Estate Inventory Document Sources In The United Kingdom
Information Type | Details Usually Provided | Where to Find It | Reliability Level | Practical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
HMRC estate valuation guidance | ||||
Tax, Financial, Property | Explains assets, debts and date-of-death valuation approach for estate reporting. | GOV.UK HMRC guidance pages. | High | Use as framework evidence still needed for each asset and liability. |
Inheritance Tax account IHT400 | ||||
Tax, Financial, Property, Business | Detailed assets, liabilities, gifts, exemptions and relief claims. | Executor files, solicitor papers, HMRC form collection. | High | Shows reported figures, but supporting valuations should be retained. |
Excepted estate Inheritance Tax return | ||||
Tax, Financial, Property | Summary estate values where full IHT400 is not required. | Probate application papers, solicitor file, executor records. | High | May contain less detail than an IHT400 verify individual assets. |
Grant of probate or letters of administration | ||||
Personal Records, Financial | Confirms personal representatives and may show gross and net estate values. | Probate registry, executor papers, GOV.UK probate search. | High | Useful summary only not a full itemised inventory. |
Will and codicils | ||||
Personal Records, Financial, Property, Business | Specific gifts, executors, trustees and clues to assets or business interests. | Home safe, solicitor, bank storage, will storage provider. | Medium | May be outdated and rarely lists all assets. |
Death certificate | ||||
Personal Records | Date of death, identity details and registration information. | Family papers, register office, GRO certificate order service. | High | Establishes valuation date but not assets. |
Marriage or civil partnership certificate | ||||
Personal Records, Tax | Spouse or civil partner identity relevant to exemptions and survivorship checks. | Family records, register office, GRO service. | High | Check separation, divorce or remarriage records where relevant. |
Divorce final order or decree absolute | ||||
Personal Records, Financial, Property | Confirms divorce status and may lead to financial order records. | Court papers, solicitor files, HMCTS copy order service. | High | Financial orders may reveal pensions, property and settlement obligations. |
HM Land Registry title register | ||||
Property | Registered owner, title number, tenure, charges and restrictions. | HM Land Registry online property information service. | High | Confirms ownership but not current market value. |
HM Land Registry title plan | ||||
Property | General boundaries and land included in the registered title. | HM Land Registry property information service. | High | Plans show general boundaries check deeds for detail. |
Unregistered property title deeds | ||||
Property | Historical conveyances, ownership chain, mortgages, easements and covenants. | Home deeds packet, solicitor, lender, bank storage. | High | May require conveyancer review before relying on ownership position. |
District Valuer Services guidance | ||||
Property, Tax | Independent valuation services and valuation support for public sector and tax contexts. | Valuation Office Agency guidance and professional valuation reports. | High | Useful where property value may be scrutinised by HMRC. |
Estate agent market appraisal | ||||
Property | Indicative sale value, comparable sales and local market comments. | Local estate agents, executor correspondence, valuation emails. | Medium | Obtain multiple appraisals not equivalent to formal RICS valuation. |
RICS Red Book valuation report | ||||
Property, Tax | Professional market valuation, assumptions, comparables and valuation date. | Chartered surveyor report, solicitor or executor file. | High | Best for valuable, unusual or disputed property. |
Mortgage redemption statement | ||||
Financial, Property | Outstanding mortgage balance, interest, charges and redemption figure. | Lender, online mortgage account, solicitor or home paperwork. | High | Request balance at date of death, not current balance only. |
Lease or leasehold information pack | ||||
Property, Financial | Lease term, ground rent, service charges and management obligations. | Deeds, managing agent, landlord, solicitor file. | High | Arrears and short lease terms can materially affect value. |
Council tax bill | ||||
Property, Financial | Property address, billing authority, account holder, arrears or credit. | Post, council online account, bank payments, local authority. | Medium | Does not prove ownership check Land Registry or deeds. |
Utility bills and final statements | ||||
Financial, Property | Gas, electricity, water, broadband balances, credits and account numbers. | Post, email, supplier portals, bank statements. | Medium | Final bills may change after meter readings and closure. |
Bank current account statements | ||||
