Suspect Will.

meg72

My dear Mum passed on last week. I have been shocked to learn that she changed her Will last July and strongly suspect that this maybe a forgery or trickery by a near relative, now a beneficiary.

My problem is who do I go to first, a Solicitor or the Police,
forgery is a crime trickery is not'

I am not anxious to spend uneccessary fees for a Solicitor, any
advice greatly appreciated.

Mojisola

It might be best to get some advice from CAB or AgeUK to see whether it's wise to pursue it.

Tiddlywinks

Why do you think it is suspicious?

Sorry for your loss.

amyloofoo

This is a really difficult situation for you to be in, especially so soon after losing your mum. I think the best thing would be for you to get some impartial advice from somewhere like the CAB. What exactly is making you suspicious of the amendments to the will? Is there some concern in particular or is it just a gut feeling?

Tuesday_Tenor

Who is/are the Executor(s) for the will?

Mojisola

I'm sorry that you've got this worry. My Mum died last week, too, and there's enough going on, emotionally and practically, without being worried about something like this.

meg72

Many thanks for the replies, I didnt think of age concern or Cab.

My concerns regarding the Will are many, the background goes back some 50 years . I cant really post too many details yet as family members also use the site.

I will say intially that apparently my Mum wrote a letter instructing her Solicitor to make amendments. Mum was incapable at that time of doing this herself, she could barely hold a pen, if she signed the actual Will, she wouldnt have been able to read it herself, she could barely see.
The person who wrote the letter for her and who would have had to read the Will to her was the person who is now beneficiary.
The person she has cut out of Will had every right to expect to be included as the house was signed over to her on the understanding that he would be included in her will. I cannot believe that she would have willing, in effect, have robbed him of what was rightfully his.

Mojisola

It does sound as if you need advice.

The solicitor was at fault if he/she didn't make sure that your Mum was capable at the time of the changes.

vax2002

You would have to contest the last will, which would then default to the previous will, you would need testaments from people to say she was not of sound mind at the time of alterations and coerced in to it by the beneficiary.
The precedent for such cases is DR Shipman.

meg72

Mojisola wrote: »

It does sound as if you need advice.

The solicitor was at fault if he/she didn't make sure that your Mum was capable at the time of the changes.

Thank you thats interesting, but i feel his answer will be that it was witnessed by people who knew her and therefore not his responsibility. He has proved to be rather incompetant in that her previous will and also that of my father were not in fact signed by the witness they just entered their name and address. Two years later long after my fathers estate had been settled he wrote to my mother to say that this fact had come to light as her will had been reveiwed? and sent another copy for her to sign and get witness, sadly this did not get done due to her being hospitalised.

When he apparently received a letter from my Mother he sent a draft copy to the person she had cut out of the Will. Not very nice thing to receive.

DVardysShadow

meg72 wrote: »

.... When he apparently received a letter from my Mother he sent a draft copy to the person she had cut out of the Will. Not very nice thing to receive.

Actually, it looks like something of a gift. He probably had his doubts.