Unusual Probate Scenario & Estate Advice

rjsdavis

Section62 said:

rjsdavis said:

8: Indeed, something that I've raised with the French authorities, as when I was first informed of what had happened, one of my earliest thoughts I assumed that he still lived in a UK property somewhere (I really figured that he would never have sold his beloved flat in London for anything), so that if there were a will, it would likely have had a copy there. Since he appears to have lived nowhere permanent, unless a copy is knocking about in the Folkestone hotel room, I can't even imagine where or how you'd track something like that down. If it's with a firm of solicitors somewhere, that could be any firm, anywhere. 

Just checking - did you ask the solicitors administering the estate of your late grandmother if your uncle had his own will with them?

Also, were they the same solicitors who dealt with the sale of his London flat?  If not, it might be worth tracking down whichever solicitors did that, as it may be he made a new or updated will at the same time.  In the old paper-based system the deeds would probably include documents drafted by that solicitor, but I don't know whether the Land Registry would retain that information in the new systems, or if they have any record of their own of which solicitor was involved in a given transaction.  Maybe ask Land Registry for advice on identifying the solicitor who dealt with the sale?

I haven't been back to them yet. 

I'm dealing with some magic circle solicitors at the moment to do with a class action against a couple of high street banks. I'm acutely aware that the simplest contact or enquiry generates large fee income, which they would no doubt charge to the estate, so my natural inclination is to do nothing that costs legal fees until it's strictly necessary. 

In terms of Land Registry, I will try, but I doubt that they will actually provide me with any information - I expect that they will hide between GDPR (even though he's died), as I doubt that I would be regarded as an 'authorised' person to provide such information to. 

I remain in the position that this is probably putting the horse before the cart a little, as if the Court/HMRC would refuse to grant LoR to myself/sister as the only traceable direct family (which I still haven't established yet), then I'll never be able to uncover such information. Clearly, the paradox is, that I would need to uncover this sort of information to complete the first step of reporting accounts to HMRC, prior to requesting anything of the Probate Court in any event! 

I appear to be at a bit of an impasse just at the moment... 

rjsdavis

WYSPECIAL said:

rjsdavis said:

DE_612183 said:

question - how old is your Father?

how distinctive is his name?

you could try 192.com

also if you know a previous place of work that might lead you to a pension provider etc.

would you have somewhere his NI number?

There are Relative Finders who change about £500 - not sure if that constitutes burning through cash, as I appreciate your circumstances have to be taken into account as well.....

Thank you for your further reply. 

Father is now 81 (b. 1944)
Not particularly distinctive name, and I have tried 192.com on a number of occasions. No results. 

I used to have a reasonable idea of where he lived, as for a little while he lived in his mother's old house before it was sold, and then remained in the same area. I've seen him in the city several times over the years, and the last time I saw him was pre-Covid in the city centre. He had been shopping in a supermarket and was walking (presumably home) carrying his shopping. Therefore, I assumed that he was within walking distance of the supermarket - not terribly far away from where I actually live, or where his mother used to live.

I've tried scanning through the primary Council Tax list at the local Council offices, but couldn't see him, but I don't actually know what road he lives on, or at least lives on at the time. The Police do seem to know this, but even they weren't able to make contact with him. 

My father hadn't worked in decades - even though he was also a chartered accountant. He wasn't a popular chap in the places that he had worked earlier in his career, and found it difficult to hold down work due to his exceptionally arrogant and ultra aggressive personality (my uncle was the same - they were two peas in a rotten pod).

I'm not sure that I do have my father's NI number. I'm pretty sure that I do have my uncle's.  

If you know where he lasted lived try ringing the local council to see if Court of Protection or social workers are involved. His affairs may be being looked after if he no longer has capacity. 

Thank you for the suggestion. 

I don't know where he lives, or last lived. I suspect he may have lived in Canterbury from a sighting, but this is just a best guess and this was sometime pre-Covid. I've asked the Police, but they've stopped providing me information now and basically told me to !!!!!! off and work it all out for myself. It appears to be a mixture of them hiding behind GDPR, as well as them basically not being sucked into, essentially, social work. 

I can understand their position (It was the local Commander/Chief Inspector that I had been dealing with), but it remains a real block to making actual progress. 

rjsdavis

RAS said:

It might be worth asking the solicitors if they've already use the Salvation Army tracing service?

I probably will have to end up asking them things like this. I remain loathed to incur legal fees (from the estate) unless absolutely needed. 

I tried to make contact with this service: 

https://www.findersinternational.com/contact/

but never received a response. I will see if I can track down the Salvation Army service that you refer to myself. Thanks for the suggestion. 

Savvy_Sue

There's also a charity called Missing People, it's possibly worth contacting them. I know they're usually looking for those whose friends and family want to find out what happened to them, and yours is not a typical situation, but I'd hope you'd get some help.

WYSPECIAL

 It appears to be a mixture of them hiding behind GDPR, as well as them basically not being sucked into, essentially, social work. 

.

If the Police are concerned about breaching GDPR it suggests they know he is still alive.

Usually though they will tell you that someone is alive and well but doesn't want any contact

Lagrange

You mentioned that both your father and brother were chartered accountants. Have you tried contacting ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) and CABA (Chartered Accountants' Benevolent Association) for information about them?  CABA says it provides lifelong support to past and present ICAEW members and their families so may have dealt with similar situations.