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Family Far Away and Overseas

If you're living overseas or far away, it's not practical to be travelling back and forward for months on end to try and sort out a relative's home and possessions. 

I am based in Ross-shire and cover the local and wider Highland area.  I can be your helper on the ground,  dealing with whatever needs dealt with, and reporting back to you as I proceed. The kind of things you might need me to do are-

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photographing or filming  items in the deceased’s home so that you can decide what you wish to keep and what to dispose of

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           reading utility meters, emptying the fridge and freezer, putting out the wheelie bin, watering plants

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collecting and organising paperwork to ensure that everything is in order for the solicitor to proceed

 

ensuring family papers and documents are identified and kept safely

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checking through clothes and personal items to make sure nothing of value is lost or disposed of

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ensuring jewellery or valuables are accounted for and put in a place of safekeeping

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identifying specific items that are bequeathed to specific people

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returning disabled living aids and medication to social services

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organising house clearance, sale of furniture, cleaning, repairs

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arranging packing and transport for items going to storage or for sale/ disposal

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-anything that helps you move forward and obtain closure.

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Care Home

 

If the deceased has been living in a care home,  it is likely that their room will have to be cleared and emptied in a matter of days.    Often it'll be before the funeral has even taken place, which is upsetting and  difficult to arrange when you're grieving and have so many other things to think about.

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I will relieve you of the burden of clearing your loved one’s room, doing so with dignity and respect, ensuring all possessions are packed and stored until you can face sorting through everything and deciding what to do with their belongings.  This allows the bereaved family time to grieve and come to terms with their loss. 

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Lack of Time

 

We are all time-poor.  Everyone leads a busy life and has their own commitments and priorities.  Whether it’s work, caring responsibilities, studies -  there is a limit to how much anyone can do.

Not everyone can take time off work or time away from their every day life to organise and 

rationalise a relative’s personal effects.

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I will be your extra pair of hands: 

collating and organising paperwork to ensure that everything is in order for the solicitor to proceed 

ensuring family papers and documents are identified and kept safely

checking through clothes and personal items to make sure nothing of value is lost or disposed of

photographing items in the deceased’s home so that family far away can decide what they wish to keep

ensuring jewellery or valuables are found and put in a place of safekeeping

identifying specific items that are willed to specific people

returning disabled living aids to social services

reading utility meters, emptying the fridge and freezer, putting out the wheelie bin

making the house presentable for showing to prospective buyers

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-in fact anything that helps smooth the way for the bereaved family and the legal professionals involved.  

 

Family Quarrels

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Families fall out.  It’s part of life and when someone dies, it can bring out the worst in people. Old rivalries and past disagreements resurface, making it difficult to progress, or make decisions.  Squabbles over minor matters can cause delay and prolong the amount of time it takes to reach a conclusion.  

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Remaining independent I work to the executor’s instructions.   With my help to  co-ordinate matters, arguments  and unpleasantness can be avoided; belongings and valuables sorted; any paperwork can be gathered and organised, all done with  tact and efficiency.  I'm like a silent friend offering an extra pair of hands.

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Feeling Overwhelmed

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Illness, disability, age or having too much on your plate - all these things make it even harder to cope when someone dies.  It can be completely overwhelming and you don’t know where to start.  

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I will discuss with you what you would like me to do with your loved one’s possessions.   I will follow your wishes and instructions.  

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I can help you in each of these situations, easing the burden on you and getting things dealt with discreetly and efficiently. 

Please get in touch and find out how I can help you.

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