Financial | Balances, transactions, standing orders, direct debits and account numbers. | Paper files, online banking, bank branch, email alerts. | High | Request balance and accrued interest at date of death. |
Savings account statements | ||||
Financial | Account balance, interest, account type and maturity dates. | Bank correspondence, passbooks, online banking, tax certificates. | High | Include accrued interest to date of death where provided. |
Building society passbook | ||||
Financial | Savings balances, transactions and account identifiers. | Home drawers, safe, document box, handbag or wallet. | Medium | Passbook may be outdated confirm with institution. |
Cash found at home | ||||
Financial | Physical sterling or foreign currency held by the deceased. | Wallets, safes, drawers, cupboards, deposit boxes. | Medium | Record count, location, witnesses and exchange rate if foreign currency. |
Credit card statements | ||||
Financial, Digital Records | Outstanding balance, recurring payments, refunds and merchant clues. | Post, email, card provider app, bank direct debits. | High | Check pending transactions, interest and payment protection refunds. |
Personal loan agreement and statement | ||||
Financial | Outstanding loan balance, lender, term, interest and security details. | Loan paperwork, online lender account, bank payments. | High | Ask lender for exact date-of-death settlement balance. |
Overdraft facility records | ||||
Financial | Overdrawn balance, arranged limit, charges and interest. | Current account statements and bank correspondence. | High | Treat overdrawn balances as estate liabilities. |
NS&I Premium Bonds and savings records | ||||
Financial | Premium Bonds, savings certificates, income bonds and account values. | NS&I correspondence, prize notices, online account, tracing request. | High | Check for unclaimed prizes and all NS&I products. |
Investment platform statement | ||||
Financial | Funds, shares, ISAs, cash balances, valuations and account numbers. | Platform portal, emails, annual tax packs, adviser files. | High | Request date-of-death valuation and income accrued but unpaid. |
Share certificates | ||||
Financial, Business | Company name, shareholder name, number and class of shares. | Home files, safe, solicitor, registrar correspondence. | Medium | Confirm current holding with registrar certificates may be obsolete. |
Dividend vouchers and tax statements | ||||
Financial, Tax | Shareholdings, dividends paid, tax year and registrar details. | Post, email, tax files, investment platform documents. | Medium | Shows income, not necessarily full holding at death. |
Share registrar holding statement | ||||
Financial, Business | Registered shareholdings, nominee details, transfers and dividend mandates. | Registrar such as Equiniti, Computershare or Link Group. | High | Useful where paper certificates or old dividend vouchers exist. |
London Stock Exchange historic prices | ||||
Financial, Tax | Quoted share prices around the date of death. | LSE website, broker reports, financial data providers. | High | Use HMRC valuation rules for quoted securities where applicable. |
ISA statements | ||||
Financial, Tax | Cash ISA, stocks and shares ISA, accrued interest and investments. | Bank, platform, provider portal, annual statements. | High | ISA tax status changes after death obtain provider figures. |
Pension scheme statements | ||||
Financial, Tax | Scheme type, death benefits, nominations, fund value and dependants benefits. | Pension provider, employer HR, emails, annual benefit statements. | High | Some pension death benefits fall outside the estate check scheme rules. |
Pension Tracing Service results | ||||
Financial, Personal Records | Contact details for workplace or personal pension providers. | GOV.UK Pension Tracing Service. | Medium | Identifies providers only providers confirm benefits and values. |
DWP State Pension and benefits letters | ||||
Financial, Personal Records | State Pension, benefits, overpayments or arrears due to estate. | Post, online account, bank credits, Tell Us Once follow-up. | High | Check for recoverable overpayments and arrears after death. |
Life insurance policy documents | ||||
Insurance, Financial | Policyholder, sum assured, beneficiaries, trust status and premiums. | Policy schedule, bank payments, insurer emails, adviser files. | High | Policies in trust may not form part of the estate inventory value. |
Home contents insurance schedule | ||||
Insurance, Property | Insured contents value, specified jewellery, art and valuables. | Policy folder, insurer portal, email, broker correspondence. | Medium | Insured value may be replacement value, not probate market value. |
Vehicle V5C log book and insurance | ||||
Property, Insurance | Vehicle details, registered keeper, insurer and policy information. | Vehicle documents, DVLA records, insurer portal, glovebox. | Medium | Registered keeper is not always legal owner check finance agreements. |
