How do I find out the value of a deceased person's estate?

[Perrymatlockmarple]

Hi.
I'm concerned that the Executor of my late MIL's estate has kept the money for herself.
I don't think she had a Will but if she did, how would I find out info?
I've asked the woman in question about some jewellery for my daughter, and she said there isn't any - but we saw her wearing it!

If the estate had to go through probate then the value would be in the public domain. If it was a very small estate, it’s likely probate wasn’t needed so there’s no way to check.

How do I find the estate if its in the public domain. Thanks.

Have you seen the will and what it says?

If there was no will there is no executor.

You can look up and get copies of Wills for a small fee.
https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate

I haven't seen the will.
I'm trying to find out where her money & jewellery have gone.
DH is too upset to speak with his sister (my SIL)

I'm a bit biased on this one at the moment but your comment "DH is too upset to speak with his sister" rather resonates - do you mean just recently or in general - has the sister done all the tidying up of the estate, perhaps cleared the house, organised the funeral, contacted everyone by herself while your DH has been "too upset"? Perhaps not?

I get what you're saying, has my DH helped SIL.
Yes. He registered the death and helped notify people.
Got the after-gathering organised in a local restaurant (the owner is a friend, so closed for a few hours).

Is SIL the executor of the will ?

So this is your MIL's estate? If your DH is too upset have you been too hasty in asking SIL for things, is she not equally too upset to deal with people asking for her recently deceased DMs property.

She died a year ago.
I asked her very politely, kindly and reluctantly if she thought it was possible for my daughter to maybe have a necklace or bracelet that belonged to her grandmother.
SIL & DH are Executors, but SIL said that she would do it on her own cos DH works full time and she's part time.

Your DH can ask the solicitor, without her permission, if he is a named Executor. Your DH needs to step up to this

I think in that case unless DH either talks to his sister or a solicitor there is not a lot can be done about it but I would think very carefully if it is worth it as you can't accuse SIL of mishandling the estate without it causing issues.

OP, having been through this exact situation, be careful. My sibling left me to register the death, clear the house, take everything to a car boot sale, arrange for the house clearance people, then clean the house from top to bottom, redecorate, dispose of the car, get jewelry valued, dispose of shares, have the house valued, engage an estate agent, market the house, keep the garden up together.

Air the house, deal with informing DHS, private pension fund, passport office, DVLA etc. Pretty full on for 9 months.

I got very very fed up of sibling phoning and asking "How much?"

Your husband allowed himself to be eased out. However as executor he has to sign claim forms etc to get funds from banks etc. I suggest he steps up and insists on seeing paperwork etc. If she still refuses and you're sure the estate had value then see a solicitor and get them to send her a letter.

Registering the death and sorting out the funeral and wake is the easy part albeit happens at the most difficult time. Sorting out the estate and executing the Will is the hard part. It is upsetting, hard work and just awful, especially if you are being pestered about distribution. There can be things you find out about your parent that you really don't want to know. Your DH has left his sister to do this by herself.

You say your DH is an Executor, so there is a Will. You cannot be an Executor without one. Has he even seen the Will? Did your MIL bequeath the items in question?

Until Probate has been granted, your SIL is under no obligation to make any distribution. It is recommended that no distribution is made for ten months post grant in case of dispute. Your DH needs to step up and help his sister.

You don’t think there’s a will but your husband is the executor of it? How?!

Sounds like he’s left all the grunt work to his sister and is now “too upset” to speak to her. Hopefully upset translates as “ashamed”because he should be.

And now you come along, accusing her of being a thief and trying to take her dead mums jewellery off her wrist. Grabby much?

Your DH can’t be an executor if there is no will, so if they are executors then there is a will and he can access to it. While you say your DH is “too upset” he needs to step up and ask her / insist on seeing the will. He should also ask to see the accounts she will need to have prepared to wrk out value of the estate.

Thanks.

If there's no will there are no executors. Did your dh and sil apply for letters of administration, who decided sil was to deal with the estate and probate herself, has she got legal permission to do this.

Fgs - get your partner to ask for a copy of the will. That is it! All this being upset is likely to be ‘I will leave it to my sibling as they are far better than me’. Been there and had this sort of attitude.

Honestly you sound a little grabby but this can all be sorted out by your husband should he be inclined to do so!

There’s a specific question on the probate application regarding permission for one executor to deal with it alone. I can’t remember the exact wording but they have to confirm that it’s in writing.

you can challenge a probate application made by someone else.