Genealogy Chat

Thanks Jo
I will try that tomorrow.
Cheryl

Hi - not too sure if this will help you -

http://www.bonavacantia.gov.uk/output/

This is the link to the Treasury Solicitors and you can see if you are an entitled relative. Perhaps give them a call, explain the situation as I know they are very helpful.

Good luck

Jo

Thank you all for your help.
It looks like the son must have sorted everything out. I was hoping to find out if there were any other family members that we were unaware of. In the last 10 weeks I have found a brother and sister for my mum in law that she never new that she had.

The Probate Office would only have the will if it was actually proved, i.e. a grant of probate was obtained by the executors. If the estate was so small that this wasn't needed, then the will is probably sitting in a solicitor's office somewhere, or held by one of her relatives, probably the son living nearby. But as someone else said, most likely the estate was so small that no grant of probate (if there was a will) or letters of administration (if there wasn't) would have been required.

As to who would have inherited her estate, legally that should have been dealt with as per the will (if there was one, whether it was proved or not), or if there was no will the laws of intestacy apply. They are too complicated to go into here but do an internet search if you're interested.

I can only answer one of your questions; if the lady left a will then the probate office should have found it unless she died very recently.

I would also like to know if there would be any official record of who is granted the deceased's effects.

I think someone may be able to do a look up on 192.com if you put up a separate thread.

Good luck!

Birdi

It was the york office that I wrote to, but had no luck.
She died in sheltered accomodation and her son lived around the corner. Not sure if that was his property or hers and he lived there when she went into sheltered though. The son has now moved, so we do not know his address. It is on 192.com but as I don not subscribe I have been unable to check his address.
Correct me if I am wrong but if she left a will would the probate office have found it. Also If she didn't then who gets access to any money or belongings.

It could be that she didn't leave a will. I assume that you wrote to the office in York (if not I have copied the address to write to from their site).

I have a copy of the Grant pages of someone who died intestate from them. The charge is £5 and you must tick both boxes for 'will' and 'grant'.

Hope this helps!

You must write to the Postal Searches and Copies Department at York (The Postal Searches & Copies Dept, York Probate Sub-Registry, 1st Floor, Castle Chambers, Clifford Street, York, YO1 9RG) giving the full name, address and date of death of the deceased, stating what you require and enclosing the appropriate fee.

I have recently found out that my husbands nan died 10 years ago.
She led a 'colourful' life, having 5 (that we know of) children by 3 different men. I know her death details as we have her death cert.
I also sent off for a search to the probate office. This came back with nothing. I do not know anything about wills as I am lucky enough to still have both sets of parents and have not been involved in any wills.
Can anyone please point me in the right direction. I do not know how to check for a will anywhere else. The informant on the death was a son, brother to my mum in law, but as they did not know of each other and no contact has yet been made, we are a bit stuck.
Thanks
Cheryl