Vehicle finance agreement | ||||
Financial, Property | Outstanding finance, ownership terms, settlement figure and vehicle details. | Finance company, bank payments, car purchase file, emails. | High | Hire purchase or PCP may mean the estate does not own the vehicle outright. |
MOT history record | ||||
Property | Vehicle mileage, test history and registration details. | GOV.UK MOT history service using registration number. | Medium | Supports valuation but does not prove ownership. |
Companies House company records | ||||
Business, Financial | Directorships, share capital, filings, accounts and persons with significant control. | Companies House online register. | High | Does not always show exact beneficial ownership or current value. |
Private company register of members | ||||
Business, Financial | Legal shareholders, share classes, transfers and share numbers. | Company statutory books, accountant, company secretary, registered office. | High | Key evidence for private company shares valuation may need accountant. |
Company accounts and management accounts | ||||
Business, Financial, Tax | Assets, liabilities, profit, reserves, director loans and trading position. | Companies House, accountant, accounting software, company files. | Medium | Historic accounts may not show date-of-death market value. |
Partnership agreement | ||||
Business, Financial | Profit shares, capital accounts, death provisions and buyout terms. | Business files, accountant, solicitor, partners. | High | Check whether death triggers automatic transfer or valuation formula. |
Sole trader accounts | ||||
Business, Financial, Tax | Business assets, debts, stock, debtors, creditors and goodwill clues. | Accountant, bookkeeping software, tax files, business premises. | Medium | Stock and equipment may need separate market valuation. |
Self Assessment tax returns | ||||
Tax, Financial, Business | Income sources, rental income, dividends, interest and business profits. | HMRC online account, accountant files, tax software, paper records. | High | Good lead source, but asset capital values are often absent. |
P60, P45 and payslips | ||||
Tax, Financial, Personal Records | Employment income, tax deducted, employer and unpaid salary clues. | Employer payroll, HMRC account, home tax file, emails. | High | Check final salary, bonus, holiday pay and death-in-service benefits. |
HMRC personal tax account | ||||
Tax, Financial, Personal Records | Tax codes, PAYE income, pension income and HMRC correspondence. | HMRC online services, accountant, executor correspondence with HMRC. | High | Access may require executor authority and HMRC bereavement process. |
Tenancy agreements and rental statements | ||||
Property, Financial, Tax | Rental property, tenants, deposits, rent arrears and management fees. | Letting agent, landlord files, emails, bank receipts. | High | Check deposit protection, arrears and landlord liabilities. |
Tenancy deposit scheme record | ||||
Property, Financial | Protected deposit amount, property, tenant and scheme details. | Deposit scheme portal, letting agent, tenancy paperwork. | High | Tenant deposit is usually a liability, not estate money. |
Funeral invoice and receipt | ||||
Financial | Funeral costs paid or payable by the estate. | Funeral director, family payer, bank records, executor file. | High | Keep receipts and identify who paid before reimbursement. |
Care home or home care invoices | ||||
Financial, Personal Records | Care fee arrears, credits, deposits and local authority contributions. | Care provider, local authority, bank payments, family files. | High | Check final invoice and any deferred payment agreement. |
Local authority deferred payment agreement | ||||
Financial, Property | Care cost debt secured against property and accrued interest. | Local authority adult social care, property title, solicitor file. | High | May create secured estate liability affecting net property value. |
NHS continuing healthcare correspondence | ||||
Financial, Personal Records | Funding decisions, reviews, refunds or care cost liabilities. | NHS integrated care board, care files, family correspondence. | Medium | Potential claims or refunds may be uncertain and slow. |
Jewellery valuation certificate | ||||
Property, Insurance | Description, gemstones, metal, insurance value and photographs. | Insurance file, jeweller, safe, valuation folder. | Medium | Insurance valuation may exceed open market probate value. |
Art, antiques and collectibles appraisal | ||||
Property | Item descriptions, provenance, condition, photographs and estimated value. | Valuer, auction house, insurance schedule, home inventory. | Medium | Use specialist valuation for rare or high-value items. |
Auction house probate valuation | ||||
Property, Financial | Estimated auction values for household contents and collectibles. | Local auctioneer, specialist auction house, executor file. | Medium | Sale proceeds may differ after fees, VAT and market changes. |
