intestate - how do I discover the solicitor ?

pieme

A relation of my mother has recently passed away without leaving a will. My mother is the only surviving relation, but whichever solicitor is dealing with the deceased relatives estate does not know of my mothers existence.
Is there a means by which I can find out which solicitors are dealing with the estate in order to inform them .

Thanks

withabix

You may need to contact the Probate Service in the area where the person died, if you don't know any other info.

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/civil/probate/index.htm

Don't Google for it, because you will get lots of scam websites which aren't the Probate Service.

Do you know which Funeral Director dealt with the funeral? They should know who is dealing with matters as they will be paying the Funeral Director.

The Local Authority (County Council Regstrar's dept) dept will have in info that will start you off (Funeral Director, who registered the death etc)

dzug1

There may be no solicitor if noone has instructed one.

In fact there probably isn't as your mother is the main person authorised to apply to administer the estate.

She should apply herself - either through a solicitor or direct with the probate office. If someone else IS applying that will bring the issue to a head.

monkeyspanner

As dzug1 says if the relative was intestate then a solicitor may well not be involved. However, if the estate is significant one of the companies who search out possible beneficiaries may become involved. If they approach your Mother they will expect a significant slice of the estate (20-30%) for doing no more than you could do yourselves. Try to make sure if this happens she doesn't make an agreement with them without understanding what they will take.

Have a look at this Law Society Gazette article for some background.
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/features/the-controversial-business-tracing-beneficiaries-unclaimed-estates