Genealogy Chat

Perhaps her executor knows? Perhaps her deeds are with the solicitor? Jay

Janet, I'm the executor of her will. Her family won't know to come to me so I won't find out when she dies

Also Janet she doesn't own her own house therefore no deeds with solicitor

My last question for tonight!! Does anyone know how the following works please: A lady has made a will, left it with a solicitor but not told anyone she has made it. When she dies, how will the solicitor know in order to read her will?

I think you should get in touch with the solicitor soon and give your contact details. These can be filed with the Will. We did this when my widowed aunt, with no children, lived many miles away and my cousins and I wanted to be informed if anything should happen. We visited fairly often but realised that the solicitor wouldn't neccessarily know of us. UPDATE Just realised this won't solve the problem. Could the lady leave a note for the family telling them of the Will.? She could put it where it would easily be found with other personal papers. Could she not tell the family about the Will? They can't do anything about it but at least they would know. Gwyn

Hi Gwyneth, The solicitor does have my details. My worry is none of her family know she has made a will and I am sure they won't contact me (they have no reason to) so how will the solicitor get to know of her death.

As executor maybe you could mention her funeral wishes. If she has a particular preference maybe she would tell you.... and her family... which undertakers she favoured and you could leave a contact note with that firm. I can quite see your problem. My aunt was 'befriended' by someone who wouldn't have informed our family, I'm sure, until it was all over. Perhaps a quiet chat with the lady would make her understand that you wouldn't be able to carry out her wishes if you weren't informed. Is there anyone you know near her who could tell you? ....... someone from the Church ( or whoever would conduct the funeral) or someone from her doctor's surgery.? Gwyn

I had a situation when my Aunt died and had named a person who she thought was a solicitor who had visited her in a reidential home and made a will for her. When she died he had complete control as I was her next of kin in life only. It was obviously wrong but to fightit would have cost 'thousands', as I did see a real solicitor.

I am Executor of several Wills. One I had completely forgotten about until the Solicitor rang me to tell me the person had died. He had not been contaacted by the family, but had seen the notice of death in the local paper. Seems trolling the papers is a fairly routine secretarial occupation! (The family were very miffed indeed when I turned up and threw accusations at me suggesting that I was in it for gain. I smiled sweetly and said I was perfectly happy, indeed overjoyed, to hand over my executorship to anyone, including the Solicitor, who wanted to carry out this thankless and unpaid task - but that the Solicitor would charge them £300 per hour to do what I was willing to do for nothing, which included clearing a house of 50 years worth of rubbish. In fact I was so b*** annoyed, I rang the Solicitor and said I didnt want to do it anymore and would he replace me please.) OC OC

Elizabeth If your aunt was a blood relative there is a stronger case. We still have not resolved the problems with my aunt's care, bungalow and Will although she died over 3 years ago....... and yes the family have spent thousands fighting. For us this is not about gain but about justice and to stop the 'friends' doing the same thing to other elderly people. OC I don't blame you being annoyed. It saved you from a thankless task but no doubt one which you would willingly have performed had the family not been so difficult. Gwyn