To think XH has outdone himself

OP, I’m absolutely not an expert on inheritances but I have had some dealings with one of those heir hunting companies. Before the money was paid out, they made it very clear that if any other beneficiaries were discovered then the inheritance might need to be adjusted to ensure that they got their rightful share. They even sold insurance in case that happened. Different in my case as there was no will, but it might be worth telling them not to spend it all until this issue with the ‘secret’ family has been resolved.

It’s not his money it’s his fathers!

Knowing how nefarious some crooks can be, I'm not at all surprised that the solicitor is being super careful. You should actually be reassured that they are taking so much trouble.

Then you need to update your will every time another grandchild is born. Also, OP has explained that this would have angered his two sons who want to forget the existence of a third brother.

A relative recently had to get a death certificate authorised for a solicitor overseas. They could take it to any solicitor in the UK to confirm authenticity. (Found one locally who didn't even charge as the process took so little time.)

No. Perhaps a live video call may be acceptable?

If DD1 cannot get to an Embassy easily, she may find it earier to get a Notary to cerfify her identity. However, it is likley that the notarial certificate will need to be apostilled. Probably cheaper to do it through the Embassy though.

Check with the solicitor if this is an option. An apostilled Notarial certificate should be accepted

It demonstrates what a nasty little man he is. I hope she gets her inheritance without any issue. I'm sure her grandfather would be ashamed of his son.

The grandfather could have named his grandchildren in his will

I’m not saying that. I’m not an English probate lawyer so I don’t know for sure. I’m just saying that it shouldn’t be assumed that the lawyer is being difficult or doing more than is required by law. Things are moving so fast in the electronic/ ID sphere that the law often lags behind.

I had to deal with ID in my job, I had to verify that I had seen the original docs so couldn't accept a document that had been photocopied for example . I would imagine that the solicitor requires the documents to be verified as originals by a competent official.

As for identity documents, I am a dual national and have had to take my documents to the embassy to be verified. It’s an 8 hour round trip for me even in the UK and requires an overnight stay. It’s a pain, but get it done. I’ve lived in rural Asia and it’s not hard to get a bus or a train to a capital city. She just needs to make a trip of it.

Not always no. In person ID is often required.

In the U.K. ( and much of the rest of Europe) there are strict legal requirements imposed on banks, financial service institutions and solicitors as regulated persons to verify the identity of clients and other parties to whom they will be making money transfers. In many cases you can’t effectively verify the identity of a person you have not seen face to face or tie them to a legal document.

The solicitor is complying with the law.

I’m guessing he did this because she had a close and loving relationship with her grandfather.

I’d try to see it as a blessing really. Every time I start to soften up and feel a bit sorry for my mum (we are NC), she does something really awful and I’m reminded why I made such a sensible decision to begin with.

Haven’t RTFT but agree with this - and it’s sloppy will drafting. It is generically specified all Gc then that’s what it means. If it named the parties then that’s a different matter.

Why is it that people who are so quick to jump on a poster for being wrong don’t bother to read the many other posts that follow and assume they must be the first to correct them??

I know when my son inherited from grandpa he had to wait until he was next in UK then his dad took him to the solicitors with all the paperwork.

If an executor breaches their duties, they can be held personally liable to compensate the estate or beneficiaries.

Irrelevant to the situation. The will is legit. She's entitled to it.

Your ExH is a terrible excuse of a father.

This is not only reasonable but the correct approach. The solicitor need to be sure that your daughter is a rightful beneficiary and seek proof. It should give you confort that the solicitor is properly checking her identity, as he should with all beneficiaries.
Imagine somebody gets hold of a copy beneficiaries birth certificate and just emails it in, never meets the solicitor, simply say that they are someone they are not and the solicitor distributed some or part of the estate to them. You would be outraged at thier negligence

Agreed. I’d start with a complaint to solicitors and attempt to take him off as executor. The solicitors should evidence why they have chosen not to report him for attempted fraud or take any other action eg remove him as executor themselves.