To think XH has outdone himself

[BurnoutGP]

DD1 is 24 DD2 Is 18. The father is not a good man or father. DD1 is estranged through no fault of her own. Paternal grandfather died last year and DD2 was told all grandchildren were left 5K.
Few weeks ago a letter arrived for DD2 asking her to attend solicitor with proof of ID/address etc for inheritance. Nothing for DD1. She is currently travelling abroad so we assumed her father had said he didn't know where she was. She emailed the solicitors and got no response. Very upset thinking she had for some reason been left out the will (no reason she loved him and visiting him more than the other grandchildren including DD2). She requested a copy of the will online and it states 5k to all his grandchildren but not named by name.
I rung solicitors who confirmed that XH when asked for a list of his children did not identify her at all so they were unable to communicate with her until her identify was proved. I have since taken in her birth certificate.

They have been estranged for years since she was a teen. After years of letting her down and gaslighting she decided to leave it to him to make contact and he never did. This has affected her hugely. She is so upset about this.
I am sadly not surprised he is a spiteful abusive little man.
AUBU that this is pretty low even for him.

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.

The grandfather could have named his grandchildren in his will

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.

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

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.)

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.

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.

It’s not his money it’s his fathers!

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.

She wasn't estranged from the grandfather though. OP even stated in her post that she bothered more with the grandfather than the grandchild who was contacted to claim her inheritance

I think you are out of order not telling the solicitor that you believe there are other grandchildren. You are withholding information in the same way as XH who you condemn.

I can't imagine the solicitor is making the process more difficult than necessary. You need to go along with their requests.

No it’s not. It has to be done correctly.

1. it was the grandfather not the father

2. if shes been left it in the will, it doesn't matter if she has a relationship or not.

Everyone seems to be speaking as though the XH is the executor - but that doesn't seem to be the case does it? (Sorry if I've missed OP saying that he is.)

Surely the solicitor is the executor? That's why OP's DD is having to prove ID to them. If the XH was the executor, he'd be the one sending out cheques or whatever and distributing the estate.

In which case the solicitor has asked the XH for the names of the grandchildren just so they have the information and can distribute - not because the XH has a role as an executor.

I'd still say this means the XH has committed fraud, but it doesn't mean OP has to avoid "rocking the boat" or maintaining leverage over the XH, as it's not him but the solicitor who's in charges of giving DD her share (and has a legal duty to do so).

Did you read…she did have relationship with gf. More so than younger dd2 who was notified

her inheritance has nothing whatsoever to do with her father, especially if he’s not executor. He’s not the one who died

I do see it is not responsibility of father to tell solicitor all the grandchildren’s name, and leave out his estranged daughter. That’s why there is a period between probate granted, when will becomes public, and distribution of assets that is strongly recommended by office of probate. For 6-10 months, For people like the daughter to see the will and come forward as beneficiary. I’m surprised the solicitor, as executor, didn’t do a check up on this himself. If father was executor or joint executor and failed to make contact with someone re his estranged daughter entitlement, then that would be potentially fraud, if daughter could prove he was trying to deliberately remove her from her benefits.

@socks1107 58 times mentioned on the thread.* *Socks may not have read the OP correctly and apologised for it early on, but the irony, the number of posters who have kept banging on, obviously not reading the thread.

Did you not read it?! The op said DD1 visited the GP regularly. It was his will and money, not her dad's!

No doubt so the money grubber could get the extra £5k himself. What an utter creep. But look on the bright side, this is utter validation that her no contact is exactly the right way to behave towards him. Hope her sister takes note.

If he was set to financially benefit from his fraud - do make sure he is reported.

Did you read the post ?

They need to see that person exists as well. Probably why they are asking for her to go to an embassy to have someone official verify who she is. Especially as she is not named in the will, only listed as grandchild.

If a solicitor is involved, I doubt XH is an executor. Perhaps grandfather selected a solicitor in the hope that the will would be executed to the letter. Which seems sensible given the complicated backstory to this family. I am surpirsed that noone else has been involved to verify who was to benefit from the will.

I am an executor of my mum's estate and things are rarely as straight forward as they seem.

Most firms require that originals of ID be seen by them, or certified by someone else with appropriate professional standing. There are a few software products, for example thirdfort, but most firms don’t have access to those as the alternative works and they don’t want the additional costs burden (which is significant and cannot be recharged to clients). I appreciate it is frustrating and they sound at the more formal end of the spectrum but the requirements are certainly not outwith the normal range.
As an alternative they can hold on to the cash til your daughter is back, if you would prefer.

When my parents died their will stated that the monies be divided equally between their 4 DGC and they named them, however because the will was five years old it did not name the last DGC. The solicitor wrote to the the four who were named and because they agreed the money was split 5 ways instead of 4. This meant less for the original four but they were in agreement that it was fair.

Regarding *BurnoutGP *maybe paying out for DD1 would mean less in the kitty for ex.

She is also stating DD1 needs to have her identity document confirmed abroad at an embassy (near impossible DD1 is in rural Asia) they say they have no means to do this electronically. I only live in Europe BurnoutGP and I sometimes find it difficult to follow the demands of the UK government,
I have also lived Asia maybe there is a Europe doctor/school etc who can verify her papers. It is for her security. Otherwise for such a sum she should make a little holiday to the nearest place that the solicitor agrees to.

She had a relationship with her grandfather. It says so in the OP