Will - inheritance

frankie1star

Can anyone help me out, a friend believes she was the beneficiary of a will, and apparently a notice appeared in the paper, the problem is that it was 35 years ago. (However, that aspect maybe hearsay)

She moved from the area 37 years ago, but has recently told me this story, and I wondered if anyone can help out to see if I can track her inheritance down

Penny_Watcher

I have no expertise or experience in this field. However I do know that wills are a matter of public record like birth, marriage and death certificates.

I don't know how to get hold of a copy but I remember about 20 years ago my Grandmother got hold of a copy of her ex-husbands will.

Do you think perhaps the Citizens Advice Bureau might be able to point your friend in the right direction?

HTH

frankie1star

I wonder whether to contact Somerset House, do you think Wills are lodged here

Penny_Watcher

Have a look at this link

UK Documents.com/wills

I think they can only search for wills that have been though probate (whatever that means ). Oh hang on - it explains

What is Probate?
When a person dies somebody has to deal with their estate. A legal document called a Grant of Representation is usually required in order to get authority to do this

Three types of Grant of Representation exist :

Probate
Issued to one or more executors named in the Will

Letters of Administration (with Will)
Issued when there is a Will but the executors named in the Will are no longer able or willing to apply for a Grant of Representation

Letters of Administration
Issued when no Will has been made or if the Will is invalid.

A Grant of Representation is not always required and if no Grant was made then no entry will exist in the Probate indexes. This is usual if the whole of the estate is held in joint names and passes automatically to the surviving joint owner.

We suggest that you allow 4 months to pass from the date of death before requesting a search.


From the details in your original post it would suggest that the Will went through probate (solictors involved (?) and a notice in the papers).

However I don't know what happens if the Will has been sorted out (for the want of a better phrase ). If the property of the person who passed away was distributed 35 years ago I wouldn't know how your friend stands legally.


Good Luck