You gov probate search

[Chopraka]

FIL died in May 2016. We believe that he had a mirror will leaving everything to MIL. We know from MIL that probate was granted in early 2017 but the will doesn't show up on a you gov probate search. Is there any reason for this?

If the will left the entire estate to his spouse, then a grant of probate isn't required which will probably explain why one isn't showing up in the search. Why are you searching for it?

Thank you for your reply. We've no idea if it was a mirror will, MIL has told us that probate was granted. There were shares in a limited company, and we wondered what had happened to these.

Have you asked her?

Can you find the grant but not the Will? Or neither?

If everything was left to her they will now be in her name. No grant of probate would be needed, I don't think?

Collaborate feels that the info re probate not being needed if estate left to wife is incorrect

Collaborate Fri 27-Apr-18 08:46:13
If the will left the entire estate to his spouse, then a grant of probate isn't required which will probably explain why one isn't showing up in the search

That isn't correct. Probate isn't needed where the property passes under a joint tenancy rather than a will. If it passes under a will (so perhaps there was a tenancy in common, or the property was solely owned) then probate is essential.