Getting copy of will

Manofdog

Hi,
When dad died in 2016 he left a will, but my step mother has never allowed any of the family to see this. All I have been told is that none of us have been mentioned in the will. Dad had alzhemers before he died. I have never really seen eye to eye with my stepmother. She has been in dad's life for many years and has children of her own before they got married. Dad was a wealthy man and owned a portfolio of property.
My thoughts are now that his legacy will now be under my step mothers control and there isn't anything I can do about that.The likelihood is that dads legacy will be passed on to her children. My question is, how do I obtain a copy of his will (for my own peace of mind)?

I have tried the online probate search, but this produced no results.

Keep_pedalling

As he owned a number of properties your step mother must have had to apply for probate, so for £10 you can obtain the probate records which will contain a copy of the will.

https://www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance/searching-for-probate-records

Manofdog

Thanks for the reply, but I have used the search facility you advise and there is no record. Are all records posted online?
Seems suspicious if you ask me

Grumpelstiltskin

If he had a complicated estate it is possible probate hasn't been finalised yet.

Do you know the addresses of any of his properties?

You can always check the Land Registry website for £ 3 a property to see who is recorded as owner.

Keep_pedalling

With multiple properties probate is a must and should have been completed a long time ago. It is quite possible his wife has simply not done anything. It is also possible properties were transferred prior to death, so my next step would be to check the land registry records.

Dox

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

With multiple properties probate is a must and should have been completed a long time ago. It is quite possible his wife has simply not done anything. It is also possible properties were transferred prior to death, so my next step would be to check the land registry records.

Depends how the properties were held. If all assets were jointly owned, they would automatically pass to his wife and probate would not be required - which would explain why it doesn't show up when searched for online.

OP, as others have said, if you know the address of any of the properties in his portfolio, check with the Land Registry.

Manofdog

Thanks for the replies so far.
It appears that all property was either in joint or my step mums name so probate might not have been needed! As all assets have been passed to her, does she have sole rights in deciding where the inheritance goes when she dies (eg her own children)?
I was always in dad's life and can't believe he would leave me nothing. The fact he had alzhemers in later life and her not allowing anyone to see his will is making me suspicious.
Is there any other route I can take to find and see his will without going via step-mum?

TonyMMM

Manofdog wrote: »

It appears that all property was either in joint or my step mums name so probate might not have been needed!

If that is the case, then he may not have left an estate at all, or not one of sufficient value to require probate.

Brynsam

Manofdog wrote: »

Thanks for the replies so far.
It appears that all property was either in joint or my step mums name so probate might not have been needed! As all assets have been passed to her, does she have sole rights in deciding where the inheritance goes when she dies (eg her own children)?
I was always in dad's life and can't believe he would leave me nothing. The fact he had alzhemers in later life and her not allowing anyone to see his will is making me suspicious.
Is there any other route I can take to find and see his will without going via step-mum?

Even assuming there was a valid will (there may not have been), the fact probate wasn't needed is a very strong indication everything was simply left to your stepmother, doubtless in the fond belief that she'd 'see you right'. If she'd been in your father's life for years, it would be far from unusual for a couple to arrange their affairs like this. If that is the case, then yes, she now owns everything and has sole rights as to what happens to it when she dies.

nom_de_plume

Manofdog wrote: »

When dad died in 2016 he left a will, but my step mother has never allowed any of the family to see this. .....My question is, how do I obtain a copy of his will (for my own peace of mind)?

Have you tried local solicitors to see if any hold or prepared a Will?

Brynsam

nom_de_plume wrote: »

Have you tried local solicitors to see if any hold or prepared a Will?

They won't be able to release it even if they admit to having prepared/holding it, unless OP is an executor.