help please

bridget21

I live in america and my stepmum passed away in november and sadly my dad passed away in january .my stepsister did not tell me it was only that the police went round to my aunt that we found out he had died. As far as i am aware my dad did not have a will. but my stepsister will not give me any information at all.my aunt went round to the house and the locks have been changed and my aunt was told to ****of . I live in america so its not easy getting information .My dad lived in england. i have applied to probate but am stuck and do not know what else to do .i have tried will searches but nothing has come up. My stepsister has told my aunt that the will is at solicitors but refuses to tell me which solicitor .Can anyone advise please.

Savvy_Sue

I'd start by contacting solicitors local to where your dad lived and ask if they hold a will for your late father.

I'm not sure what you mean by

bridget21 wrote: »

i have applied to probate but am stuck and do not know what else to do

because you can't do much without establishing whether or not there is a will.

I'm guessing you and your stepsister are not on good terms?

bridget21

my dad met his late wife when i was 17 her daughter was 21 and we never got on.i am my dads only child. i have been told by friends of my dad that the stepdaughter is emptying the house. my dads car has been sold and his motorbike is no longer in the drive. i have been told this should not be happening but it is. i have phone her to find out what is going on but she just puts the phone down on me. but i will email local solicitors to see if any are dealing with my farthers estate.

dawyldthing

https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate
I think you can chase wills through this. She shouldn't be selling things though

Savvy_Sue

The trouble is, you're going to find it hard to do anything if you're not in the UK.

You may be able to instruct a solicitor to write to her, but it's remote enforcement which will be difficult.

konark

I assume that the stepsister is now living in the house, at least you know where to find her. Unless a will can be found under intestacy rules you are beneficiary of estate , stepsister is not but seems to be intermeddling.

If I was you I'd get yourself back to Blighty on the next plane and sort this out, you can do very little from America. You can't apply for probate as you don't have a will and you live in the U.S.- how can you find and secure your father's assets from 4 thousand miles away?

bridget21

thank you all for your replys . i can not return to uk due to health condition and cannot fly. but have had lots of contact with probate office and i can apply which i have . and as i have explained to them details of dads bank account etc i cannot provide as stepsister will not give details.my dads sister has said she will act as my representative .i have done various will searches but nothing has come up .

Anthear

What an awful situation. I can understand your frustration and the difficulties you face; families are tricky things at the best of times and utterly impossible when relationships are difficult.

Hopefully the probate office can guide you; you will not find anything on the Probate search until the Grant has been issued.

Maybe your Aunt can find a local solicitor who can advise?

Wishing you all the best

Mojisola

bridget21 wrote: »

As far as i am aware my dad did not have a will. but my stepsister will not give me any information at all. my aunt went round to the house and the locks have been changed and my aunt was told to ****of .

bridget21 wrote: »

i have been told by friends of my dad that the stepdaughter is emptying the house. my dads car has been sold and his motorbike is no longer in the drive. i have been told this should not be happening but it is.

You need to get a solicitor involved asap.

Unless there is a will and she is the executor, what she is doing is theft and she needs to be told so in very plain terms.

bridget21

thank you all for your replys i will contact a solicitor tomorrow.