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Original poster

If mil was part owner of a house, and she died

56 replies

Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:08

i/2 house was left to her in a will, but a person could live there until she did.

We cannot find soliciters/person who is other part owner but know house was sold in 2002/

What can we do?

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 27/07/2007 17:10

Advertise?
though it is not really in their interest to come forward I suppose

What does your solicitor say?

You could hire private detective

CarGirl · 27/07/2007 17:11

land registry - who owns it now, find out the solicitor who dealt with the purchase?

RubySlippers · 27/07/2007 17:11

your MIL is presumably entitled to her share if the house has now been sold
what about tracing through the land registry

Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:12

don't know where she is living.

dh dealing with it. solicitor not involved although we ahve rung up countless ones who dealing with mil in past but not much help

Need to find details of solicitor who dealt with house sale in 2002 but cannot find either

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Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:13

Land registry just tell us it is sold but andname of purchaser but that is it

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RubySlippers · 27/07/2007 17:13

don't know if this is any help
you may be able to get a copy of the will
from that you may get more information about executors etc

CarGirl · 27/07/2007 17:13

first step is to track down other person - electorall roll?

Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:16

the house was left to mil 20 or so years ago. But she lost cntact with ohter 1/2 share iykwim. Don't need will but need to trace her or the solicitor who did 2002 house sale.

We only know her first adn second name, no dob, address or anything. Solicitor that dealt with it in past has ceased

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bran · 27/07/2007 17:23

Are the people living in the house now the people who bought it in 2002? They may still have a forwarding address, or perhaps remember the town that the seller is moving to which would get you a step closer.

Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:24

oh yes - we could contact people living there

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bran · 27/07/2007 17:28

From the thread title I understand that your MIL is dead, perhaps the other person thought that meant the whole house reverted back to him/her.

If the other person knew that half of the house was not theirs to sell I would imagine that he/she will be keeping a low profile or may have emigrated. In which case I think your only hope would be a private detective.

CountessDracula · 27/07/2007 17:28

surely the people who bought in 2002 will have the documentation which would include letters from solicitors on other side

CountessDracula · 27/07/2007 17:29

I think if you have a life interest in a property you can still sell it and buy another if for eg your needs change

Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:33

We don't know the name of the new owners though

Yes perhaps they will be keeping a low profile.

cd yes a life interest and mil had a reversionary interest

Mil not been in contact with them for ages - perhaps they hope she will ahve forgotten

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Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:34

likely it was sold becasue of death though. even so would be good to reinstate coontact

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bran · 27/07/2007 17:36

So who died? I'm easily confused. Are you anticipating problems from your MIL's possible death?

Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:37

mil has died.

going through her things as dh is executor of will.

the mother of one of the sons was living in house unti she died. then it reverted to other son and mil

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Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:38

can you find out who is living at a certain address now?

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bran · 27/07/2007 17:45

You could probably send a letter to "The occupant" at that address saying that you need to trace the previous owner of the house and asking them to phone. It might be best to send a solicitors letter as it would look less like a debt collection agency or something.

Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 17:57

Bran - good idea.

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Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 18:55

thoguth of looking on friends reunited

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oooggs · 27/07/2007 19:01

what do you want to know? The Land Registry have told you the name of the new owner? Not sure what you want? Maybe able to help

vonsudenfed · 27/07/2007 19:03

How much do you know about the people who sold the house?

It may be worth doing a trawl on 192.com. Whether that works or not rather depends on how common their name is.

And if that doesn't work, the local council should be able to help you find names and addresses from 2001 electoral roll, and then you can use that to track them down.

Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 19:03

new owner sold up two years after buying.

need to find solicitor who sold house in 2002. We have the buyers but they re asking 50 quid to have a look for the other solicitor with no guarantee of finding it.

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Original poster
Beetroot · 27/07/2007 19:05

trouble is we do not know where the woman who was living int he house or the people who own the other half share are now. and the names are really really common

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