Genealogy Chat

My neice's mother died recently (??about 9 mths ago). She was astranged from the family and we're not even sure if this is true) Is there any way of finding out. We think she lived in Berwick - at least that's where she was about 15 yrs ago when she last had contact with her mother. Can anyone help??? Regards Helena

Thanks Anne I'll have a look Helena

I think you will find you need the exact date of death. How have you heard about this possible death? Can you not make further enquiries or check the local papers? Ive recently contacted a local office re a death and they have given me the ref no. for it at another neighbouring office. I guess you could take a chance on emailing the local office to ask if you could purchase this certificate?

Heard about the death from another family member but a LOT of BAD feeling in the family and they are unable or unwilling to provide further info. We tried the local paper but didn't find anything but not even sure where death took place. Isn't it sad that families have such rifts. I can find out things that happened over 100 years ago but not what happened in the last 12 months.

Ann You wouldn't believe what my poor niece has had to endure, she was excluded from her own father's funeral, her and I sat together and traveled on our own while the rest of the family made all the decisions. I pleaded with her aunt (her father's sister) not to exclude her but she was so caught up in her own grief that she wouldn't listen. Now her mother (who divorced ger dad when she was a small child) has also died and she wasn't even told until a few days ago. We want to find out when, where and why as she has children and for family history it may be relevent. She had contacted her mother following the divorce and that was also seen as a faault but hadn't kept in touch partly for her father's ake. If families could just get on life would be simpler.

Have you thought about trying to find her will, if there was one. Wills are in the public domain so I don't think you have to prove who you are to see one. Besides is your neice not her mother's next of kin? I would try and ring Citizens Advice to find out how you can locate a will.

Thanks Anne We'll keep looking and if all else fails I'll go back to the other family members and ask again. Thanks for all your help with this, I'll re-check the papers again, I feel a bit more optomistic about it now somehow after posting the message and your advice, thanks very much helena

Found the death in a local paper, searched over longer time frame, death was earlier than reported. Thanks to Anne for all her advice Helena