Probate House Insurance
Specialist home insurance for properties going through the probate process
Probate House Insurance
Do you have property that is going through the probate process? If so, can we start by saying we are sorry for your loss. If you are now looking at insurance on the probate property, a standard home insurance policy may not give you the protection you need. Probate house insurance will give you full cover for as long as you need it, which means you’ll have one less thing to worry about.
What is Probate Insurance?
Probate house insurance is a specialist form of home insurance for properties that are going through the probate process.
What Does Probate Insurance Cover?
Probate insurance will cover a property and its contents for any damages that may occur while it is unoccupied.
Most probate house insurance policies will include cover for:
- Repairs following fire, lightning, explosions, and other damage.
- Emergency repairs for burst pipes, or for broken windows and locks.
- Legal liabilities, such as if a member of the public has an accident while on or in the vicinity of the property.
- Contents, up to a certain limit.
A probate home insurance policy may also provide cover for subsidence, theft, vandalism, and damages by other external factors, such as vehicles. However, you may need to choose an extended probate home insurance policy to get this full cover.
A probate house insurance policy may require you to periodically inspect the property, to ensure there have been no break-ins or accidents. Depending on the insurer, you may have to inspect the property once a week, or once every 30 days.
Do I Need Probate Insurance?
Only a dedicated probate home insurance policy will give you the peace of mind that the property and its contents will be fully covered for the entire probate process.
It is very likely that the property will be unoccupied throughout the probate process. And when a property is unoccupied, it may be more vulnerable to fire, flood, break-ins, and other disasters. Also, if the property is unoccupied, it could be ages before anyone notices that anything’s gone wrong. This means that small problems could easily grow into huge disasters.
A standard home insurance policy may offer up to 30 days of cover after a person has passed away. But as we’ve seen, the probate process can take months. So even if the deceased has a home insurance policy, which is no guarantee, it is unlikely to cover the property for the entire probate period.
Plus, most home insurance policies are voided if the home is left unoccupied for a certain period of time. Some home insurance policies will be voided if the home’s unoccupied for more than 60 days. But others will be voided if the home’s unoccupied for as little as 30 days.
Do I Need Probate House Insurance If the Property is Occupied?
If the house was in the deceased’s name, then you may still need to take out a probate insurance policy. As we mentioned above, there are limits to the amount of cover a standard home insurance policy will provide, even if the house remains occupied. However, ensuring that the house is occupied throughout the probate process may reduce the cost of your probate home insurance policy.
Do I Need Probate Insurance If I Have Inherited the Home?
Beneficiaries of a will are not allowed to access anything they have inherited until the probate process is complete. So, if you have inherited a house, you will not be able to do anything with your inherited property until the entire will has been settled.
If you are already living in the property you have inherited, you may not be able to take out a home insurance policy in your name until probate is complete. As a result, you should consider a probate home insurance policy to cover your inherited property for as long as it takes to settle the deceased’s estate.
The good news is that some insurers will allow you to transfer their probate home insurance policy to a standard home insurance policy once probate is complete.
Get Tailored Probate House Insurance Services From Anthony Jones
We understand how stressful it can be to ensure that everything is in order following a bereavement. We’re here to make everything as easy as possible.
If you have any questions about keeping your property safe, or if you want a free quote on probate house insurance, get in touch by calling 0208 290 7776 or emailing personal@anthonyjones.com.
Need more
information?
If you’d like to find out more about probate house insurance, please call Claire Farmer on 0208 290 7776 who can give you the help you need and get you a quote. Alternatively, email us at personal@anthonyjones.com
I have been your customer for ages and ages. You have always supported me whenever I needed your help and insurance is easy peasy because you are experts. Thank you for all you do.
Wendy Plant
FAQ’s
When might I need High Net Worth insurance rather than a standard Home insurance policy?
If you have personal assets (excluding the value of your home) over £100,000, it’s likely that a High Net Worth insurance product would give you better protection than a standard Home insurance policy. This is particularly true if you have a number of high value items in your home, such as a jewellery or watch collection, antiques or a classic car.
HNW insurance tends to have higher sum insured limits overall as well as higher limits for individual items of particular value.
Can I cancel my temporary car insurance?
You can cancel your policy at any time but due to the short nature of this policy there will be no refund of premium. For learner policies of less than one month an administrative charge of no less than £25 will apply.
Policies with a duration of more than one month can be cancelled and a refund will be given less a charge for the days cover has been provided. A minimum administration charge of £25 will also apply.
What type of driver's licence do I need for temporary car insurance?
To take out temporary car insurance you will need a full UK licence or EU/EEA licence. For Learner Driver insurance you will need a UK provisional licence.
Can I buy temporary car insurance to export a vehicle outside of the UK?
No. Under the cover that the insurer provides, all journeys must begin and end in the UK.
Can I buy temporary car insurance to retrieve an impounded vehicle?
No. Our insurance cannot be used on vehicles that have been seized, impounded, or taken by the police.
How much does one day car insurance cost?
The price of one day car insurance varies depending on a number of factors. These include the value of the car, where you keep it, and what you do for a job.
Can I get temporary car insurance to cover me for my practical driving test?
Yes, subject to meeting the assumptions and eligibility criteria for the insurer.
Can I get temporary car insurance to cover my SORN vehicle?
As long as your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition, and you either have tax or will tax the vehicle with our insurance certificate, you can insure your vehicle for this purpose. The vehicle must have a current MOT or you must have a pre-booked MOT appointment to attend whilst insured with us for the insurance to be valid.
Can I take out temporary car insurance to insure a car that doesn't belong to me?
Yes - you can insure a car that doesn't belong to you. But you must have the owner's permission to use the vehicle before purchasing a policy.
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