To contact lawyer for update on will?

[Sleepdeprived42long]

My grandfather passed away a year ago. My grandparents and I were close and I was aware they had left me a percentage of their estate in their will which would amount to over £10k. I had contact with the lawyer in the beginning as I had to provide details of death certificate etc. But I’m not the executor, it is my aunt (my father -gran’s son - is estranged). I don’t want to appear money grabbing so I haven’t contacted my aunt or the lawyers about it. I don’t really want my aunt to know that I’ve enquired about it either-I think she would think it wasn’t my place or was stepping on her toes. She doesn’t seem keen to volunteer info re what is happening and we don’t live nearby or have much contact.

But we are about to embark on some major house renovations and it would be good to know whether and when I may hear re the will-it could be the difference between living on beans for the next year or not!!

What do you think, especially if you’ve been in a similar position, am I being unreasonable to contact the lawyer for an update?

Definitely contact the lawyer to find out if you are a beneficiary. Unless he's considerable property to sell you should have received what you were due within a year.

Yes, contact the lawyer. Especially if you've already asked your aunt what is happening. This is taking a suspiciously long time.

YANBU All Lawyers seem to need reminding though unless you are due an invoice.

If probate was needed, you can check to see if it had been granted, and when. It shouldn't take too long after probate for monies to be distributed. This can be done on line.

As you are not the executor they do not have to disclose anything to you. Probate applications are taking up to 10 -12 weeks for the grant to be issued.

Contact them by all means but don't be surprised if they do not disclose anything to you. If probate was granted and the estate settled you would receive payment.

Definitely contact yes!

Thanks everyone! I’ll see what I can find out online re probate but if I can’t find anything will just need to get my big girl pants on and contact the lawyer.

Investigate online, but if no joy then a polite enquiry to ask how things are progressing seems perfectly in order.

Are you absolutely sure that you were in the will ?

@FippertyGibbett I did see a copy of the will maybe 5 years ago after my grandmother passed away and I was left some of the estate and my uncle has suggested the same in the past. I suppose it could have changed (although unlikely because my grandfather went into a care home with dementia at that time) and this is one of the reasons I’d like to know. If there’s nothing coming, that’s fine-it wasn’t my money in the first place-just would be good to know!

As a beneficiary of a will you have certain rights. That includes a right to be told you are a beneficiary and to be told within a reasonable time of the progress of the administration of the estate, and to be given an account of the distribution of the estate with details of amounts distributed, costs etc once it has been done.

I don't think it would be unusual to find it is 18 months before it is all paid out and accounts completed. However, as someone said you can find out if probate has been granted and you can of course ask the solicitor whether you are a beneficiary of the will.

That’s @Abitofalark that’s really helpful to know

You can request a copy of the will on the gov.uk website as I've done this recently as my grandad also died just over a year ago and I'm waiting on inheritance and like you didn't want to sound grabby but the money could really come in handy right now! Probate seemed to take forever to go through and thqt is what I thought the hold up was but that finally went through weeks ago and I've heard nothing.

@beckycharlie sorry to hear you’re in similar situation but hopefully we both might hear soon. This thread has reassured me that I’m not being money grabbing and things are taking longer than they should! I’ve been in touch with court today and asked for a copy as couldn’t find anything online at all. I am wondering if things have been delayed cause of COVID??

Yep I definitely think covid has something to do with it taking so long but fingers crossed we won't have to wait much longer.

Yes, ask, why not? However, you say your grandfather went into a care home, and it might be the case that any money that was there has been spent on his care. However, after this length of time I would have thought somebody would have told you this, as long as you still are a beneficiary of course.