I am helping a friend of the family here in Gipuzkoa and I need some non legal jargon help.

The families young son died 12 months ago. He was Spainish but had been working in the UK when he became ill. He returned to Spain where sadly he died leaving no will.

He had some money in a UK bank and the family would like to reclaim that money.

Rather than go through a UK solicitor I would like to help the family myself. I?ve spoken to HMRC who`ve said the family need the Spainish equivilant of “Letters of Administration”. The family has a “declaraci?n de herederos”. Is this the same thing?

Do we now need a form from HMRC? A UK Grant of Probate? Any idea which one in this circumstance? I can supply more info if required.

Thank you for your time and help.

T.

In circumstances like this you are doing your friends no favours at all by attempting to get the required information by way of an internet bulletin board.

What is the reason for excluding the UK lawyer?

My reason for using this board is that the contributors in the past have been more that helpful to me about a wide range of topics, and as you will have probably noticed one of sub-headings in this section is “Wills”.

This is a legal issue, one which I know nothing about. The HMRC have said a non professional could assist thus avoiding hefty UK solicitors fees.

Why do you say I am doing my friends no favours?

T.

phlaaps - 18 March 2011 08:04 PM

My reason for using this board is that the contributors in the past have been more that helpful to me about a wide range of topics, and as you will have probably noticed one of sub-headings in this section is “Wills”.

This is a legal issue, one which I know nothing about. The HMRC have said a non professional could assist thus avoiding hefty UK solicitors fees.

Why do you say I am doing my friends no favours?

T.

Well, when it comes to documentation regarding wills don’t you think involving a lawyer in the UK will take all the guesswork out of the situation? I wouldn’t cost that much either.

I had to organise a ‘will of probate’ some years ago when buying some land and letting the lawyers handle it was the only way forward as I saw it because there are certain things that can be done on your own but dealing with a deceased’s estate has to be done properly and with a lawyer you have recourse if it later gets challenged, for example.

Why don’t you simply ask a uk lawyer for a quote?

Ian I really appreciate your concern regarding this matter, however what I am looking for at this time is specific advice from contributors in direct relation to my original post.

Thanks.

T.