Question about being named in a will

[basilbrush]

A few weeks, I posted an query about possibly being an Executor to my godfather's will.In the end, it turned out that I am not the Executor, his sister (who I do not know) is.

I received a short email to say that I had been named in my GF's will and then I would be notified of the value in due course when everything to do with the estate had been sorted out. It did not say whether it involved an item that had been left to me or money etc.

As I don't know this lady very well, I didn't want to appear rude or ungrateful (or mercenary!) and ask lots of questions. She has also just lost her brother. But can anyone tell me what this means? I thought if you left someone something in a will, it was clearly set out - "I leave Basil my £500 premium bonds and my rare breed cactus collection". If they are saying the value of the estate is uncertain, does that mean that there is lots of debt to be paid off first? Or does it mean I have been left an item and they need to get it valued first?

It could be money or an item, you can ask to see the Will but that might not be appropriate just at the moment. It may well be with the solicitor and any gifts given out once Probate has gone through. There might be debts to pay off. I wouldn't say anything at the moment, maybe email back and just wish them well and wait until you hear further.

The executors have to get the significant assets valued. If there may be debts they don't know about they should post notices in the press and give creditors two months to come forward. Once they know exactly what the estate is worth, have paid any Inheritance Tax, the funeral and any professional fees they will know what the estate is worth. Until then the value of the estate is uncertain.

You may have been left a specific item or items or a specific sum of money or similar as per your example of premium bonds and cactus collection. On the other hand you may be a residual beneficiary, in which case you will receive a proportion of whatever is left of the estate after funeral expenses, taxes, debts and specific gifts have been sorted out.

It is quite possible that the executor has sent the same email to everyone who is named in her brother's will. You really can't read anything into it at this stage. It takes time to administer an estate. You need to be patient.

Just to add, if you want to know what the will says, once probate has been granted you will be able to get a copy from the probate registry.

Thanks, both. Yes, I know these things can take many months, if not years.

This isn't a big estate as my GF was not a wealthy man and I'd be very surprised if there is Inheritance Tax due.

I just thought that I would be told from the outset whether I had been left an item or a (small) sum of money - but as you say, his sister may have sent a standard email to several people, I hadn't thought of this.