Will and procedures (if any)

Hi folks

wondering if anyone can provide some clarity on my situation.

My mum, whom I had a falling out with, died last year. Last week, out of the blue, a couriered package arrived from a solicitor with a copy of my mums will showing my brother as joint executor with solicitor and a note to deal with the solicitor on any queries.
The will included clauses for the executors to invest a small sum of money on my childrens behalf until their 21st birthdays (copy certs incl) and also included a couple of items of sentimental value left to myself with all other residual estate to go to my brother.

• I'm a little surprise by the method of executing the will and was wondering if this is the norm,
• should I have been called to a reading, old movies not withstanding,
• am I entitled to see the full estate prior to distribution
• can I make any demands of the executors eg copies of family photographs etc
• Also the investment certs on behalf of our kids are in the executors name, again is this the norm?

Apologies if this sounds mercenary but I've never dealt with this type of issue before and want to make sure I'm fully informed,


thanks in advance


regards

FP

It is not the norm. But if there is an estrangement in the family, it would not be unusual for all communication to be done via a solicitor & not a family member. It may seem cold, but at least it prevents any nasty scenes between family members.

No, readings of the will don't happen anymore. That is just Hollywood. You are entitled to be informed in a timely manner if you are a beneficiary of the will, not to actually be there when the envelope is opened, and the contents of the will read.

No, you are not entitled to see the full estate prior to distribution, just the part of it that pertains to you. You could ask the executors what your mums estate comprised of, but they are not legally obliged to tell you.

"Demands of the executors" for family photos? Using phrases like that and you are bound to tick them off. If your mother left her house & its contents to your brother, then the old family photo albums are now his. End of story. You could politely request that you be given access to them for old times sake, but they are his property now. He has no obligation to do so. Not unless they are comprise the few sentimental items that she specifically wanted to go to you.

No clue about the investment certs, but at a guess I imagine that they should be in the name of a third party until your kids reach the age of 21. That way an unscrupulous parent can't sell them and keep the money for themselves. Am not accusing you of doing that, but there is probably a set procedure for this kind of thing that they are following.

Hi beffers,

thanks for the detailed reply, much appreciated,

Not so unscrupulous parent lol

FP