Copies of wills

carefullycautious

Can anyone at any time obtain copies of wills, or do you have to go to court to prove why you want a copy. I am talking of wills of people who have recently died/and for information only. Not contesting

Errata

Once probate has been granted, wills become public documents. Anyone can obtain a copy of any will (with a few exceptions).

monkeyspanner

If you want certified copies prior to obtaining probate go to any solicitor who should do it for a small charge, you may need ID. If the will is held by the solicitor that drew it up they may well provide certified copies free of charge.

flossy_splodge

Errata wrote: »

Once probate has been granted, wills become public documents. Anyone can obtain a copy of any will (with a few exceptions).

Could you tell me exactly how to do this?
And should one do anything if Probate has been granted to someone who did not bother to do 'listing'?? of all property before getting Probate?
Thanks

Errata

Info on obtaining a copy here http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/willsafterdeath.htm#Getting A Copy of a Will

I'm sorry, I can't answer your question about 'listing'.

dzug1

flossy_splodge wrote: »

Could you tell me exactly how to do this?
And should one do anything if Probate has been granted to someone who did not bother to do 'listing'?? of all property before getting Probate?
Thanks

To get probate they have to list all property - though not necessarily in great detail

monkeyspanner

dzug1 wrote: »

To get probate they have to list all property - though not necessarily in great detail

I think the probate office only get more interested in the detail if you are close to the IHT limit. I was told not to bother informing them unless the figures needed adjusting to near the limit.

Biggles

flossy_splodge wrote: »

And should one do anything if Probate has been granted to someone who did not bother to do 'listing'?? of all property before getting Probate?

If what you are saying is that the executor may not have declared all assets and properties in order to avoid IHT (or possibly to avoid distributing the proceeds?), I imagine HMRC would be very interested (or the Probate Office in the latter case).

Errata

Good grief - I didn't do 'listing' when my ma died. If I'd had to list in detail her collections of Tupperware, tea cloths and balls of knitting wool I would have run away to sea !

Biggles

No, 'listing property' means properties, ie houses etc. That's why I used the phrase 'assets (you must say how much money and the value of any other assets she had) and properties'.

zzzLazyDaisy

A couple of questions, obviously you don't have to answer, but it might help to address your problem....

Are you a beneficiary?

If all assets and properties are listed as required, do you believe the total value of the estate exceed £350,000?