My mother in law passed away 18 months ago and my brother in law came forward after 6 months claiming to be the executor. No grant of probate has yet issued still and when we queried it he said my husband was left £1200 and that was it. We haven't received that money and aren't in a hurry to. My MIL absolutely doted on and adored my children, her only grandchildren and was constantly mentioning little trinkets and things she wanted to leave in her will to them. She had also said to me about a year before she died, that she had made financial provision for my daughter to do a particular educational experience she wanted to support us with. This will the executor is talking about appears to have been made before the grandchildren were born and I find it impossible to believe that she didn't make a new will to leave anything to them. Also about 6 months before she died she told my husband verbally that she had made a new will and was going to "take care of him".
My question is this... The executor has still not lodged any will with the probate office. We are fairly sure a recent one exists but do not have access to her property to search for it. It may have been less favourable to the executors interests (He lives in my MILs former home) than the will he is speaking of (if that even exists as he hasn't produced it to anyone, and I understand that if he is really the executor he has no legal obligation to do so). Here finally is my question... Assuming she engaged the services of a solicitor to draft the will (she was quite litigious and had the services of many during her lifetime) how do we figure out which solicitor might have a copy of the will in their office? Do we write to them all in the county? Is there a publication where such an advert may be listed for a fee? Right now the executors inaction is in our favour, while we try to find the recent will.
My question is this... The executor has still not lodged any will with the probate office. We are fairly sure a recent one exists but do not have access to her property to search for it. It may have been less favourable to the executors interests (He lives in my MILs former home) than the will he is speaking of (if that even exists as he hasn't produced it to anyone, and I understand that if he is really the executor he has no legal obligation to do so). Here finally is my question... Assuming she engaged the services of a solicitor to draft the will (she was quite litigious and had the services of many during her lifetime) how do we figure out which solicitor might have a copy of the will in their office? Do we write to them all in the county? Is there a publication where such an advert may be listed for a fee? Right now the executors inaction is in our favour, while we try to find the recent will.