Advice needed

Tobias2339

Bit of a long story behind this. My wife was taken from her mum when she was very young by the council and placed with her grandparents in kinship care as part of a special guardianship order. My wife lived with her grandparents until she turned 18, when she moved out for uni. There was no contact between her and her mum and very little between her mum and grandparents. 

Her mum has slowly crept back into the picture over the last few years since my wife's grandma passed away a few years ago. 

Sadly, my wife's grandad passed away early last week. It's still quite raw for her and we found out he hasn't left a will so probate needs to be applied for. 

Her mum has more or less taken control of handling his affairs and shut my wife out of any decision making, even going to far as claiming ornaments etc out of his living room and trying to give away bits of furniture to other family members. Her mum is adamant the house will be sold. The house is my wife's childhood home and understandably holds much sentimental value to her. 

I'm trying to support my wife as best I can while trying to prevent a bust up in the family due to squabbling over the estate. My wife isn't sure if she holds any claim over the estate due to the kinship agreement, or if her mum holds all sway over the decision making. 

I've advised her she really needs to get legal help over this however any advice on where to even start would be helpful.

McKneff

If there is no will it means there is no probate and Letters of administration have to be applied for.
Grandad has therefore died intestate so his estate is divided by his serving children only. 

Your wife, unfortunately is entitled to nothing. 

Tobias2339

I suspected that was the case. I didn't know that about the letters of administration, I'll let her know. 

Thanks for the advice it's very much appreciated. 

Marcon

Tobias2339 said:

Her mum is adamant the house will be sold. The house is my wife's childhood home and understandably holds much sentimental value to her. 

But she doesn't still live there now she's married...and would probably find it hard to see it let out to strangers, surely, if for 'sentimental reasons' she doesn't want to see it sold? You might gently make those points to her if you've not done so already, in the hope she might start to see it that way and feel less distressed about the forthcoming sale.