Safe deposit box inventory | ||||
Financial, Property, Personal Records | Contents such as documents, jewellery, cash, deeds or certificates. | Bank, private vault provider, key tags, payment records. | Medium | Open with provider procedure and record contents carefully. |
Solicitor client file | ||||
Personal Records, Property, Financial, Business | Will, deeds, trusts, settlements, litigation and asset correspondence. | Known solicitor, successor practice, SRA intervention records. | Medium | File may be archived, incomplete or subject to identity checks. |
Accountant file | ||||
Tax, Financial, Business | Tax returns, accounts, rental schedules, capital gains and business assets. | Accountant, tax software, emails, invoices from accountancy firm. | Medium | Accountant records are strong leads but may rely on client information. |
Financial adviser portfolio file | ||||
Financial, Insurance, Tax | Investments, pensions, insurance policies, risk profile and providers. | Adviser firm, emails, annual review packs, fee statements. | Medium | Confirm values directly with product providers. |
Trust deed and trust accounts | ||||
Financial, Property, Tax | Trust assets, trustees, beneficiaries, powers and tax treatment. | Solicitor, trustees, family papers, accountant. | High | Trust assets may be outside the estate but relevant for IHT. |
Lasting power of attorney records | ||||
Personal Records, Financial, Property | Attorney details and possible prior asset management records. | Office of the Public Guardian, attorney files, solicitor. | Medium | Authority ends on death, but attorney records may identify assets. |
Court of Protection deputyship accounts | ||||
Personal Records, Financial, Property | Annual accounts of assets, income, spending and liabilities. | Deputy, Office of the Public Guardian, solicitor files. | High | Very useful where deceased lacked capacity before death. |
Lifetime gifts schedule | ||||
Tax, Financial, Property | Gifts, dates, recipients, values and exemptions for IHT review. | Bank statements, solicitor files, tax records, family correspondence. | Medium | Review at least seven years and gifts with reservation issues. |
Gift with reservation evidence | ||||
Tax, Property, Financial | Evidence that donor continued to benefit from gifted asset. | Deeds, occupation records, bank payments, family agreements. | Medium | Can bring gifted property back into IHT calculation. |
Foreign bank and property records | ||||
Financial, Property, Tax | Overseas accounts, property, investments, income and local tax liabilities. | Foreign bank papers, local lawyers, tax returns, emails. | Medium | May require local probate, currency conversion and specialist tax advice. |
Cryptocurrency wallet and exchange records | ||||
Digital Records, Financial, Tax | Crypto holdings, wallet addresses, exchange balances and transaction history. | Exchange apps, hardware wallets, seed phrase storage, emails. | Medium | Access depends on private keys preserve devices and recovery phrases. |
Password manager vault | ||||
Digital Records, Financial, Personal Records | Logins for banks, investments, utilities, cloud storage and subscriptions. | Devices, browser extensions, emergency access documents. | Medium | Use only with lawful authority and provider terms. |
Email account records | ||||
Digital Records, Financial, Insurance, Business | Provider notices, statements, policy emails, invoices and online accounts. | Laptop, phone, webmail, family access information. | Low | Useful for leads verify directly with institutions. |
Cloud storage folders | ||||
Digital Records, Personal Records, Financial | Scanned IDs, statements, contracts, tax files and inventories. | Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, devices. | Low | Documents may be drafts or outdated confirm originals or providers. |
Mobile phone and computer apps | ||||
Digital Records, Financial, Personal Records | Banking apps, investment apps, wallets, subscriptions and contacts. | Deceased personu0027s phone, tablet, laptop, backups. | Low | Preserve devices avoid unauthorised access or account changes. |
Online marketplace seller accounts | ||||
Digital Records, Business, Financial | Seller balances, stock, sales, refunds and customer liabilities. | eBay, Amazon, Etsy, PayPal, Stripe, emails. | Medium | Check pending disputes, platform holds and tax reporting. |
PayPal and payment app statements | ||||
Digital Records, Financial, Business | Balances, linked bank accounts, sales receipts and transfers. | Payment apps, emails, bank statement links, marketplace accounts. | High | Request official date-of-death balance from provider where material. |
Subscription and membership accounts | ||||
Digital Records, Financial | Recurring charges, refunds, credits, licences and service commitments. | Bank statements, app stores, email receipts, account portals. | Low | Mainly useful for stopping payments and identifying digital accounts. |
