When can you view a will online?

Spendless

Curiosity question - My Nan died last month. Mum is sole executor of her will. Nan's estate too small for probate (no property as sold year earlier to pay Nan's care home bills). Bank has now unfrozen Nan's bank account and Mum has moved it to another for her to pay anything relating to Nan in and out of (eg insurance policies and final bills). Mum is waiting for a detailed statement through from Nan's bank to clarify some transactions.  There's still other things to be paid into and paid out from (eg funeral).

The beneficiaries of the will are my mum, myself and another estranged relative. The estranged relative also didn't talk to my Nan for many years so though she was aware of the contents of the will when it was made, she won't know if she was still in it.

It only just occurred to me that relative can look on-line and view the will but at what point? The money isn't ready to be distributed out yet. (final  bills yet to be paid). When it is both me and my relative will receive our share. I'm just wondering if relative can already look on-line and see the will. Relative won't know the reason behind any 'hold ups' (though currently I don't think enough time as passed to call anything such)  as she isn't on speaking terms with any of us. She will receive her share that she is entitled to as per Nan's will when the money is distributed. 

tooldle

The Will is linked to the Grant of Probate. Once the grant is issued, both documents become available. There is a small charge to pay. I was sent a link from which i could download both documents. Link was valid for 30 days. 
It's not clear from your post if probate was granted, and the bank didn't need it, or if probate wasn't sought as the amounts involved are too low.

Spendless

tooldle said:

The Will is linked to the Grant of Probate. Once the grant is issued, both documents become available. There is a small charge to pay. I was sent a link from which i could download both documents. Link was valid for 30 days. 
It's not clear from your post if probate was granted, and the bank didn't need it, or if probate wasn't sought as the amounts involved are too low.

Probate wasn't sought because the bank didn't need it because the amount involved was too low. Mum had LPA and is now sole executor of the will.

So does this mean the will won't become available to view on-line? It's purely curiosity on my part. Just cos I'm wondering if relative will look it up.       

RAS

The only way the Probate Registry can get a will, is when probate is applied for. They will put the will and grant on line.

Since mum isn't getting probate, they don't even know there is a will, so it will never be public. The beneficiary is entitled to a statement of account, so mum needs to keep suitable records.

Flugelhorn

Unless probate is applied for the will will stay in the top drawer of the sideboard for ever an no-one will see it - certainly not online. 
Presumably at some point the estranged relative will work out that Gran died and will ask about the inheritance and then can be given their share - there is no hurry for these things

Spendless

Ahhh ok. Already told Mum to keep very accurate accounts. Luckily she realised and  she's now moved Nan's money into an entirely separate account for this reason. 

Linton

Flugelhorn said:

Unless probate is applied for the will will stay in the top drawer of the sideboard for ever an no-one will see it - certainly not online. 
Presumably at some point the estranged relative will work out that Gran died and will ask about the inheritance and then can be given their share - there is no hurry for these things

All beneficiaries of the same type must be treated in the same way. You cannot distribute an estate only to those beneficiaries you like.

Flugelhorn

Linton said:

Flugelhorn said:

Unless probate is applied for the will will stay in the top drawer of the sideboard for ever an no-one will see it - certainly not online. 
Presumably at some point the estranged relative will work out that Gran died and will ask about the inheritance and then can be given their share - there is no hurry for these things

All beneficiaries of the same type must be treated in the same way. You cannot distribute an estate only to those beneficiaries you like.

absolutely - and the OP has stated that the relative will receive their share when the estate is distributed 

Spendless

Flugelhorn said:

Linton said:

Flugelhorn said:

Unless probate is applied for the will will stay in the top drawer of the sideboard for ever an no-one will see it - certainly not online. 
Presumably at some point the estranged relative will work out that Gran died and will ask about the inheritance and then can be given their share - there is no hurry for these things

All beneficiaries of the same type must be treated in the same way. You cannot distribute an estate only to those beneficiaries you like.

absolutely - and the OP has stated that the relative will receive their share when the estate is distributed 

Yes, they absolutely will.  Nan's money got moved into a separate account when Dad asked for the money back out of Nan's estate that he'd paid from his for copies of death certificate and rounded the money up by a fiver! Mum told him he couldn't and that  prompted the money to be moved into a completely separate new account, so they know this is money from Nan's estate and not muddled with anyone else's. I then re-iterated that Mum had to keep completely accurate records, which she was aware of (this is also behind her asking for a detailed statement from Nan's bank account to work out the source and reason for some final transactions through Nan's account).

My relative is highly likely to ask to see estate accounts (as his her right). If Nan hadn't wanted my relative to inherit then she should have changed her will. She had ample time to do so between relative falling out with her and her needing a care home. She didn't do it, so relative is legally entitled to their share, which they will be given    

Flugelhorn

sounds like all under control! and the accurate records are the key.

Sarahspangles

Spendless said:

Flugelhorn said:

Linton said:

Flugelhorn said:

Unless probate is applied for the will will stay in the top drawer of the sideboard for ever an no-one will see it - certainly not online. 
Presumably at some point the estranged relative will work out that Gran died and will ask about the inheritance and then can be given their share - there is no hurry for these things

All beneficiaries of the same type must be treated in the same way. You cannot distribute an estate only to those beneficiaries you like.

absolutely - and the OP has stated that the relative will receive their share when the estate is distributed 

Yes, they absolutely will.  Nan's money got moved into a separate account when Dad asked for the money back out of Nan's estate that he'd paid from his for copies of death certificate and rounded the money up by a fiver!    

I know what you mean - OH is the executor but I do most of the admin.  I had to point out that the final accounts will now need to include the receipt for the £5 meal deal he put through the account when he paid for some estate postage….