Sister won't show will

Welshwoman

Thank you, WestonDave, yes it does help enormously.

FreeBear

Welshwoman wrote: »

We don't know who did the will, we know absolutely nothing. I've checked the Probate Office and there's nothing there.

If you are not named as an executor, a solicitor (or will writer) would be unlikely to provide a copy of the will. So knowing who drew up the will isn't of much use.

If probate hasn't been granted yet, it would be worth entering a caveat and then using this as leverage to get some answers - It will only cost £20, which is considerably less than having to appoint solicitors to write letters to your sister.

Welshwoman

Thank you, Freebear, how do I go about entering a caveat?

FreeBear

https://www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance/stopping-a-grant-of-representation

Fill in a PA8a form and then post it off to the Probate Registry with the £20 fee enclosed - You might need to one for each of your parents as their deaths being so close to each other might complicate matters. The Probate office should be able to advise if you give them a call.

BobQ

konark wrote: »

Just because there is no property doesn't mean probate is not needed, any estate over £5,000 must go to probate (unless there is a surviving spouse) and it is likely that the insurance policies were not 'nominated' and will form part of estate. Without someone applying for probate it will be very difficult for you to know the contents of the will, although if you were a beneficiary the solicitor should have told you.

I agree that "because there is no property doesn't mean probate is not needed".

But the bit in bold is incorrect. Probate is only required if the organisations which the personal representatives have to deal with require one.

So for land and buildings probate is always required. If the financial organisations are prepared to pay the nearest relative or the named executor in every case it is not needed. For example Santander will pay out £30000 (from memory). But they require the recipient to sign an indemnity that they will follow the Will. Great for simple cases, low value estates and uncontested situations

In this case probate is likely to be needed due to the lack of trust.

OP can make a caveat. Equally, if the eldest sister is proceeding without a Grant of Probate, any of the other sisters could apply for Letters of Administration which would force the other sister to produce any Will (which may not exist) rather than refuse to let others see it.

Of course if there is no money why bother?