Sir, In her article on inheritance tax (Comment, August 24) Libby Purves says that “a surviving spouse can inherit without tax”.
However, it is still necessary to obtain probate from the Inland Revenue, particularly where financial investments are involved.
In effect, all that is really necessary in such cases is for the will to be officially recognised as a legal document. This could surely be done very simply on oath before a local notary public, who would probably charge about £10, but that is not permitted. Instead, the surviving husband or wife must fill in the appropriate, complex forms from the Inland Revenue giving the details and the value of every asset as on the day of death. But even that is not sufficient: he or she must then attend a meeting, probably miles away, with an officer of the Inland Revenue.
If the husband or wife is personally unable for any reason, probably because of age, to complete the probate process and to deal with other financial matters, then a solicitor is the obvious choice. Unfortunately, on an estate of just, say, £200,000, the cost is likely to be £6,000 plus 17.5 per cent VAT, plus expenses.
Yours sincerely,
W. H. COUSINS,
222 Corbets Tey Road,
Upminster, Essex RM14 2BL.
August 26.