It's always a good idea to do a bankruptcy search against creditors and beneficiaries before releasing any money to them. It's a free service that can be performed online here: www.insolvencydirect.bis.gov.uk/eiir Print off the search results and keep a record for your file. If you pay any money to a creditor or beneficiary who is [...]

When should you notify beneficiaries of their inheritance? There is not a right time or a wrong time, but nobody should inherit anything until the grant of probate or letters of administration (where there's no Will) have been issued by the probate registry. It follows then that the most appropriate time to notify beneficiaries of [...]

If the deceased left a valid will appointing executors then possession of the body passes to them. In all other cases the next of kin will take possession. Executors or next of kin will almost always want to carry out the wishes of the deceased unless it is not practical to do so. The will [...]