Are relatives told when someone views a will online?

[allabitmuch45]

Nothing underhand going on. I would just like to see a copy of a loved one's will as the contents may help me sleep at night (due to financial concerns). Nobody in the wider family knows we are in so much debt and I don't want to tell them or to appear grabby by asking the executors. Does anyone please know if relatives are informed when someone views a will through the public probate search?

Just in case anyone thinks this is a grabby thread, I just want to clarify I would much rather have my loved one back than the money. And I will respect whatever choices they have made in their will. But I have reason to believe I may have been named in the will so given I can't have my loved one back again, this is purely a financial question.

No one will know

No one will know and you can download it for a couple of pounds.

However, if you were named in the will the executor is duty-bound to tell you. Do you suspect someone of holding back that information?

If they need care though there might not be any money left. I wouldn't look as it may not be guaranteed financial security down the line

Thank you for the replies. To answer questions...

No chance anyone is holding information back and no conflicts or anything like that. We are a close family, no issues like that. I just don't want to tell anyone about our money situation as they will probably offer to help with their own money and we don't want that unless it gets to absolute crisis point. It's just been a slow process and probate has only just been granted so the executors haven't started their bit yet.

I broadly know my deceased loved one's financial situation and if I am named then it will bring significant financial security to the point of paying off debts and our mortgage with some left over. I don't want to go into any more details about that but I do know this really could bring peace of mind.

Are you assuming the person is still alive?

OP, if the person is still alive then you can't see their will. Just to clarify!

You might still not be any the wiser. FiL names our kids for a fixed sum but DH gets "a third" and we still don't know how much that will be. So if you get "a fifth" for example it might not make it clearer.

Can you ask the solicitor for a copy?

Thanks all. Unfortunately my relative is dead. As I said above, I would much rather they were still here regardless of any financial benefit that may or may not come my way. However, they did live well into their 90s so as sad as we all are, it's not like it was a totally sudden or unexpected loss.

I have ordered the will via the online system now and I am waiting for it to be sent so I will know one way or the other. Either way is fine as it is their wishes. I know nothing is ever set in stone but it will just help me have a better understanding of what our financial future may hold so we can plan/act accordingly. Thank you for the replies.

Good luck OP. We did this for a great uncle and found I was a beneficiary before we were told by the executor, it was helpful to know. No one knows we did!

OP
How do you find the will ?

Here is the link to search for a will:

probatesearch.service.gov.uk

If the Will has got to the point of being published online and no one has contacted you about being a beneficiary then sadly you are highly likely not to have been a beneficiary UNLESS there has been some very bad practice by the executor(s)