the estate which also must be valued as at the date of death. This guidance note will identify the information that should be requested from the institutions and provide sample letters.

Prior to reading this guidance note, reference should be made to the IHT principles of valuation set out in detail in the Valuation of property guidance note. The personal representatives must identify the open market value of the assets at all times, as defined in IHTA 1984, s 160. This is the price the asset might reasonably be expected to fetch if sold in the open market immediately before the deceased died. The basis for valuation may be modified in certain circumstances, eg where related property is found.

In addition, a discount may be applied to the open market value