Grandma's will - need advice

angiepunchi

Hi i posted this on another page and was suggested i put it here

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I wonder if anyone here knows about what happens when someone doesn't leave a will. This has happened with my grandma and I'm not getting far with trying to find out about it...

My grandma died a few years ago (2009), and when I was a child she let me know on the phone and in a card that I would be her 'heir' when she died (sad I know). Unfortunately my mum and her didn't get on, and my mum tried very hard to turn me against her... I was living abroad in 2008 and 2009 and actually didn't know she was dying. My mum threw away letters if she sent them to us, but she didn't call me and tell me or ask anyone to tell me. It came as a shock, I literally got posted an invitation to her funeral out of the blue. My mum said she wouldn't be leaving us anything as she left it all to an american lady who had befriended her. I didn't mind very much, and was glad at least she had a good friend.

I did not think about my gran's will again and wasn't fussed about it, I just missed her. Last year I wondered if there were any photos or family tree about her online and googled her name... and found it in the london gazette with a note from the co-op bank that any relatives must come forward to claim her estate by october 2009. I did want some family photo albums so wrote to the co-op bank but never got a reply. I contacted the unclaimed estates list and she was not on it... meaning someone had come forward.

Sorry to waffle to tell the story, but basically I feel someone has pretended to be a family member. That would be a horrible thing to do... if anyone on here understands how this kind of thing works and how can I find out who did this? I dont know if she had money or not but would rather it gone to charity than someone fake. Is there a way to find out who claimed it? And who they claimed to be or if they had to give ID or anything? Surely it must be fraud?

Mojisola

angiepunchi wrote: »

Last year I wondered if there were any photos or family tree about her online and googled her name... and found it in the london gazette with a note from the co-op bank that any relatives must come forward to claim her estate by october 2009.

I would start by chasing up the Co-op. If they put the advert in, they were probably the executors.

madbadrob

Dying without a will (intestate) means that no matter what your nan wished it doesnt count. Dying intestate lays down a set way that the inheritance is dished out.

First is her spouse if she was still married. This does not include someone she is not married to. Then if there is no spouse her full blood children. I am assuming your mum is still alive and therefore she would inherit an equal share with any siblings she may have. If they have all died then your grandmothers grandchildren ie you and any cousins.

This is complicated further in so much as if any of your grandmothers children have died then the surviving children of that deceased person would inherit their parents share

If the coop put that piece in the paper and someone came forward they would have to prove beyond a doubt that they were entitled to that money. It is unusual for a bank to put a notice like this in a paper. When you say you checked the list do you mean the bona vacantia list? If you would like me to have a dig around for you I can do but would need you to PM me the name of your grandmother

Rob

Rob

angiepunchi

Do you know if there's a particular way i can write to them? like should i send proof of who i am and thats im a relative?

angiepunchi

Hi Rob as far as i know mum is an only child, and grandad died years ago (he was divorced from her)

Mojisola

angiepunchi wrote: »

Do you know if there's a particular way i can write to them? like should i send proof of who i am and thats im a relative?

Initially, I'd just ask whether they were executors of the will and explain that you are a grandchild.

If there was a will and it went to probate, you could buy a copy of it - https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/probate/copies-of-grants-wills

madbadrob

Mojisola wrote: »

Initially, I'd just ask whether they were executors of the will and explain that you are a grandchild.

If there was a will and it went to probate, you could buy a copy of it - https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/probate/copies-of-grants-wills

She said there was no will in the OP although the title says will.

OP I would if your mother did not receive the money write to the Co Op and say you want to know who administered the estate because the closest entitled relative as not received the money she is rightly entitled to. The person who administered the estate will have to obtain that money for your mother. If this is the Co Op they should have taken out missing persons insurance and they should make a claim against this. They will want proof of the entitlement in the form of all relevant certificates showing the descent. If the Co Op just handed the money to someone else to administer then you may have a major problem to obtain the money. Personally I would be asking a solicitor to contact the Co Op bank as they are more likely to respond to the solicitor with the details than they are to yourself

Rob

Mojisola

angiepunchi wrote: »

My mum said she wouldn't be leaving us anything as she left it all to an american lady who had befriended her.

madbadrob wrote: »

She said there was no will in the OP although the title says will.

There must have been a will if the estate was left to a non-relative otherwise angie's Mum would have inherited.

Tigsteroonie

OP, do you know for definite that your mother didn't come forward and claim the inheritance (and not tell you./lied to you)?

McKneff

Mojisola wrote: »

There must have been a will if the estate was left to a non-relative otherwise angie's Mum would have inherited.

Exactly.


OP, do you know for definite there was no will.


If there was no will, your mother would have inherited everything. It would not have been just given away to a 'friend'


Maybe you need to find out more concrete facts.
Come back when you do and we can help.

getmore4less

Even if there was no will, if the estate was administered it would be on record at the probate office.

If you get a copy of the PA1 with an enquiry that should tell you the key information to get started.