Can't find a will or details of solicitors

[Chersfrozenface]

My husband is NOK for an uncle of his who died recently. His uncle told him some years that he (the uncle) was making my husband executor of his will. However, he never mentioned who made / was writing the will or where it was / would be kept.

The problem is that we have found no trace of a will, solicitors' details or correspondence on the subject at the deceased uncle's house. We can't access his emails as he did not leave full login details for his computer.

We will try contacting local solicitors' firms. But is it worth paying for a search by the National Will Register?

"...but it doesn't give you any rights."

It does if a person dies without making a will.

The older relatives in my family tend to use the most local solicitor, the same one they've been using since they bought their first house 60 years and probably used by their parents back in the day. (Obviously not as likely if its a big city).

If you find any paperwork sent from a solicitor, e.g house sales, LPOA set up, business accounts etc it's probably worth contacting them on the off chance.

What about old cheque books? Check through them incase bills were paid via cheque etc, older people tend to keep stuff like that.

We had the same when a relative of dp died. We just called all the local solicitors until we found the one that did hold the will. There are also big national solicitors like the co op. Calling round as you have planned is probably the easiest way. His relative was very cagey and didn't want things like internet banking or poa. I don't think it's that uncommon.

Ring solicitors near to his home or in the town in which he lives and ask them.

Yes, been through all the papers we can find. Next thing is looking in unlikely places, just in case.

Already doing that.

Sole executor.

Sometimes people's accountants know about people's Wills. Who did the Uncle's tax every year?

Why do people not read the ops posts?!

Obviously the police will always try to contact a relative in the case of a sudden death, but it is correct that there is no LEGAL standing of next of kin. Did DHs uncle have any other relatives? If a Will cannot be found, then the estate will be distributed according to rules of intestacy and someone has to apply for letters of administration.

The Probate Office only store the Wills of deceased persons after Probate has been granted.

I found my DMs Will in a biscuit tin in her shed!!!

HMCTS does store wills sent to it, for a fairly low fee. The will, form and fee have to be sent to Newcastle District Probate Registry.

I doubt whether DH's uncle would have sent a will there, but we might eventually have to enquire, for completeness.

Around 18% of people over the age of 65 have to do a tax return. So, 82%, or just over 4 out of 5 pensioners do not make a tax return.

My father died last year. He was NC with my DB & I, in fact we didn’t even know he was alive/where he lived until we were tracked down by the council.
No will was found initially & he was a hoarder. As he had no other known NOK, DB & I were assumed to be it until/if a will was located.
We cleared out his flat & found no will. In fact we found his old will (made whilst he was married to our DM) which he had torn up but had taken the time to write on it that he’d done it! We used the National Will Service & none was found.
An inquest prolonged things but his estate was deemed intestate & as DB was older he was deemed the Adminstrator. It took about 5-6minths to sort out, mainly due to the inquest delaying things.
Id recommend using the will service just to cover that base & search everywhere! Even odd places as some people do odd things with important documents.

You could contact the local Law Society. Our county law society has a regular “lost wills” section in its monthly newsletter which is sent to all member firms so has a wide reach.

Another option would be an ad in the Law Society Gazette.

Ultimately, if you can’t find the will you’ll have to proceed under the intestacy rules.

Incorrect. The Probate Registry store's anyone's will. It costs £23.

Does he have a phone book / stored phone numbers on phone? Might find the solicitor on there.

I don't think it's weird that OP wasn't given the wil or told where it was stored. People are weird about death. My dad said he had a will but mum would never find it. We looked everywhere. No will. Mum got everything via probate.

Fil said he has a will and dh and bil are beneficiaries. But also won't give dh the contact details fir his POA. I'd bet my arm there's no will. They cost time and money. So why make one nobody kind find? Like Fil POA, I'm suspicious it's something that they I'd ideally like to do but not got round too. Or left everything to the person with POA but don't want to tell dh. It's a bit like pulling teeth. How many times do you ask if a relative has their estate in order? If they wanted you to know I think they would tell you. But people are complicated.

When I was executor, the solicitor contacted me because the part of my aunt’s will that contained the section about her executors contained my contact details.

For a solicitor to do that in our case they would have to know that my DH's uncle had died.

Was your husband his only relative he had any contact with? Are you aware of any friends? Ex partners?

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