named in a will..

sls02101

Hi, newbie here hope this is the right place to post!

My grandmother recently passed away in January this year and my father and uncle have been sorting out her house/finances etc. I am the only grand child if this is relevant? I was told my my father that "all that is in the will for me is money I received when I was younger". I thought this was odd but didn't say anything more of it even when I wasn't allowed to see a copy of the will. I recently ordered a copy of the will through probate and I was infact named in the will (only 3 people named in this will - me my father and uncle) to have been left a bank account of money with the account number documented. I know that I have not received this money but apparently there is nothing for me?

1 - should I have been contacted when this will was being read (I am not a child I am in my 20's so not a minor?)
2 - should I have received a copy of the will?
3 - How do I go about finding more about this bank account - the bank won't speak to me because I am not the executor of the will and my father won't say any more about it because he insists I have had this money when I was younger.

What are the next steps? I think I'm more miffed at the principle of this than the actual amount...

geminilady

Did you show the bank the copy of the will with the account number?Maybe your father had access to the account and spent it.Seems strange he will not give you any more details, was money left to your Father and uncle in Bank accounts? Not sure what you can do but I would get some advice from a solicitor most do a free half hour

sls02101

he is being very shady about it all!
I contacted the bank about it with ID etc and they said theres nothing they can do because I'm not the one responsible for it even though it is in my name.
The will states her estate was left to my dad and uncle and clearly states a specific bank account is for me.
It all sounds very fishy and I'm not sure what the next stage is...

AylesburyDuck

When was the will dated, because to my mind if its dated when you wernt a youngster then his explanation doesnt hold water at all. Do you remember getting money as a child? Will your dad explain when and what for you apparently received the money?
As above, consider getting a free half hour with a solicitor, smells a bit fishy to me.

pphillips

In answer to your questions:

1. No - wills do not get formally read out loud.
2. No- wills are secret until they get published by the probate office.
3. You are being fobbed off, if your grandmother died in January then your inheritance does not travel back in time! Read the wording of the will carefully, speak to the executors to find out the balance of the bank account and if necessary consult a solicitor who deals with wills and probate. Remember that as you are a named beneficiary under the will the executors are accountable to you and you can take legal action against them if they fail to distribute the estate in line with the will.

sls02101

Thanks for your quick replies.
The will was dated October 2010, a couple of months before I was 16.
I received money from a different relative when I was 16 which my parents put into an ISA for me - unrelated to my grandma. Im sure he is trying to say this is the same money.
I will ask him again later and update - if I'm not happy with the conversation I will speak to the legal company who have dealt with sorting this will.
I just wasn't sure the proccess of it all, if I should have been contacted by the solicitor who has sorted this to inform me?

pphillips

It doesn't matter when the will was dated as it only has effect when the person making it dies. Before they die, they can change it at any time. A solicitor would only be dealing with your grandmothers estate if the solicitor was an executor or was instructed by an executor to inform you. It is important to point out to the executor that they can personally be held responsible if they don't distribute your grandmothers estate in line with what the will says.

gettingtheresometime

Also bear in mind that although the account may have had a balance in it when the will was written, your grandmother may have used the money for something.


If the account no longer exists or doesn't have a balance then there is nothing for you to inherit.

pphillips

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Also bear in mind that although the account may have had a balance in it when the will was written, your grandmother may have used the money for something.


If the account no longer exists or doesn't have a balance then there is nothing for you to inherit.

I think it actually depends whether or not the money can be traced and was kept separate or whether it has been spent or mixed with other money in other accounts.

AylesburyDuck

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Also bear in mind that although the account may have had a balance in it when the will was written, your grandmother may have used the money for something.


If the account no longer exists or doesn't have a balance then there is nothing for you to inherit.

Unless of course the executor has emptied the account and distributed the money fraudulently, then of course the exectutor can be taken to court and be liable for the amount i would think.

pphillips

AylesburyDuck wrote: »

Unless of course the executor has emptied the account and distributed the money fraudulently, then of course the exectutor can be taken to court and be liable for the amount i would think.

Absolutely - the executor owes the beneficiaries a fiduciary duty.