Catherine O’Hara’s recent death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and fans alike. 

For many, she will be remembered as Kate McAllister, the panicked yet determined mother racing home to her son Kevin in Home Alone. That role and her real‑life passing offer a timely reminder of how, when someone dies, those left behind must navigate a complex legal and administrative journey. In England and Wales, this is known as estate administration, the structured, legally governed process of gathering someone’s assets, paying debts and taxes and distributing what remains to beneficiaries.

What is estate administration?

Estate administration is the term for dealing with someone’s affairs after they have died. It includes:

• Locating the Will (if any)
• Identifying the correct personal representatives (executors or administrators)
• Applying for a Grant of Representation (if required)
• Valuing, collecting and managing the estate’s assets
• Settling debts, liabilities and taxes
• Distributing the estate to beneficiaries

Even with a simple estate, this is typically a long process, often taking many months. With property, multiple bank accounts or complex family structures, the timeline can stretch significantly.

Step one: confirming the will and identifying the personal representatives

If there is a valid Will, it would typically name executors responsible for administering an estate. If there is no Will, the role falls instead to administrators, appointed under the statutory rules of intestacy.

This early stage sets the tone for the entire administration process:

• If the Will is clear and up to date → smoother administration
• If the Will is missing, disputed or outdated → delays and increased cost
• If there is no Will → the intestacy rules dictate who benefits, not the family

A well drafted and accessible Will prevents families from being left in a real-life version of Home Alone: confused, unprepared and scrambling.

Step two: establishing the estate’s value

Before any application for a Grant of Representation can be made, the personal representatives must value the estate.

This includes:

• Property valuation
• Bank accounts, savings and investments
• Pensions and life insurance
• Vehicles, jewellery and personal belongings
• Digital assets
• Debts and outstanding liabilities

This task is often underestimated. Delays can occur if assets are difficult to trace or if the deceased kept poor records; another reason planning ahead is so important.

Step three: Inheritance Tax (IHT) and reporting to HMRC

Inheritance Tax may be payable depending on:

• The total value of the estate
• Available allowances
• Gifts made during the last seven years
• Whether assets pass to a spouse or civil partner

IHT must be assessed, reported and paid before a Grant of Representation can be issued.

Step four: applying for the Grant of Representation

The grant is the formal legal document that authorises the personal representatives to deal with the estate.

• With a Will → Grant of Probate
• With a Will but no executors appointed or acting → Grant of Letters of Administration with Will Annexed
• Without a Will → Grant of Letters of Administration

Recent years have seen variable processing times, with many families waiting eight to sixteen weeks or longer, depending on complexity and volume.

Nothing substantive, such as property sales, account closures and investment encashments (depending on the values involved) can happen until the grant is issued.

Step five: collecting in the assets

Once the Grant is obtained, the real administrative work begins:

• Closing bank accounts
• Selling or transferring shares and investments
• Redeeming pensions and life insurance
• Selling property where required
• Identifying and paying liabilities
• Settling final utility bills and ongoing costs

This is often the longest phase of administration and requires meticulous record‑keeping, as executors or administrators are personally accountable for mistakes.

Step six: final accounts and distribution to beneficiaries

The final stage involves preparing estate accounts, which must detail:

• All money in and out
• IHT payments
• Assets realised
• Executor expenses
• Distribution calculations

Only once beneficiaries approve these accounts should the estate be distributed.

If the estate is complex or a beneficiary is vulnerable or unable to manage large sums, a trust may be recommended.

Why O’Hara’s story is a useful reminder

O’Hara’s story reminds us that:

• Life can change without warning
• Loved ones are left to unravel our financial and legal affairs
• The process is far easier when there is clear planning
• A well‑drafted will and organised records spare families confusion

Estate administration is a structured, sometimes demanding process, but with the right preparation, it can be completed efficiently and respectfully. 

For more information

For further support or advice with estate administration, please contact me.