Wills

[juliaburch]

Hi if someone leaves you something in a will how do you receive it?

Money? Usually a cheque from the solicitors dealing with the Probate - or a cheque from one of the Executors.

If it's 'items' then someone should contact you to arrange delivery.

Cheque, traditionally, as pp said.

It's also possible to have it paid directly into a bank account but in that case get the solicitor or executor to do it marked 'inheritance from estate of ...' or similar, so your bank is clear where the money has come from.

Items should be sent (or pick-up arranged) via the executor(s) and postage/courier charged to the estate, before the residuary beneficiaries are paid.

OK The executor has done a really bad job on my Uncles estate my mum has contacted him and he wont tell her how much his house sold for disposed of the contents and did not tell her where put stuff in auctions and this has been going on for nearly two years and he done a will as well. He now says that the papers have gone to the government for them to take their taxes out (if I have got that right) but wondered how long after that it was distributed. My mum is upset because there were things she wanted to have as a memory of her brother and now it is all gone.

Hi, that sounds so stressful and sad.

First, you need to get a copy of the actual will that's being executed. You can get this from the probate office. You can google how to do that in your area.

Through that, you can see if and how your mum was a beneficiary.

The executor isn't allowed to to dispose of the estate before probate is granted (which is, effectively, government permission) - what you're being told sounds confusing.

My mum has asked for a copy of the will and he keeps saying he has sent it but he hasn't. He is supposed to be an old friend of my uncle but he would turn in his grave if he knew what he was doing. My mum is too scared to question him.

Start here www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance

If he's at the stage of paying taxes, he's got probate.

Or he's lying.

Tbh I'd see a solicitor. If he's thieving, tell the police - it's theft and fraud. It's common, because so many people don't challenge because they haven't seen the will; and the police can't act until a will is shown to them.

Your mum does need to prove she's a beneficiary. So get a copy of the will. Good luck.

My brother rang him two weeks ago and he said he sent the papers so the tax people could have their cut. The problem we have is that if we get a solicitor we have to start paying and as he pointed out to us he is doing this for free (well I dont suppose he is) My Mum is devastated because treasured things have gone and he has said they were promised to people. She went up in the beginning and got a few things he treasured nothing major like the lunchbox they used when evacuated in the war and photos and he followed her around the house writing down what she had taken.