Cracking Probate Application Forms

It has been all go today. Dave of D J B Plumbing spent the morning replacing our ailing macerator. Phone conversations with first Nick, then Max, of Peacock Computers revealed that they have found a fast fibre Broadband supplier for me. This will mean cancelling my BT account once it has been installed.

Before lunch I completed the clearance of the dressing room, but for 3 items the men will move tomorrow. When used as a little sitting room it will offer this view of the garden.

When I tried to pay Dave on line I received a message stating that the service was not available and that I should try again later. When I did I was told that there was no match between the name and the bank details. I rang Dave to confirm I had the correct details. Dave confirmed their (WP underlined their in red – again) accuracy. I tried again and it worked.

Elizabeth visited again, bringing cake and a determination to crack the Probate Application forms problem.

She hit the same buffers as I had. This was simultaneously reassuring and rant-inducing.

Eventually we settled for printing out the forms for me and Joseph to complete by hand. There were pages numbered 18 and 20 and an unnumbered one entitled Legal Statement. There was no number 19. This caused considerable confusion until I realised that this statement was probably number 19. The introduction had mentioned that the first set of forms was 26 pages long. After number 20 there was no 21. But there were 6 pages (numbered 1-6) of Equality and Diversity questions.

The second set of 8 pages is the Return of Estate information, for tax purposes. This exhausted my current pack of plain printing paper – it was a piece of good luck that I held just enough for these.

This evening we dined on a thick cheese, black pepper and onion omelette and oven chips followed by pumpkin pie, with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Montaria.

68 comments

  1. I’m sorry that the probate process is such a nightmare. My sister has a lawyer handling my mother’s estate because we couldn’t deal with all the complications. My mom had very little by the time she entered the nursing home. (Also a necessity to receive Medicaid.)

  2. Always the paperwork, right? Such a mess but once it’s complete your done. I hope you can get the fast fibre, or Fiber as we spell it, ran to your home, Derrick. It’s so nice to have a fast internet link.

  3. Glad to hear that different projects are coming together, even though the paths have been very bumpy at times. And as John said, you will enjoy the high speed connection.

  4. I hope this is it and you’ve finally have got it sorted! What a nightmare… all those pages!

    I’m always surprised that everyone is expected to have a passport or a driving licence when clearly everyone does not.

    A simpler way would be to issue identity cards to prove who we are. If a passport or a driving licence proves our identity for legal purposes, then surely an identity card could do the same.

    Similarly we are sometimes expected to provide a utility bill, which is another pointless request if the bills aren’t in our name.

    I hope the remainder of the week runs smoother for you.

  5. UGHS on all the forms, etc! 🙁 You’ll get it all done eventually! Did having cake AND pie in the house help? I would think so! 😛
    But, sounds like a lot of important work getting done!
    (((HUGS))) for the UGHS!!! 🙂

  6. After viewing all your problems with the probate forms, I am indeed feeling more fortunate that my 2 younger siblings were left in charge of my Dad’s estate …

  7. I abhor paperwork of any sort. The only thing worse is paperwork that isn’t on paper, but on a computer. Have another piece of that pumpkin pie, and relax!

  8. How lovely to have an upstairs sitting room! I recently visited a friend in Canterbury and she had an upstairs sitting-room with a view. I hope you get those awful probate forms finished soon. I agree with Jill – it’s bad enough having recently lost a loved-one without all this extra hassle. We have had fast-fibre broadband for a while and it’s good!

  9. Matters of law have always been a complicated lot, courtesy the legal fraternity. But the coding junta has surpassed every stream of science and art in convolution and brinkmanship, not to speak of incompetence and inherent usuriousness. Combine these two and even Hell pales to insignificance in their conjoined might of tormenting the end users.

  10. It sounds like you are doing a good job with the forms and not letting them make you crazy. Some day, you will be finished with the process. I love the view from the window offering respite.

  11. This is a far from easy time for you, both on the legal and home renovation fronts. Compensations there always are: Elizabeth to share sibling frustration, the prospect of a pleasant ‘room with a view’, cake, what sounds like a delicious meal rounded off with an apt dessert, and being with people who mean a lot to you.

  12. Unbelievable about the probate forms but thank goodness you’ve cracked them! Good news about the broadband too. Good luck today!

  13. Good for Elizabeth! She obviously has more patience than I do.
    Those 3 pieces of furniture look like antiques, what will be done with them?

  14. After such a frustrating day, I hope the Montana brought thoughts of friends who love you – and smiles of remembrance… and I hope today will be a better day with less hassle!

  15. I am glad your computer issues are in the process of being resolved, Derrick, but completing probate forms seems like a tedious and daunting process to me. I can only wish you luck!

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