Inheritance goes to care person

denis_2

Good evening to all

I wonder if anyone has any comments as they will be most welcome.

My Father re-married and then died (1950) and my step Mother died 3 years ago aged 95 leaving everything to her carer and friend.

My situation is that I lost contact with my stepmother about 5 / 6 years ago when I got cancer but before then I saw her regularly and helped her round her house.

When she was 93 she changed her will to her carer through solicitors who were also the executors.

I was the sole beneficiary under a previous will say 10 / 15 years ago, I am 73 and in remission from cancer.

I was not advised of the death nor aware of the funeral until 2 years later, by then the house and contents were sold and no paperwork.

The solicitors just say they did everything they were expected to do and I found out that the neighbour bought the house to exend into.

It might be better just to let it pass and I am quite happy to do that but I just wanted to be sure.

Thanks

clutton_2

I am sorry that you have been ill, but i am not sure what the question is - - if you did not know that she had died for two years it sounds like you were not close - so why would you have any expectations from the will ?

denis_2

Thank you for your reply

I think my memories go back to when me and my father were working together (farmers) and he died without a will so I think there was expectations but honestly not if everything else is ok I just want to leave it at that.

Thanks

zzzLazyDaisy

Your father had the opportunity to leave you money in his will, your step-mother could also have left you money in her will, but chose not to do so. The sad fact is, though, that neither were obliged to leave you anything, and you don't have any legal right to an inheritance. Sorry.

silvercar

Do you suspect wrong doing ie that the carer manipulated a 93 year old woman into changing her will?

I guess at the back of your mind you are also wondering if this is what your father would have planned.

rosysparkle

I am sorry for your loss. On the face of it, there isn't anything you can do unless you suspect there was some kind of fraud, but as you had lost contact with your stepmother it would be very difficult to make a case without any firm evidence.

david29dpo

i dont blame you for feeling like this. my solicitor partner does wills and probate and this question jumped off the page. changing a will at 93? how many people are of sound mind at that age? and as for having a solititor as executors, the worst thing anyone could do. many parents dont realise when they remarry that there offspring will get nothing unless stated in a will, quite normal. he has seen many cases like this. is the care person still alive? have you got a copy of the will? if so who witnessed it?

seven-day-weekend

A friend of mine who was a carere for am elderly lady was left £100,000 in her will (as was the person's other carer and the district nurse) as the person said they were the ones who had looked after her - she'd not seen her family at all.

This sounds like a similar situation to yours. The person has a perfect right to leave their money as they wish. If your father left no will and your stepmother inherited from him, then everything is hers to do with as she pleases.

Sorry for your loss.

denis_2

Morning to all

Thanks for all your replies, they do echo my own thoughts.

I think that if someone is paid to be a carer then I am not sure they should be taking a 93 year old to make a will to benefit themselves without having some additional approval say an employer, but it was done by a solicitor.

So thank you again and I am not even going to think about it anymore.

terrierlady

move on , your own life will change , you didnt keep in touch as you say plus in life there is a true saying what goes round comes round,my own step children already are like vultures awaiting their share of any pickings sad to state that but true, children now a days think they are entitled to funds just because they are our children in fact my own children are just the same, easy option is for us to spend the funds but I intend to donate to the grand children whilst they need help with education costs, or getting on the property ladder.;)

$$$_12

It's sounds potentially dodgy - although if I was 73 and assuming I wasn't struggling financially I'm not sure I could be bothered to follow it up.

Personally speaking I intend to leave nothing to anyone except a few charities. If I want to give anyone anything I'll do it while I'm still here.