Find a will for free/cheap

tigerangle

Hi,

Does anyone know if there's a cheaper of free way to find if some had a will than using www.nationalwillregister.co.uk/search-for-a-will/ which would be between £58.80 - £126 depending on the kind of search undertaken.

My uncle passed away some time ago in Spain (he was British but had lived out there since 1985 or 1986) he had told family members that he had a Will but when we visited his property coolant find one or any reference.  We've already had to pay €300 to a Spanish law firm to look for a Will out there which there doesn't seem to be and we're being cautious but throw more money at another search in the UK just incase it doesn't find anything.

Thanks in advance!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

you could search HERE, will still need to pay for copy.

Your link doesn't work.

Mark_d

Your uncle may well have asked a close friend or relative to be the executor of his will.  Maybe a solicitor local to his property in Spain, or his previous property in UK, might be holding his will.  Exploring these avenues might be cheapest.  But in any case I don't think £126 is a ridiculous amount of money to spend, to ensure that the correct legal process is followed in respect of your uncle's estate. I believe fees such as this would come out of your uncle's estate rather than your own pocket

tigerangle

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

you could search HERE, will still need to pay for copy.

Your link doesn't work.

Thanks, I can't post clickable links due to my account being new.

I've looked on there already but unfortunately his estate hasn't gone into probate yet due to not having a Will and waiting on an English translation of his Spanish Death Certificate.

tigerangle

Mark_d said:

Your uncle may well have asked a close friend or relative to be the executor of his will.  Maybe a solicitor local to his property in Spain, or his previous property in UK, might be holding his will.  Exploring these avenues might be cheapest.  But in any case I don't think £126 is a ridiculous amount of money to spend, to ensure that the correct legal process is followed in respect of your uncle's estate. I believe fees such as this would come out of your uncle's estate rather than your own pocket

Unfortunately we can't find a record of an executor at his property when we went out there last year following his death.  Our father is his only living immediate relative and although was his registered next of kin he wasn't made executor and he was a seemingly private man and was friendly with many but didn't seem to have any close friends.  He's in his 80's and carer for our mother who suffers from Alzheimer's which is why we're helping him sort this out.

I appreciate that any costs will come from his estate but only once it's been settled until then we have to bare the costs which currently sit at just over £5000 (including his cremation) so if there's a cheaper official way to find a Will then that'd be great.

Mojisola

tigerangle said:

Unfortunately we can't find a record of an executor at his property when we went out there last year following his death.  Our father is his only living immediate relative and although was his registered next of kin he wasn't made executor and he was a seemingly private man and was friendly with many but didn't seem to have any close friends.  He's in his 80's and carer for our mother who suffers from Alzheimer's which is why we're helping him sort this out.

So your father would inherit everything under the intestacy rules?

Why not just apply for administration on the basis that a will can't be found?

Savvy_Sue

Did he own property in Spain?

Marcon

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

you could search HERE, will still need to pay for copy.

Your link doesn't work.

The princely sum of £1.50 for a copy - but ONLY if probate has been granted, and from the sound of it OP is still at the stage of hunting for a will. 

Try this link instead: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/membership/offers/national-will-register (although the original does work if you cut and paste it).

tigerangle

Savvy_Sue, yes he did own the property in Spain.

Savvy_Sue

tigerangle said:

Savvy_Sue, yes he did own the property in Spain.

Ah. That may mean that you need to deal with that property under Spanish law - even if you have to declare value as part of UK estate. I would, before going too far, check that out, Google expats in Spain and find a solicitor who knows!