First time Help Needed/ Bit Of A Mess

TP77

Hi all,  hoping for some advice please.


Background history
Parent A haven't seen for 30 odd years
Parent B bought own house after splitting. After some time remarried

Parent B has passed away approx 2 months ago. Getting no information from  current partner. Don't know if tell once has been done, banks informed etc. Partner has had solicitors meeting last month about probate, but don't know of any details

In the copy of the will that I got about a year ago, me, sibling and partner are listed as executors and trustees of the will/house

Should things of started happening by now? Sadly me and sibling don't trust the partner and lack of information is not helping

Thanks in advance

Keep_pedalling

Have you actually asked your parent’s spouse what is happening? It is possible the copy of the will you have is not the latest one. If it was held with a solicitor then speak to that solicitor, they won’t normally just release the will to one executor without consulting any other executor? 

TP77

We have tried and they just give out very vague information. There is no relationship between us. The funeral was awful, they cut us out and just made it about themselves.

The will I was sent was from the solicitors. Bizarrely the partner had a copy of the will, but neither myself or sibling were given one. I asked last year and was sent a copy. My sibling has had nothing.

I'm just concerned as being named an executor and nothing happening or being kept out of the loop

twopenny

All you need to ask the solicitor to begin with is if the date of the will you have has been superceded by a new will.
They can probably answer that question.

If yes then you can sit back and wait.

If no then you could ask where you should go from there. It would be a short answer but at least give you a starting point.

Try not to go further into the whys wherefore but take a deep breath and see what your options are.
Try not to get emotional and combative, a most difficult thing at times like this.

TP77

Thank you. I'll drop the solicitor an email and see what they say.

elsien

if the will does still stand  should the solicitor not be reminding the partner that they cannot just simply cut the other two executors out of the process? 

TP77

This is something that is concerning me and my sibling as the partner has previous history of doing things alike this

Do I need to be informing the banks, government etc of the passing or is this for the partner to do? I'm just concerned getting into trouble for things not being actioned 

elsien

if you are an executor, which you need to check, then there is no issue with doing that. aside from the partner getting cross about you “interfering“. in which case they should be keeping you informed.They. can’t really have it both ways.

TP77

I've dropped the solicitor an email, will see what they say

otb666

When probate is being submitted you have to get ALL executors permission on the goverment website to proceed with application then send will that lists executors. Thus the system has been set up so executors cannot be ignored.

RAS

If you are executors and the will is current,  then all bank and savings accounts need to be frozen ASAP. Any joint account with the partner will become their sole property.

Otherwise they are closed. But I'd advise that you get 6 years of statements for all accounts first.