How long is it before a will is normally read?

lilmissmup

My grandmother passed away one month ago and the will still hasn't been read.

My uncle has power of attorney and he doesn't get on well with my mother and just worried that he could be hiding who, if anyone, has been left anything.

Does the solicitor have to contact the parties in the will once read or could my uncle just say he will and end up with the lot?

simpywimpy

if its lodged wth a solicitor then they will contact everyone in it if they can. Might be worth phoning a few local ones your grandmother may have used to see if they have a record of her name etc.

The will will have to registered with probate and anyone can write and ask for a copy of it once it goes through.

lilmissmup

She lived in Basingstoke so not that local to me. I don't want to seem as if i am prying but just thought it should be read by now or soon.

I have been told by my mum she did have one. Problem is my mother has mental health issues and can take ages to open post so may miss the hearing anyway!

peardrops_2

I was contacted directly from my grandma's solicitors after the will was read to say I had been left some money. They did this even though the family are all close and in contact. They wrote to my brother aswell.

We had to complete a short form confirming address and name etc and then they sent the cheque.

I think this was about 1½/2 months after Grandma's death.

simpywimpy

I don't think anyone would think you were prying by wanting to know if your mother is mentioned. With your own mothers problems, I think it natural you should want to take care of this matter on her behalf.

Biggles

How do you know the will hasn't been read? Do you know who the executor is? If your uncle was her attorney, it may well be he's the executor.

If the will is held by a solicitor, they will only look at the will if a) they are informed about the death and b) they are the executors.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'miss the hearing', I think that reading the will to an assembled group of family members only happens in Agatha Christie stories. In real life, the executor opens it, reads it (probably on his/her own) and gets on with administering the estate.

lilmissmup

Thanks Biggles.

My first family death so i may be barking up the wrong tree. I just thought my mother would be told when/if its going to be read.

My mum told me Monday it hadn't been read yet, not that she knew off.

carefullycautious

I have recently lost my father and was executor of his will. There is no reading of the will in that everyone mentioned do not have to meet at the solicitors as was the case years ago. I must admit I thought that did happen.

I applied for probate and then started to administer his estate keeping a record of who had what.

It only becomes complicated if someone refuses what they have been left or contests the will. Your brother has up to one year to administer what is left and if he does not do this you can ask for interest to be paid (just remembered there is no interest) anyone who feels they have an interest have 6 months in which to contest (usually only children/partners who are financially dependant)

Hope this helps

RAS

You will only get contacted by a solicitor if they have been appointed executors.

Your mum might be best to ask her brother who are the executors for the will.

We had two who were assigned 30 years previously and it took some months to sort them out.

Then we obtained letters of administration with will jointly as we were the residual beneficiaries.

mercedes125

Can an executer apply for probate then share the money out to the beneficiaries, if not how much would a solicitor charge to do this for you.

Errata

mercedes125 wrote: »

Can an executer apply for probate then share the money out to the beneficiaries, if not how much would a solicitor charge to do this for you.

Yes they can, there's no need to get a solicitor to do the work if it's within the capabilities of the executor(s).