Letters of Administration

dollypeeps

poppystar said:

Just as a general point …who else is able to instruct solicitors in this case, or any other, where there is a close family member who is first in line to apply for LoA? I know that heirhunter companies do employ solicitors but I thought that was only after they had traced beneficiaries and been instructed by them. 

My mum is next of kin but they haven’t had contact for many years. 

poppystar

dollypeeps said:

poppystar said:

Just as a general point …who else is able to instruct solicitors in this case, or any other, where there is a close family member who is first in line to apply for LoA? I know that heirhunter companies do employ solicitors but I thought that was only after they had traced beneficiaries and been instructed by them. 

My mum is next of kin but they haven’t had contact for many years. 

Has your mother asked the solicitor who has instructed them? If your mother is the closest next of kin and there is no Will which the mention of LoA rather than probate suggests, she would be first in line to apply for LoA and under intestacy may be a significant or even sole beneficiary. There must be a reason why they are applying and she is not. I can see from the point of view of the estrangement that she may not wish to get involved but that does not change her right to administer or appoint solicitors to do so on her behalf. In terms of the gold bracelet, if she is to inherit his estate then it is hers and she should have access to it. I’d push the solicitors for better clarification on why they are dealing with the estate pointing out politely your mother’s right to do so. 

Are you 100% sure there was no Will, particularly if the estate is likely to be significant, and that the use of the term Letters of Administration rather than Probate is not just a slip of the tongue by someone in the solicitor’s firm? 

dollypeeps

poppystar said:

dollypeeps said:

poppystar said:

Just as a general point …who else is able to instruct solicitors in this case, or any other, where there is a close family member who is first in line to apply for LoA? I know that heirhunter companies do employ solicitors but I thought that was only after they had traced beneficiaries and been instructed by them. 

My mum is next of kin but they haven’t had contact for many years. 

Has your mother asked the solicitor who has instructed them? If your mother is the closest next of kin and there is no Will which the mention of LoA rather than probate suggests, she would be first in line to apply for LoA and under intestacy may be a significant or even sole beneficiary. There must be a reason why they are applying and she is not. I can see from the point of view of the estrangement that she may not wish to get involved but that does not change her right to administer or appoint solicitors to do so on her behalf. In terms of the gold bracelet, if she is to inherit his estate then it is hers and she should have access to it. I’d push the solicitors for better clarification on why they are dealing with the estate pointing out politely your mother’s right to do so. 

Are you 100% sure there was no Will, particularly if the estate is likely to be significant, and that the use of the term Letters of Administration rather than Probate is not just a slip of the tongue by someone in the solicitor’s firm? 

Thanks for your reply and all valid points.
I have no idea if there was a will or not, although I am imagining that knowing them, especially his wife, then everything would be organised to the nth degree.
i did ask if there was a will but the solicitor would not give me any info, other than agreeing with my point that, once authorisation has been granted, if there is any benefit in the will for my mum or me, we would be contacted.
He did suggest that I needed/ should seek independent legal advice. I have no idea why that would be the case, other than he would give the information that I was enquiring about , to a solicitor that I may appoint. That just seems to be a waste of money to me at this point.
According the rules of intestacy she would be the sole heir, followed by me and then my ds and dd. 

She wouldn’t contact the solicitor herself, expecting me to do so 🤷‍♀️. 

dollypeeps

Just searched the link provided on pg1 - 
 It looks like authorisation probate or LoA have been granted.
The link says to add to basket.
What exactly will this show me? 

Will it be what authorisation has been granted and to whom?

Will it show if there is a will?

Will it show that I have requested this information?

TIA

Blue_Butterfly

dollypeeps said:

Just searched the link provided on pg1 - 
 It looks like authorisation probate or LoA have been granted.
The link says to add to basket.
What exactly will this show me? 

Will it be what authorisation has been granted and to whom?

Will it show if there is a will?

Will it show that I have requested this information?

TIA

I did a search a few months ago on the deceased partner of one of my relatives.

I got a digital copy of the will and the grant of probate so could see who the executors were 
You have to click on "add to basket" then go to the top of the screen and click on basket to pay £1.50 
You get an email a few days later so you can download and view the documents.

It doesn't show anyone that you have accessed it.

Alphatauri

You should get a copy of the will if there is one and a copy of the grant of probate. 

TonyMMM

dollypeeps said:

Just searched the link provided on pg1 - 
 It looks like authorisation probate or LoA have been granted.

What exactly does it say in the "document type" column ?  That is where you can see if there will be a will involved.

Administration = No Will
Probate = Will
Admon/Will = Letters of Administration have been granted although there is a will.

If the person left a will, but there is an issue with it, such as the named executor has died or can't be found, then letters of administration have to be applied for to administer the will rather than probate - it doesn't always mean it is an intestate estate.

dollypeeps

TonyMMM said:

dollypeeps said:

Just searched the link provided on pg1 - 
 It looks like authorisation probate or LoA have been granted.

What exactly does it say in the "document type" column ?  That is where you can see if there will be a will involved.

Administration = No Will
Probate = Will
Admon/Will = Letters of Administration have been granted although there is a will.

If the person left a will, but there is an issue with it, such as the named executor has died or can't be found, then letters of administration have to be applied for to administer the will rather than probate - it doesn't always mean it is an intestate estate.

Thank you for your reply.

I've just checked and under document type it says “probate”
I guessed there would be a will and that his wife would’ve been the executor - she died in 2016.
I’ve requested information via the probate service/gov website and am waiting for the link. 

Further to the above comments, I should be able to see the probate granted, to whom and also should be able to view the will.

Blue_Butterfly

dollypeeps said:

I've just checked and under document type it says “probate”
I guessed there would be a will and that his wife would’ve been the executor - she died in 2016.
I’ve requested information via the probate service/gov website and am waiting for the link. 

Further to the above comments, I should be able to see the probate granted, to whom and also should be able to view the will.

You will be able to download and save a copy of the will and grant of probate to your computer. 
You can print copies so you could give to your mum to read.
You are asked NOT to publish the documents anywhere without permission from the family/executor

dollypeeps

Blue_Butterfly said:

dollypeeps said:

I've just checked and under document type it says “probate”
I guessed there would be a will and that his wife would’ve been the executor - she died in 2016.
I’ve requested information via the probate service/gov website and am waiting for the link. 

Further to the above comments, I should be able to see the probate granted, to whom and also should be able to view the will.

You will be able to download and save a copy of the will and grant of probate to your computer. 
You can print copies so you could give to your mum to read.
You are asked NOT to publish the documents anywhere without permission from the family/executor

Thank you for replying 
I definitely won’t be publishing/showing the documents to anyone other than my mum.