Unpaid legacy

[thruthe]

I've just discovered that my DD was left some money by her godmother who died 7 years ago. It was a cash legacy plus the residue of her estate (divided between several godchildren).

DD hasn't received anything and the first I learnt of this was when, out of curiosity, I requested a copy of the godmother's will.

I guess it's possible that godmother left nothing but debts so there was no estate left to divide... but what do I do to find out?

Contact the executor named in the will.

OK.

Who was the executor?

Do you know any of the other godchildren and whether they received anything?

I've checked with another godchild and he hasn't received anything either. Executor was friend's brother who lives in Canada, so he seems to have appointed a representative (an IFA) although the will stipulates that in his absence, two of the older godchildren would be executors. Seems pretty strange, but I'm not a legal expert.

Did the will come with a copy of the probate? That will tell you roughly whether there was much left. It will also have details of the executors and the solicitors who acted for them. If they used solicitors, I would contact them first.

The copy of the probate seems to say that she left less than £325,000 but it doesn't say how much.

I misread the will -- she left the residue of her estate to her brother and only if he had died, to her godchildren.