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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Original poster

I didn't get my inheritance?

42 replies

Smeggle · 28/09/2017 15:57

My granny died 17yrs ago and I've just found out I was due an inheritance (1k) which I never received. Now what? I have no funds to chase this up legally. I am nc with my family.

OP posts:
brasty · 28/09/2017 17:20

I have known a few people cheated out of smaller amounts in wills such as this. They have all had to let it go. Unless you spend a lot of money pursuing it privately, there seems to be no mechanism to address it.

Slimthistime · 28/09/2017 17:21

LoyaltyandLobster "OP I'm sorry, but £1k isn't worth any trouble"

um, didn't you pop up on another thread where the poster was a bit short of cash and you "couldn't imagine" being in that position?

£1k is worth several hours of my time and a good deal of effort to recover. It might not be worth paying a legal fee but putting in effort - sure.

Bluntness100 · 28/09/2017 17:21

Were you a child and it was given to your parents on your behalf? You need to provide further information, I’m sorry.

asongforthelovers · 28/09/2017 17:25

My dad ‘supposedly’ had a trust fund for my sister and i, he passed away coming up 2 years and we have never heard or saw anything.

Bummer!

LaurieFairyCake · 28/09/2017 17:25

That's absolutely fucking awful Flowers

You should absolutely write to the executor and ask for the money

PollyFlint · 28/09/2017 17:25

First of all, how did you find this out? Have you actually seen proof - ie, have you seen a copy of the will itself? Or has someone just told you without any documentation to back it up? If it was 17 years ago, it's more than possible they're mistaken or have remembered wrongly.

Secondly, who was the executor of the will and were in you NC with that executor at the time the money was dished out?

As others have said, while I totally see why you're upset, I would have thought you'd end up spending more money pursuing a claim than the actual amount of money you'd get.

EggysMom · 28/09/2017 17:27

Is the Executor even still alive?

SirGawain · 28/09/2017 17:30

If you pursue this it will end like Jarndyce versus Jarndyce.

Slimthistime · 28/09/2017 17:34

or, Gawain, it could go like this

OP obtains copy of will

OP writes to Executor

Executor thinks "bugger, I've been found out" and gives OP money.

I'm all for being realistic why are some of you so quick to tell the OP it's a waste of time?

Topseyt · 28/09/2017 17:40

If you have a copy of the will then try to contact the executor, if they are still alive. Ask about the £1k that was earmarked for you and what happened to it.

If you get no joy there then you will have to explore the legal route, but bear in mind that solicitor's fees will eat away at the inheritance with no guarantee of success.

InvisibleKittenAttack · 28/09/2017 17:44

If contacting the executor will involve starting up a conversation with family members you are mentally better off without them in your life, then don't invite them back in for what is a relatively small sum.

£1k isn't a life changing sum of money, but it could negatively change your life if you reopen lines of communication with people who will actively hurt you by being in your life.

You now know your Granny did remember you, even if your family tried to stop you finding out.

yorkshireyummymummy · 28/09/2017 17:49

If you haven't got one then you need to get a copy of the will.
If it states in it that you were to be gifted a set ammount or a percentage then write to the executor of the will ( whose name will be on the will) and ask for your money- including eighteen years interest ( government websites currently reccomend 8% interest when claiming money) - and an explanation as to why you did not receive this money at the time. If you get a cheque through the post - hooray!! If you don't then go to the citizens advice bureau armed with as much information as you have got.
There is a Govermnment website you can use, it's like taking somebody to the small claims court. I'm just about to use it with an ex employer for holiday pay. It's not expensive to use at all- it's designed for people who don't have the money for lawyers or for small claims. It's self explanatory. If I wasn't a techno idiot I would post a link ( sorry!!)
I don't see why you should just move on from this. Somebody who was placed in a position of trust by your grandmother has betrayed that trust and committed fraud. Someone has stolen £1000 from you. If you can't get it back then I would most certainly - once I was sure of the circumstances- let every body possible know what a dreadful thing this person has done to you. It's almost like stealing from the dead isn't it. Awful. Good luck, I really hope you get it- with interest!

littlebillie · 28/09/2017 17:53

I would ask the Executor politely what happened. If it a legal entity do it writing and send it recorded and on email. If it was a discretionary will trust then you could have been missed out, as it is a the trustee discretion and perfectly legal to do so. Sorry Op.

larrygrylls · 28/09/2017 18:56

1k 17 years ago is probably between 2 and 3k in today's money. Well worth an hour of a local lawyer's time.

Sillybilly7777 · 28/09/2017 18:59

Wills (or probate) are public property aren't they so should be fairly easy to get a copy of it.

brasty · 28/09/2017 19:03

Yes this will has had to go to probate.
The times I know where the executor has stole money, the estate was too small to go to probate, so no one could help

ittakes2 · 29/09/2017 10:48

Contact your local legal aid and ask them - it's free.

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