Sons grandfather passed away

Ziggazee

Instead of speculating on here, your best starting point is to make a search on the gov.uk site to see if Probate/Letters of Administration have been granted.


If the deceased died having made a will and did not include his grandchildren then so be it. If he died intestate then Letters of Administration will have been granted in order to sell the house. You will be able to obtain a copy of either document.

dawnyp72

I phoned the probate office today. They have found him in their records. He did not leave a will but probate was applied for and was granted 21/09/2016. I now have to order a copy of the probate records which can take up to 10 working days.
I also contacted the auctioneers who sold the house, they said it was ‘sold on behalf of a company’??? and gave me the name of the solicitor who instructed them to sell. I am now waiting to hear back from the solicitor to find out if they dealt with the probate or if they know who did.

iammumtoone

Do you know the approx value of the estate?

Is it possible that some heir hunters have picked it up and maybe looking for your sons?

Jenniefour

At least you will know who to contact to find out what the position is, and you now know there wasn't a will.

House sold by a company - I wonder if grandfather might have had an equity release scheme on his property, as those companies, in some circumstances, take charge of the property sale themselves and then refund the remaining money to the estate. However, that's a guess, and there could easily be another explanation.

Yorkshireman99

We all need to wait until the OP has the probate. The is no point in more speculation until then. Good to hear the OP is making progress.

Ms_Chocaholic

Thanks for keeping us updated OP, hoping it all goes well for you and your boys.

dawnyp72

Thank you to everyone for the advice you have given me. I really didn’t know where to start.
I will update with any progress or further questions I might have, if that’s ok.
Thanks again.

Ms_Chocaholic

Wondered how you were getting on Dawnyp72.

dawnyp72

I received a copy of the probate which says he died intestate and administration was granted in September 2016 to a woman who I think is his sister or maybe sister-in-law. (She has the same surname as him) I contacted the solicitors named on the probate record and was told I had to put it in writing, which I have done.
He died in February 2016, administration was granted in September 2016 and house was sold at auction in September 2017. So it looks like it has all been done without our knowledge and nobody trying to contact us.

iammumtoone

Out of interest how much effort should the sister have put in to find the OPs sons? or if there were any other relatives that should have inherited before her.

It seems odd that a sister (who has a vested interested in there not being any other relatives) is allowed to administer the estate?

I hope your sons get what they are entitled to OP, do you know the value of the estate? depending on value is it worth paying a solicitor for some help with this?