Probate question

[crackernutted]

My Grandfather died 21 years ago. My Father was the executor of the will and probate happened. My Father died 5 years ago. A year ago I was going through all his papers in an old bag and found that a company had been trying to get in touch with him regarding some shares that my Grandfather owned. I wasn't sure if it had been dealt with so called them and it was never sorted out. The shares were worth around £10k. As the executor of my Fathers will I am expected to deal with this. I've been very busy and unwell so have put off the paperwork. The company have been in the recently and the shares are now worth almost £20k. I'm a bit overwhelmed. They want me to decide if I want the shares in my name or to sell them. I haven't a clue. They want proof of probate, one with an embossed seal. I don't understand exactly what probate is or if it needs to happen again with regards to the shares. Can anyone advise?

I went through the probate procedure a few years ago, they are fairly straight forward, but my advise if your feeling overwhelmed by it all would be seek help from a solicitor. Even if it cost 2 or 3 hundred pounds I think the ease and peace of mind that it gets done right first time will be worth it.

You need to get a copy of the grant of probate for your father’s estate and send it as requested. Were you the executor? If not who was? They should have it.

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/help

I would imagine they'd also want to see a copy of the grandfathers will (if there was one) and probate as well as a copy of the fathers will and probate, so that they can trace who the current beneficiary of the shares is and who they should therefore be paying the money / transferring the shares to.

I was executor of my father's will and he didn't go through probate.

I have a copy of my Grandfathers will and can see online the date of probate. I have my Fathers will.

Will there be another probate for these shares?

you will need to apply for a grant of probate in your fathers name to create a ‘line’ these have to be grants of Probate and not letters of administration (granted when there is no will)

Once you have this you can deal with the shares and distribute in accordance with your grandfathers will.

I didn't think my Father had to go through probate? He left a small amount of money in his will to me. It was straightforward, no property.

Unfortunately I think once an estate involves shares and / or property, you need probate to deal wit them. So your grandfathers estate would need to have probate to pass the shares on to your father , and your fathers estate will need to have probate to pass them on to you. but worth double checking (perhaps with the company involved) as two lots of probate is expensive if not needed.