Parent died how can I see if a will had been left?

scotsbob

The OP may wish to clarify which part of the UK this all refers to.

My understanding is that the children are entitled to one third, irrespective of the wishes of the deceased.

dzug1

Biggles wrote: »

I think - once she has checked out local solicitors, banks etc - your friend can place a newspaper advert in a specified way and, if nobody comes out of the woodwork by a cetain time, then she is covered legally. I'm sure someone who knows more about that procedure wil post here shortly.

She's covered legally as executor/administrator - but not as beneficiary. If a will comes out of the woodwork years later then the estate has to be redistributed in accordance with it. (There must be a time limit to this, but I'm not sure what it is)

dzug1

scotsbob wrote: »

The OP may wish to clarify which part of the UK this all refers to.

My understanding is that the children are entitled to one third, irrespective of the wishes of the deceased.

That's only in Scotland

Savvy_Sue

It is possible that one solicitor would contact all the other local solicitors to see if any of them had ever done a will - I know someone said this used to happen all the time when they worked in a solicitors, and there wasn't a massive charge for it.

scotsbob

dzug1 wrote: »

That's only in Scotland

Indeed, that is why I said in my post that the OP may want to clarify which part of the UK they are referring to.

Thursdays_child_3

It is England that the deceased and the child live.

I have to laugh when I keep refering to my friend as a child, as she is in her sixties!!!!!!!!!! but you know what I mean.

Craftyscholar

Thursdays_child wrote: »

Thank you for your replies.
Biggles you have it spot on, the inlaws cleared the house out as they thought because they had been named as next to kin of the deceased in the hospital it was legal and they were.

Although the hospital asks for 'next of kin' I thought that just meant "who do we contact on your behalf?" i.e. if no immediate/handy family a close friend who you trust to to do the organising rather than the legal inheritor who could be on the other side of the world.

Savvy_Sue

Yes, there is a distinction between the 'next of kin' as named on forms - which is simply who do we get in touch with - and the person who is entitled to inherit in the absence of a will.