Money found in the loft

stebiz

GDB2222 wrote: »

No, the old lady's estate is the owner. As to ownership, when did the lady move in, when were these notes printed, etc?

But it still doesn't make it her money?? A Nephew may have lived with her for 2 weeks in 1992 and he died. A neighbour may have asked her to look after the cash and died. Her husband may have been an armed robber and they kept it locked away!!! Unlikely I agree. But also unlikely the money will go to the person it was intended for??

Purpletopaz

I dont think they put death certs in HIPS, We didnt in my mums and she died this year! It has nothing to do with the people buying the house what the person died of! The exector would be responsible for the HIPS , Is this for real? doesnt ring true!

noh

purpletopaz wrote: »

I dont think they put death certs in HIPS, We didnt in my mums and she died this year! It has nothing to do with the people buying the house what the person died of! The exector would be responsible for the HIPS , Is this for real? doesnt ring true!

The death certificate reffered to does not state what the person died of.
It is a Certified Copy of an Entry in the Register of Deaths. It is quite likely to be included in the HIP of a house being sold by executors.

You are thinking of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death which of course would not be in the HIP.

temba

Wow, what an interesting debate. Though I respect every opinion on here, I personally couldn't keep the money, and would probably quite enjoy the whole research aspect of finding out about the lady and her heirs and returning the money to them. That is just my opinion.

That said, I must tell the story about my Grandad who spent years stashing money all over his house. We moved him to be nearer us and as he was totally with it, we think (though really we don't know) that he moved all his money from his home of 60 years to his new home. Then, sadly, he died, only 8 months after moving, and since he died we have found £1000s stashed in his new home - in teapots, under floorboards and in all sorts of secret cubby holes. We are terrified to sell the house in case there is more.

One thing I am certain of is this: My Grandad worked his butt off his whole life earning a smallish wage and supporting a family. He was honest and hardworking, and saved so that he would never be a burdon on his family. He watched his children suffer their own financial hardships, and it was with pride that he was able to help out, or at least take us out for the odd meal when noone else had any spare cash. He was not a rich man, but he worked hard and saved hard. There is no way he would have intended for his money to go to the well-meaning stranger who ends up living in his house and there would have been nothing that would have made him happier than to know that his hard earned cash helped his family out after he was gone. Also, I'm sure he never meant to leave all that cash hidden, if only he'd known he was going to suddenly die.

A moral dilemma indeed, but I must say I wouldn't have a dilemma in knowing what to do!

Zack1

Interesting thread, I'm posting to subscribe.

One suggestion.... Bet365.... place 8k on some of your favourite teams, if they win, hand it in and keep the profit, if they don't then use it to cover your losses (Inspired by me sending this to a friend who said "8k on black" :rotfl:)

To add my serious view.... if it was less then I'd keep it, but at 8k I'd probably feel guilty. Would depend how well off I am too. If 8k would make a massive difference to my life (like right now! ) then possibly, if I was as rich as Roman Abramovich there would be no need to keep it and then I'd hand it in!

googler

stebiz wrote: »

As a Metal Detectorist who often finds valuable items, I would think it would fall into the Treasure Act (1996). If it is not over 300 years old (which it obviously isn't) then it would be split between the finder (your mate) and the land owner (your mate).

I'd be made up and would certainly keep it.

Stebiz

Have you ever found metal items when you've been detecting in someone's attic?

As the poster immed following you said, there's a world of difference between coming across something abandoned or 'lost' on public land - the beach, open countryside etc. - and finding something in an attic which CLEARLY belonged to someone easily identifiable, i.e. the previous owner (or their estate), another prior owner, or friends/associates of same.

zet_2

A lot of people have being talking about the morality of keeping the money or not. Or whether one should inform the powers that be.

However, what is the legal situation?

When you buy a house freehold, are you not buying everything including any left possessions?

Are you legally required to do anything?

stebiz

googler wrote: »

Have you ever found metal items when you've been detecting in someone's attic?

As the poster immed following you said, there's a world of difference between coming across something abandoned or 'lost' on public land - the beach, open countryside etc. - and finding something in an attic which CLEARLY belonged to someone easily identifiable, i.e. the previous owner (or their estate), another prior owner, or friends/associates of same.

No, don't often detect in attics;):D Seriously though, if you found a bag of 'asbestos' do you think the estate would want to know then?? No. I'm not really 100% sure of the law but my feelings would be. Keep it.

Stebiz

ceridwen

Just off to read this thread right through

- hoping that your friend has "done the right thing" and handed this money to the executors of the Estate of the previous owner....as its clearly been put there for safety by the previous owner and they werent able to "retrieve" it in time before they died. It wouldnt be fair if your friend tried to benefit from someone else's misfortune - if he did...then I would obviously question whether I wanted that sort of person as a friend myself..

EDIT; If your friend got questioned to see if this money was the "proceeds of a crime" - then the bank would be on exactly the right track....as thats exactly what it WOULD be if he kept it.

ceridwen

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Nobody still alive is going to have forgotten stashing eight grand in the loft

Nobody - whether dead or alive - is going to have forgotten putting that money there. But if they had dementia prior to dying then it would have slipped their mind for that period of time.

And...actually....now they are definitely "in their right mind" again (ie because they're now dead) then I'm guessing they are watching proceedings and hoping that their money goes to whatever people or charity they themselves decided it will go - ie not the subsequent owner of their house.

Well.....your "friend" will know why if he notices any odd goings-on in his house. Personally - I wouldnt want to take the risk of the deceased owner of the house deciding to find out what ways they could to "get their own back" - ie poltergeist type activity.....and nope I'm not joking....as its exactly what I would do myself if I were the deceased person concerned....until the money got handed over to the owner/s I had decided on.

....just got these visions now of sitting there in "heaven" thinking "oh...nearly forgot ...its my 5pm appointment time for today.....time to go and smash up a few lightbulbs/move heavy furniture around/etc back at my old house...as they still havent handed over my money yet...."grin....