No Beneficiaries Named in Will

[TameDucksAtChatsworth]

I downloaded a will from the goverment's probabte site because I believe it might have had some impact on my family. We were not close to the person who died and I wasn't expecting to be named as a beneficiary.

The deceased died in 2016. Probate (grant) was given and this was included in the download.

I was surprised to see that there were no beneficaries named at all.

An executor is named, with paragraphs about a law firm doing that duty if the named executor is unable to.

There was also a "letter"- a brief paragraph saying that one child has had no provision made for them as they are financially provided for.

Does anyone know what this means? There is another adult child but she-or anyone else is not mentioned-either by the word daughter or by name. No organisations such as The Cats Home is mentioned either.

So, does anyone know what it means when a will doesn't mention a beneficiary?

If no one is named as a beneficiary then they died intestate and it fails as a will. Are you sure you read it correctly? If it was prepared by the named solicitors it's highly unlikely to have missed out naming the beneficiaries. Are you sure you were sent all the papers? Is there a page missing?

It doesn't sound like you have received all the papers.

If a person dies without having made an effective will then there are legal defaults for inheritance, which is usually that the estate is divided up equitably and distributed to all valid claimants. All valid claimants would be beneficiaries in the law.

Thank you for replying,

I wondered if there was a page missing as it ends with the paragraph saying that provision is not being made for one child and that paragraph is signed and dated by the deceased.

The legal firm is named as executors if the named executor (family member) doesn't do it for any reason but there are no witnesses to the will at the bottom.

It does seem as if a page is missing between the stuff about executors and the paragraph about no provision for one child.

The grant came with the will though, so I assumed it was all above board and probate given.

Is a page missing but then it says there are 2 pages and 2 pages came through.

How could I check if a page was missing?

A page must be missing as the will can have no effect unless signed and properly witnessed. Ring the probate registry and ask them to look for you.

Thanks!