Pension after death, Policy located

djpleasure

Hi MSE guys
My Grandparents passed a few years ago, up until today I thought everything was sorted. I received a letter this morning from Prudential stating they have located a policy belonging to my late Grand Parents and they are trying to trace  next of kin, contacting me as named on the death certificate, I was beneficiary of the WILL. It requests I fill in a form and return to them, straight forward enough.
I am in the dark as to what happens next?
Should the solicitors not have dealt with this prior to distributing estate?
Will this have to go back to solicitors? worried that any fees may just swallow up what is within pension.
Really unsure as to what to expect or how this works.

Also on the form it states: Was a grant of probate or letters  of administration obtained? No idea what this even means, all I know is there was a will, I received most and my brother a small percentage. Do I assume grant of probate was something the solicitor applied for?

Any help or advice greatly appreciated so as I can get this filled in and returned.

xylophone

Also on the form it states: Was a grant of probate or letters  of administration obtained? No idea what this even means, all I know is there was a will, I received most and my brother a small percentage.

You mention a pension policy in the heading and then that it belonged to your grandparents - it seems unlikely that such a policy was in joint names.

You also say that Prudential mention a death certificate - your grandfather's death certificate?

If so, it is likely that he was the policy holder.

Did your grandfather die after your grandmother or before?

You mention that you and your brother were the beneficiaries of a will - your grandfather's will?

Who was the executor of your grandfather's estate?

If you do not have a copy of the will and grant, try here

https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate

MovingForwards

@Accountant_Kerry

Here's her thread:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6152324/prudential-looking-for-deceased-relative/p1

You can see why the information is needed and follow xylophone guidance.

djpleasure

Thanks for responding:
Letter  opens with
We need your help, we've located a policy which may belong to Mrs Name omitted, and Mr Name omitted, se we are trying to trace their next of kin or personal representative.
We are writing as you are named on Mrs Name omitted death certificate.
If you are their next of kin or personal representative or if you know who we should get in touch with, please contact us, we'd be grateful if you would complete and return the attached confirmation of details form.

• It does not state pension, just assumed this was the case.
• Named on Grandmothers Death certificate, Grandfather died first.
• beneficiaries of Grandmothers will.
• Executer I assume is the solicitors that dealt with estate

xylophone

Executer I assume is the solicitors that dealt with estate

This is  very possibly the case but check using link in my previous.  The Pru will want to know.
"Next of kin" is rather a loose term.....

https://beyond.life/help-centre/admin-legal/next-kin-mean/

Once you have established the facts, you can advise the Pru accordingly. 

Tealblue

djpleasure said:

Thanks for responding:
Letter  opens with
We need your help, we've located a policy which may belong to Mrs Name omitted, and Mr Name omitted, se we are trying to trace their next of kin or personal representative.
We are writing as you are named on Mrs Name omitted death certificate.
If you are their next of kin or personal representative or if you know who we should get in touch with, please contact us, we'd be grateful if you would complete and return the attached confirmation of details form.

• It does not state pension, just assumed this was the case.
• Named on Grandmothers Death certificate, Grandfather died first.
• beneficiaries of Grandmothers will.
• Executer I assume is the solicitors that dealt with estate

Get a copy of the will for the princely sum of £1.50 (link above in first reply to your post) and see who the executors were. Solicitors may have 'dealt' with the estate but may not actually have been the executors. Even if they were, it is likely that the Pru will accept a grandchild as next of kin, so you can fill in the form. There's actually no legal definition of next of kin in UK law, so any close relative should fit the bill. 

The solicitors could only have dealt with this if they knew about it. In the absence of any relevant paperwork/advice from surviving relatives, even a search on the Unclaimed Assets Register wouldn't necessarily have yielded details of the policy, which could be life cover as opposed to pension, or indeed some other sort of policy.