Social media account records | ||||
Digital Records, Personal Records, Business | Business pages, marketplace activity, contacts and stored media. | Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, account emails, devices. | Low | Usually a lead source account access depends on platform rules. |
Private loan notes and IOUs | ||||
Financial, Personal Records | Money owed to or by the deceased, repayment terms and borrower details. | Home papers, emails, messages, bank transfer references. | Low | Enforceability and recoverability may need legal assessment. |
Litigation or compensation claim file | ||||
Financial, Personal Records, Business | Potential claims, settlements, costs liabilities and court orders. | Solicitor, insurer, court papers, emails. | Medium | Value may be contingent and should be recorded separately. |
Individual Insolvency Register search | ||||
Financial, Personal Records | Bankruptcy, debt relief orders or IVAs affecting assets and debts. | GOV.UK Individual Insolvency Register. | High | Insolvency may affect who controls assets and creditor priority. |
Credit reference agency file | ||||
Financial, Personal Records | Loans, credit cards, mortgages, addresses and linked accounts. | Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, executor request processes. | Medium | Good for discovering debts balances must be confirmed with lenders. |
Royal Mail redirection post | ||||
Personal Records, Financial, Insurance, Tax | Incoming statements, demands, policy renewals and asset correspondence. | Redirected post to personal representative or family address. | Low | Discovery tool only verify with original providers. |
Tell Us Once confirmation | ||||
Personal Records, Tax, Financial | Government bodies notified about death, including HMRC, DWP and DVLA. | Registrar information, Tell Us Once reference, executor notes. | High | Notification service, not a full inventory or valuation source. |
Death Notification Service submission | ||||
Financial, Personal Records | Notifies participating banks and financial institutions of death. | Death Notification Service website and confirmation emails. | Medium | Only covers participating organisations still contact known providers. |
My Lost Account search results | ||||
Financial | Possible dormant bank, building society and NS&I accounts. | My Lost Account online tracing service. | Medium | Search result is a lead institution confirms ownership and balance. |
Reclaim Fund and dormant asset information | ||||
Financial | Information on reclaiming dormant account money transferred to scheme. | Original financial institution or Reclaim Fund information. | Medium | Usually start with the bank or provider, not directly with estate inventory. |
Employer benefits and death-in-service records | ||||
Financial, Insurance, Personal Records | Salary due, pension, death-in-service cover and employee benefits. | Employer HR, payroll, benefits portal, employment contract. | High | Death-in-service benefits may be discretionary and outside estate. |
Employment contract | ||||
Personal Records, Financial, Insurance | Employer, benefits, share schemes, bonus, notice and insurance cover. | Home files, work email, HR portal, employer records. | Medium | Terms may have changed verify with employer. |
Employee share scheme statements | ||||
Financial, Tax, Business | Options, restricted shares, SAYE, SIP holdings and tax treatment. | Employer, share plan administrator, payroll, online portal. | High | Death may trigger exercise deadlines or special scheme rules. |
Farm accounts and agricultural property records | ||||
Business, Property, Tax | Land, livestock, machinery, tenancies, subsidies and relief evidence. | Farm office, accountant, land agent, tenancy files. | Medium | Agricultural relief claims need detailed occupation and use evidence. |
Business relief evidence file | ||||
Business, Tax, Financial | Business assets, ownership period, trading status and relief eligibility. | Accountant, company records, partnership documents, tax file. | Medium | Relief depends on facts investment businesses may not qualify. |
Intellectual property registrations and royalty statements | ||||
Business, Financial, Digital Records | Copyright royalties, trademarks, patents, licences and royalty income. | IPO registers, publisher statements, licence agreements, emails. | Medium | Ownership and future income may need specialist valuation. |
UK patent register record | ||||
Business, Financial | Patent owner, application status, renewal history and inventors. | UK Intellectual Property Office patent search. | High | Register confirms rights but not commercial value. |
Domain name registrar account | ||||
Digital Records, Business, Financial | Domain names, renewal dates, website ownership and hosting links. | Registrar emails, hosting account, password manager, WHOIS lookup. | Medium | Valuable domains or income websites may need specialist valuation. |
