Help & advice: Inherited a 30ft yacht

[JumbleDuck]

I wouldn't be thinking about dumping it on the marina or dumping it at sea, that's just bad form.

Perhaps, but the OP's father-in-law should have given some though to the disposal of his boat and the OP shouldn't feel too bad about the "do nothing" option. Leaving easily foreseeable problems for the next generation to solve is bad form too.

 

[Yellow Ballad]

Leaving easily foreseeable problems for the next generation to solve is bad form too.

Agreed, however the FIL might have thought there was some value in the boat but either way the op/family is in this situation. Ignoring it will only rack up bills that they could ignore but could cause them a whole lot more trouble, I don't know I've not been in the situation. With a little bit of effort and the offer of a fluent speaker the boat could be sold/ownership transferred with all the proper paperwork. Some person gets their first boat at token price and the op can sleep knowing he's not going to get any bills through the door.

I just don't see why people have to make others clean up their mess (not that I think the op is planning on doing that). Marinas are businesses if they have to start disposing of boats it's going start making it more expensive for everyone, even here in blighty, if it's not a marina it's the local small sailing club. Our kids paying higher council tax bills when the marinas, sailing clubs dump the boats on them when they close, someones gonna pay but hey as long as it's not you eh.

 

[Bru]

Are you quite sure about that? A disclaimer must be made within two years of the testator's death, but I can find anything to say that it must be before probate is granted. Neither can I find anything to say that an executor must contact all beneficiaries before probate/confirmation to check that they will accept their inheritance. Of course I may be missing something - IANAL(TG).

You may well be right!

I'm going by the guidance we've got for executing my mother's estate. It's not as clear as out could be on this!

Looking again, it may be that an inheritance can't be disclaimed after distribution rather than the grant of probate

Still leaves the estate with the problem though and that could get messy

 

[Iain C]

First, sorry for your loss.

And from me it's a +1 for say nothing and run away. Sorry, speed read the thread but is the boat specifically mentioned by name, type and location? In the nicest possible way the boat will be a financial millstone and liability that just gets worse. The boat absolutely won't be the first one in the corner of a yard where the owner stops visiting, the bills go unpaid and the letters unanswered. The yard will take ownership of the boat, sell it on to a new owner as a project, everyone wins.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Agreed, however the FIL might have thought there was some value in the boat but either way the op/family is in this situation. Ignoring it will only rack up bills that they could ignore but could cause them a whole lot more trouble, I don't know I've not been in the situation. With a little bit of effort and the offer of a fluent speaker the boat could be sold/ownership transferred with all the proper paperwork. Some person gets their first boat at token price and the op can sleep knowing he's not going to get any bills through the door.

I agree but ...

I just don't see why people have to make others clean up their mess (not that I think the op is planning on doing that).

... it's not his mess.

 

[JumbleDuck]

You may well be right!

Stranger things have happened. I am an executor at the moment but under Scottish law and I have handed all the work to a solicitor, so my knowledge of the detail sis shakey at best.

Looking again, it may be that an inheritance can't be disclaimed after distribution rather than the grant of probate

Yes, that's what I thought. You can turn everything (not part of your inheritance) down but you can't give it back once your sticky little mitts have been on it.

 

[Tranona]

I do think ebay if your friend here, if it has no valve to yourself then a €1 sale with the understanding the boat is either moved or a mooring contract agreed with the marina. I'm sure if you put it up for €1000 somebody would go for it which would cover your flights and a hotel a couple of times. If somebody had offered me a hurley 30 for a quid whilst I was looking for my first boat, even in Spain even would have jumped at it.

[/QUOTE}
Easy thing to say, but suspect when the reality of what is involved hits you may well change your mind. Just think of the practicalities of taking on a worn out boat that is not seaworthy over 1000 miles from home in a country you know nothing about.

This is not the only boat in a similar situation both in this country and abroad, simply because they are not salvageable unless you are on the spot and have nothing else to do.

 

[<152587>]

First, sorry for your loss.

And from me it's a +1 for say nothing and run away. Sorry, speed read the thread but is the boat specifically mentioned by name, type and location? In the nicest possible way the boat will be a financial millstone and liability that just gets worse. The boat absolutely won't be the first one in the corner of a yard where the owner stops visiting, the bills go unpaid and the letters unanswered. The yard will take ownership of the boat, sell it on to a new owner as a project, everyone wins.

But with all the discussion on here and faceache regarding this matter, the boat can be readily identified. I know the name and it is on SSR so the owners could now be easily traced. Wouldn't be surprised if the marina owners are starting to get the wind up. Far too much been said to take this option.

 

[PaulRainbow]

What a lot of fuss !

The boat is part of the deceased FILs estate. The estate has not assets. So who can the marina send fees to ? You can't invoice a dead man. Just get someone to write a letter to the marina, explaining that the FIL has passed away (no doubt they know that) and that no-one in the family wants the boat, so they can dispose of it as they see fit. No-one can be held liable for any fees.

If you can't speak Spanish, there will be someone here who can translate a letter for you. Didn't someone already offer.

 

[maby]

Wizz, I have PMed you - can you check your mailbox?

 

[Wizz]

Wizz, I have PMed you - can you check your mailbox?

And replied - thank you.

 

[DownWest]

Wiz, I have also PM you re: local interest. included my e-mail for a reply. Couple of people want a look.
DW

 

[Wizz]

Wiz, I have also PM you re: local interest. included my e-mail for a reply. Couple of people want a look.
DW

Sent you a reply - thank you

 

[pandos]

nobody can be forced to act as an executor....there is no legal obligation to carry out duties unless one has accepted the role, either formally or through actions..

If the estate is worthless or nearly so then there is no obligation to do anything,,, let the yard take out a grant of representation and then sell the boat etc if they really want to... or simply seize the boat as being abandoned under the terms of their storage contract.....

as a matter of courtesy and in fairness to the yard and the memory of the deceased, if an executor does take office he could simply write to the yard, send them a copy of the death cert and tell them he has no other estate and that the yard may sell the boat to recover costs and please send any excess to him...

or simply send the a copy of an obituary....

common decency should be observed rather than creating a "hulk with no name"

in reality I suspect the boat could be broken for its scrap value or perhaps a local fisherman would take it and chop the cabin off creating an opentop boat with good stability....

I doubt a skip in Spain is terribly expensive a local building worker with a consaw or a digger would reduce it to its bits rather quickly...

 

[Wizz]

Thanks to you all for your advice and especially to those who expressed an interest or reached out to friends who also expressed an interest.

The great news is that the boat now has a new owner, who intends to fully restore and sail her.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks to you all for your advice and especially to those who expressed an interest or reached out to friends who also expressed an interest.

The great news is that the boat now has a new owner, who intends to fully restore and sail her.

That's good news, thanks for taking the time to update the thread.

 

[JumbleDuck]

That's good news, thanks for taking the time to update the thread.

+1, on both counts.

 

[Bru]

Thanks to you all for your advice and especially to those who expressed an interest or reached out to friends who also expressed an interest.

The great news is that the boat now has a new owner, who intends to fully restore and sail her.

Excellent! A happy outcome

 

[davidej]

Agreed . I assume no money changed hands?

 

[Wizz]

Yes, definitely a good outcome. We wouldn't have abandoned boat for others to deal with, which left transport to UK - at least £4k plus VAT, then potentially £2k to scrap.

Money changing hands - she was sold for £1