How can I find the solicitor dealing with my Grandads death?

EmmaKay_2

Hi All,

I dont know if anyone can help me but I thought I would try here anyway.

My Mum received a phone from her sister to inform her that her Dad had passed away. There is a lot of history with the family and contact has been on and off. Her sister told her that she wouldnt have anything to do with it and wouldnt tell my Mum who her Dads solicitor was.

My Mum is understandably upset at her fathers death especially as she still had questions she would have liked answered. Is there anyway we can find out who the solicitor asking for him is?

I know this is a long shot but thought someone might have some knowledge of this. I would do anything to help my Mum get some closure over the whole situation.

Many Thanks
E
x

birkee

As a child of the deceased, there should be some communication from the Solicitor dealing with it to advise you that he is doing so.
I think he has a duty to do so, but I stand to be corrected.
He will have to notify her if she is a beneficiary in her Dad's will, or is it a probate estate? Probate means all beneficiary's get equal shares anyway.

EmmaKay_2

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I was hoping that would be the case. If it is it will make things a lot easier for my Mum.
x

Mrs_P_Pincher

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but the solicitor will be under no obligation to contact anyone who is not either an executor or a beneficiary, because he won't need to for the purposes of doing his job.

If you have any ideas who the solicitor might be, eg small town, only two solicitors, or Grandad always used the same solicitors, you might make some phone calls, but otherwise you might want to consider whether it would be appropriate for your mother to enter a caveat. It's a bit heavy handed, but not expensive if you do it yourselves, and it would flush the solicitors out.

http://www.charlesrussell.co.uk/UserFiles/file/pdf/Trust%20&%20Fiduciary%20Disputes/T&FDEntering_a_Caveat_at_the_Probate_Registry_-_March_2009.pdf



Mrs P P

greenval

Birkee mentioned a 'probate 'estate. A grant of probate is taken out where there is a will. This can be done by a solicitor but doesn't have to be. If the sister was the executor for example she could apply for probate herself.
If there is no will i.e. an 'intestacy' then 'Letters of Administration' would be applied for and beneficiaries , for example children of the deceased would generally share the estate equally assuming we are talking about the death of a sole surviving parent, i.e. no spouse.

Mojisola

If there is a will and your mother is a beneficiary, the executor will have to contact her. If she is not mentioned in the will, there's no reason to contact her.

If there is no will then your mother will definitely be a beneficiary, if there is anything to distribute.

If you want to know about the funeral, phone around the funeral directors to find out which of them has been asked to make the arrangements.

For the solicitor - follow Mrs P's advice.

LillythePink

Who says that there even has to be a solicitor involved? She may have said it to throw people off guard

mrcow

If your Grandad died in hospital then it may be easier to work out the hospital that he died in. They should have details of which funeral home he was sent to and from there, you should be able to get a name and address of a solicitor. Your Mum may need to prove who she is in order for them to release such information, but it's easier than trying to find a needle in a haystack of solicitors that may or may not be dealing with his estate.

birkee

[QUOTE=Mojisola;42339398]If there is a will and your mother is a beneficiary, the executor will have to contact her. If she is not mentioned in the will, there's no reason to contact her.

If there is no will then your mother will definitely be a beneficiary, if there is anything to distribute.

If you want to know about the funeral, phone around the funeral directors to find out which of them has been asked to make the arrangements.

For the solicitor - follow Mrs P's advice.[/QUOTE]

And no reason for her to contact the Solicitor.

Good tip on the funeral directors though.

EmmaKay_2

Thanks to everyone for their replies.

Unfortunately there is a lot of history that I cant go into here regarding the need to find out the solicitors.

We have tried contacting the hospital but they say the next of kin is dealing with it and they cant disclose any information to other relatives.

Not sure what to do now as it is in a large city so there are lots of funeral homes.

I appreciate everyones time and thoughts
Emma
x

Rach39

Long shot maybe but check the local paper death notices - sometimes the funeral director is mentioned in one. If the Estate goes through Probate the Grant will become a public document available from the Probate Registry. It will contain the nameof the Solicitor, the name of the Executor(s) and will have a copy of the will annexed. Grants cannot be granted until a minimum of 21 days after death and often are not available till much later as the exact size of the Estate needs to be established before application can be made. If death is recent try the local paper, or the local birth deaths and marriages registry.