Family court financial order | ||||
Financial, Personal Records, Property | Maintenance, lump sums, property adjustment and pension sharing obligations. | Court papers, solicitor file, former spouse correspondence. | High | Outstanding obligations or rights may affect estate liabilities. |
Travel, health or accident insurance claim | ||||
Insurance, Financial | Possible claim proceeds, medical costs, repatriation or cancellation refunds. | Policy documents, insurer emails, bank payments, travel files. | Medium | Claim value may be uncertain until insurer accepts liability. |
Prepaid funeral plan | ||||
Financial, Insurance, Personal Records | Plan provider, covered funeral services and unused balance or shortfall. | Plan documents, funeral director, bank payments, provider correspondence. | High | Check FCA-authorised provider and exact services covered. |
Premium Bonds prize history | ||||
Financial | Unclaimed prizes and recent Premium Bonds winnings. | NS&I prize checker, holder number, NS&I correspondence. | High | Prizes due to the deceased may be estate assets. |
Charitable donation and Gift Aid records | ||||
Tax, Financial | Donation history, regular payments and possible legacy intentions. | Bank statements, charity receipts, tax returns, emails. | Medium | May help identify regular gifts and IHT charity legacy issues. |
Purchase receipts for valuables | ||||
Property, Financial, Insurance | Purchase date, item description, price and seller details. | Receipts folder, email, warranty cards, insurance file. | Medium | Purchase price may not equal date-of-death value. |
Warranties and appliance receipts | ||||
Property | Household goods, electronics, purchase dates and possible resale value. | Home files, email receipts, retailer accounts. | Low | Useful only where contents are material or separately gifted. |
Student Loans Company statement | ||||
Financial | Student loan balance and repayment status. | SLC online account, payslips, HMRC records, letters. | High | Most UK student loans are cancelled on death confirm with SLC. |
HMRC Inheritance Tax Manual quoted shares guidance | ||||
Tax, Financial | Technical approach to valuing quoted shares for IHT. | HMRC internal manual on GOV.UK. | High | Use for method obtain market data for actual securities. |
Administration of Estates Act 1925 | ||||
Personal Records, Financial, Property | Legal framework for administration of estates in England and Wales. | Legislation.gov.uk. | High | Legal context only not an asset source. |
Inheritance Tax Act 1984 | ||||
Tax, Financial, Property, Business | Statutory basis for IHT charges, transfers, reliefs and exemptions. | Legislation.gov.uk. | High | Technical legislation use alongside HMRC guidance or advice. |
Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 | ||||
Personal Records, Financial | Rules governing non-contentious probate applications and grants. | Legislation.gov.uk. | High | Procedure source does not identify estate assets itself. |
What Records Are Most Useful For Preparing A UK Estate Inventory?
Start with official and third-party statements: bank, investment, pension, mortgage, Land Registry, insurance and HMRC records are usually the most reliable evidence for an estate inventory. Household paperwork and family notes are useful leads, but should normally be checked against providers or public registers.
Which Values Matter For Probate And Inheritance Tax?
For UK estates, values should normally be gathered at the date of death. Assets and liabilities may need evidence for probate and Inheritance Tax reporting, including bank balances, share prices, property valuations, debts, lifetime gifts and jointly owned assets. HMRC guidance on valuing an estate is a key source: https://www.gov.uk/valuing-estate-of-someone-who-died.
Where Should Personal Representatives Look First?
- Property: Land Registry title registers, mortgage statements, leases, council tax bills and estate agent or RICS valuations.
- Money and investments: bank statements, online accounts, dividend vouchers, investment platform statements and NS&I records.
- Debts: credit card statements, loan agreements, utility bills, HMRC correspondence and funeral invoices.
- Digital and hidden assets: password managers, email accounts, device records, cryptocurrency wallets and online marketplace accounts.
What Cautions Apply When Using These Sources?
Some sources show ownership but not value, while others show value but not legal ownership. Joint accounts, jointly owned property, nominated pensions, trust assets and business interests may need separate treatment. Personal representatives should keep copies of evidence, record assumptions and obtain professional valuations where assets are material, unusual or likely to be challenged.

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