Since I lived abroad at the time a family member did Intestate, I employed a solicitor to do everything for Probate. All the contents of the house had to be valued before anyone could touch anything ...and eventually I was allowed to distribute the contents to museums for his specific interest, and others I think he would have approved of. Since my husband back in Europe had Parkinson's and dementia I then had to go back and forth every 4 weeks and had to put him into care …..he died last year so I then had all our house to sort out along with European bureaucracy ..which was fun ! (not !) ….at last, after more than 2 and a half years during which I sold two houses and cleared both with the help of very good friends I can at last see the end of the tunnel. I will not sign up to give Charities money, but will make a financial donation as a one off. If they try to get me to sign my answer will be, as usual ...its cash or nothing (never sure where the cash will go, though !) Everyone should make a Will preferably with a Solicitor (I have no association with any Solicitor, so its not an ad ..although I did work in Probate many years ago
Last weekend, in Rutland, the first statue in Britain of the late Elizabeth II was unveiled.