Advice please

[vicky1985]

My mum received a letter addressed to my dad saying he has been left some money as his uncle has died but my dad died 10 years ago.
Does anyone know if the money will now go to my mum?
She doesn't think she will be entitled to it so she isn't going to contact the solicitors.

Any advice?

Surely if your mum was his next to kin then she can claim it.

Thats what i thought she just doesn't want to look like shes greedy.

Shes a very strange lady. lol
I'll make sure she contacts them and if she doesn't i will.

Awww bless.

At the very least she should contact them to tell them that your dad has already passed away. Otherwise they will probably keep trying to find him.

I've watched these 'heir hunters' programmes, it seems really complicated. If the Uncle died without a will is it possible that your father was the next of kin? If so then I'm sure it doesn't pass to his wife, I think it goes to your fathers children and cousins (the next generation, if there are none of your fathers generation left - brothers/sisters?). I could be completely wrong so don't quote me on that, I would definitely follow it up though otherwise the government will get it!

he didn't have a will so all his nieces and nephews are being contacted a few of them have died so i'm guessing it's still worth a phonecall.

You can make a claim as you are a blood relative - I'm pretty sure that you (and your siblings) will get your fathers share of the estate. I'm trying to find something a bit more concrete online.

I think if a beneficiary dies before the testator then their share goes back into the general pot - unless it's some sort of Trust in which case the original gift might stand but it passes onto someone else.

Do write to the solicitors though - at the very least it'll help speed things up for probate.

Certainly worth checking out. It might be you who gets some of it, for one thing (you being one of your dad's heirs).

It will depend entirely upon what your greatuncle (I presume) specified in his will.

So for instance in our will, if our children predecease us without themselves having children, we've specified that the money will go to neices, nephews and godchildren. If the neices, nephews and godchildren all predecease us as well then it goes to charity.

I think you should of course write and let them know that your father has died and they'll contact your mum if she has any interest.

Thanks for all the replies!