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Original poster

Issue in relation to grandparents’ estate - possible compensation

78 replies

IWonderWhatItCouldBe · 27/09/2025 15:35

I’ve received a letter from a solicitor acting on behalf of a bank, in relation to the estates of my grandparents, who died almost 20 years ago.

The letter says that ‘a potential issue may have arisen’ in relation to their estates, ‘that may result in compensation becoming payable’.

They died within a week of each other, intestate. I am estranged from my father (their son) due to domestic violence - he lived with them, and I hadn’t seen them for almost ten years before they died.

I don’t know how these solicitors got my married name or address. My father doesn’t know these details, so it can’t be him that passed that information on to the solicitors.

The bank they’re acting for is the same as my bank.

I’ve needed to confirm my grandparents’ address and my date of birth in order for the solicitor to discuss any further with me. But I got an automated message that they’re out of the office till Tuesday, and I’m going mad wondering what this is all about, what the potential issue is, how they tracked me down etc!

Anyone have any experience of this sort of situation? I’m wondering about the term ‘compensation’ in relation to the mysterious issue with their estates. If there’s a bank account with money in it, wouldn’t that be distributed to my father as next of kin? Unless he’s also died…But they died almost 20 years ago, would their assets have been dealt with by now?

All so curious!

OP posts:
MeltingTarmac · 30/09/2025 13:56

Thanks for the update OP. Wow, I'm glad that will was found and appreciate it must be emotionally hard for you but hopefully a good financial outcome

Lizzbear · 30/09/2025 13:58

Goodness. That’s a lot for you to take in. I really hope you get a nice sum op x

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 30/09/2025 14:07

What a lot to take in!

inamo · 30/09/2025 14:37

I hope it all works out for you, but I suspect it might take a while to fix it all up.

I'm curious as to how the will was discovered, do you know? The bank would have been negligent I think if they knew of the will in the first instance but failed in their duties as executor. But if they have only just found out, well that's a different matter. But how did they find out!

Interesting....

Lennonjingles · 30/09/2025 15:23

Re update, can you get the bank to send you copy of Probate and copy of the Will and any other information they have. There should be an Executors Statement of Account showing where the money went. I wonder where this compensation will come from, probably the bank if they’ve made an error. Might be time to seek legal advice, once you’ve got all the information.

ThreePears · 30/09/2025 15:37

Good for that bank and the solicitor then, pursuing this on your (and your sister's) behalf.

Original poster
IWonderWhatItCouldBe · 30/09/2025 15:45

The bank were named as executors of the wills, so this may indeed be negligence. The solicitor has emailed me a copy of both wills today. They’ve asked me for details of estate disbursements etc - which of course I have no idea about, but apparently that doesn’t matter, they’ll work out the value of the estate in other ways…Wondering if there should also be interest payable on the value of the estate, given that my grandparents died almost 20 years ago…

OP posts:
Original poster
IWonderWhatItCouldBe · 30/09/2025 15:46

The wills were discovered during a review of safe custody holdings

OP posts:
Spirallingdownwards · 30/09/2025 15:52

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 27/09/2025 18:22

So interesting and wondering why a bank would be involved in a will?

My active brain wonders if somehow, 'a potential issue,' means that a will was in fact found with your grandparents wishes noted?

Or maybe that your father has passed with the residue of the estate passing onto you?

People often hold their Wills in a security box in a bank strong room. Potentially a will has come to light.

If the adninistators of the estate failed to check that your grandparent's had a will held at their bank and distributed the estate erroneously then "compensation" would be payable if the adninistrators hadn't carried out their duties properly.

Spirallingdownwards · 30/09/2025 15:56

I should have read the full thread before responding 🤣 As I suspected bank held will!

Yes @IWonderWhatItCouldBe they should make sure that the capital amount that should have been available to you is what is available should your father have passed away. Your father was entitled to any interest only if he was entitled to the income. As they have distributed it to him incorrectly the compensation will be for the capital amount on the basis that your father may have spent/relied on that money being his through no fault of his own.

Marylou2 · 30/09/2025 16:02

Wow what a lot to take in OP. I imagine that it triggers so many emotions. Hope you have people to discuss and process this with. Good to know that your grandparents had your interests at heart and that there may be a legacy to help you in the future.

FloofyKat · 30/09/2025 21:44

Goodness! I hope things can be sorted relatively quickly for you!

inamo · 30/09/2025 21:50

I'm guessing your father administered the estates as having no will - intestate, so as an only child he would have been entitled to everything. Whether he did that deliberately or through not knowing about the wills held in the bank is anyone's guess.

I'd be interested in the outcome, and who actually pays the compensation, the bank or your father.

Worriedreparents · 30/09/2025 21:53

Ive always wondered what happens when a will is lodged with a solicitor or a bank. If no one notifies them the person has died how would they ever know.

inamo · 30/09/2025 22:12

Worriedreparents · 30/09/2025 21:53

Ive always wondered what happens when a will is lodged with a solicitor or a bank. If no one notifies them the person has died how would they ever know.

In an ideal world the testator should tell his/her executor(s) where the will is held. That's why I always think it's important to have a family member or close friend as one of the executors. They will know about the death of the person and hopefully where the will is. The bank as executors would not necessarily be informed if the family didn't know they held the will.

Original poster
IWonderWhatItCouldBe · 30/09/2025 22:46

inamo · 30/09/2025 21:50

I'm guessing your father administered the estates as having no will - intestate, so as an only child he would have been entitled to everything. Whether he did that deliberately or through not knowing about the wills held in the bank is anyone's guess.

I'd be interested in the outcome, and who actually pays the compensation, the bank or your father.

It will be the bank paying - they’ve confirmed they don’t intend to pursue him for anything - so I guess that means they accept sole responsibility. I find it completely implausible that he didn’t know about the wills, but as you say, unlikely I’ll ever know for sure.

OP posts:
Original poster
IWonderWhatItCouldBe · 30/09/2025 22:49

inamo · 30/09/2025 22:12

In an ideal world the testator should tell his/her executor(s) where the will is held. That's why I always think it's important to have a family member or close friend as one of the executors. They will know about the death of the person and hopefully where the will is. The bank as executors would not necessarily be informed if the family didn't know they held the will.

Show quote history

The thing is, there were two executors named in the wills - the bank, and a close friend of my grandparents, whose name I recognise. She would absolutely have known that there were wills, and that my grandparents had died. So not sure what’s happened there / who’s responsibility it ultimately was

OP posts:
Worriedreparents · 01/10/2025 00:16

Wonder if the close friend did contact the bank and they couldn’t find the will at that time due to miss filing or something. Now it’s turned up. That surely does make them liable for compensation

Lennonjingles · 01/10/2025 07:38

Have you told your Sister, what does she think, do you know now who handled the affairs of your Grandparents Estate/Probate when they died, was it your Father. Not sure about interest as it”s not like there’s a pot of money sitting somewhere, it’s likely to be a lump sum offered.

Makes you think how many times this happens.

inamo · 01/10/2025 13:05

No point in going over every possible scenario now. The bank have held their hands up and hopefully you and your sister will benefit greatly from the estates of your grandparents. I am delighted for you at this outcome.

Fulfil your dreams and most importantly enjoy the unexpected bonus!

Original poster
IWonderWhatItCouldBe · 01/10/2025 13:13

Lennonjingles · 01/10/2025 07:38

Have you told your Sister, what does she think, do you know now who handled the affairs of your Grandparents Estate/Probate when they died, was it your Father. Not sure about interest as it”s not like there’s a pot of money sitting somewhere, it’s likely to be a lump sum offered.

Makes you think how many times this happens.

The estate includes land and property - the value of which presumably has increased in the last 20 years. Yes have told my sister and our mum, we’re standing by for more news from the solicitors but they’ve said it could take several weeks.

OP posts:
ThreePears · 01/10/2025 18:01

If this was a bank error and the solicitor who contacted you is acting on behalf of the bank.... that solicitor is acting on their behalf, not yours.

They will be seeking to pay the absolute minimum of compensation they can get away with, so bear that in mind when accepting their offer.

Original poster
IWonderWhatItCouldBe · 01/10/2025 18:23

ThreePears · 01/10/2025 18:01

If this was a bank error and the solicitor who contacted you is acting on behalf of the bank.... that solicitor is acting on their behalf, not yours.

They will be seeking to pay the absolute minimum of compensation they can get away with, so bear that in mind when accepting their offer.

Yes, absolutely. I think we’ll need our own legal advise before accepting any offer they make.

OP posts:
Harassedevictee · 01/10/2025 19:21

ThreePears · 01/10/2025 18:01

If this was a bank error and the solicitor who contacted you is acting on behalf of the bank.... that solicitor is acting on their behalf, not yours.

They will be seeking to pay the absolute minimum of compensation they can get away with, so bear that in mind when accepting their offer.

I don’t disagree but honestly they could have shredded the wills and kept quiet. Sometimes organisations do the right thing and recognise full transparency might be the most cost effective option.

ThreePears · 02/10/2025 00:30

Harassedevictee · 01/10/2025 19:21

I don’t disagree but honestly they could have shredded the wills and kept quiet. Sometimes organisations do the right thing and recognise full transparency might be the most cost effective option.

Show quote history

I used to work for a bank. The inspectors were quite something to behold, and their occasional unscheduled arrival engendered fear in us all. Sometimes organisations are obliged to do the right thing because the error has been gleefully uncovered in an audit by people whose job it is to find errors made by staff.

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