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Original poster

Will someone tell me when he dies?

22 replies

SargeMimpson · 17/02/2025 18:48

DM died 18 months ago and left me a share of her house in her will, however, there was a clause that her husband can live there till he dies.

I am NC with him, for good reason.

He's mid/late 80s so sooner or later he'll die but I don't think any of his family will tell me.

How will I find out? Will the lawyer who dealt with my mum's will (and who also dealt with his will) get in touch with me?

OP posts:
Neveranynamesleft · 17/02/2025 18:50

Maybe a phone call to them would put your mind at rest.

Original poster
SargeMimpson · 18/02/2025 06:57

That's not possible, unless you mean a call to the solicitor? I can't call him or his family.

OP posts:
SomewhereInMyHeart · 18/02/2025 07:14

If he lives in Scotland and you know his name you could check this website periodically:
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

Urghhhhhhh · 18/02/2025 07:30

Yes that's a question for the lawyer, exactly.

BilboBlaggin · 18/02/2025 07:35

Was your DM's half of the house put into trust for you? This is what my DH did with his half of our house before he died last year (to protect it from any future care home fees I'll need in future). If it's in trust then the executors of your mums Will will typically be the trustees who manage the trust. It would be their responsibility to inform you of the death of the person who has a life interest in the share. Hopefully in your case it's the solicitors and not the DH's family.

Original poster
SargeMimpson · 18/02/2025 07:43

SomewhereInMyHeart · 18/02/2025 07:14

If he lives in Scotland and you know his name you could check this website periodically:
https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

I'll check that, thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
SargeMimpson · 18/02/2025 07:45

BilboBlaggin · 18/02/2025 07:35

Was your DM's half of the house put into trust for you? This is what my DH did with his half of our house before he died last year (to protect it from any future care home fees I'll need in future). If it's in trust then the executors of your mums Will will typically be the trustees who manage the trust. It would be their responsibility to inform you of the death of the person who has a life interest in the share. Hopefully in your case it's the solicitors and not the DH's family.

DM owned the house and has left most of it to me and a smaller proportion of it to someone else.

I have paperwork which states I own my share but her DH has a 'lifetime interest' (or a phrase like that) so will live there till he dies.

OP posts:
Bigfishes · 18/02/2025 07:49

Who is responsible for the maintenance and insurance of the house?

PomPomSugar · 18/02/2025 08:30

Ask the lawyer to put a restriction on the title of the property.

hobbledyhoy · 18/02/2025 08:32

Did your DM leave a Will also explaining this? Or naming an executor of her estate?

rwalker · 18/02/2025 08:33

As other said it needs insuring and maintaining I think you need to bite the bullet and contact her husband
ether by call or letter

Dearg · 18/02/2025 08:35

PomPomSugar · 18/02/2025 08:30

Ask the lawyer to put a restriction on the title of the property.

Absolutely this.

You should be told, but as you are no contact with the family, this will prevent anyone acting against your interests.

JustMyView13 · 18/02/2025 09:01

Also, as the property owner do you not have responsibility for maintenance of the property (similar to a landlord)? For example, who is servicing the boiler to ensure it’s safe?
Landlords can have semi-regular property inspections, you could hire someone to do this on your behalf.

Cottonplease · 18/02/2025 09:18

Sorry to jump on your thread OP but dies anyone know how to check if someone died recently in the UK? Like as in December last year as am in a similar position. How long does it take to show on records?

Original poster
SargeMimpson · 18/02/2025 10:29

Bigfishes · 18/02/2025 07:49

Who is responsible for the maintenance and insurance of the house?

He is

OP posts:
Original poster
SargeMimpson · 18/02/2025 10:30

hobbledyhoy · 18/02/2025 08:32

Did your DM leave a Will also explaining this? Or naming an executor of her estate?

He is the executor of her will

OP posts:
Original poster
SargeMimpson · 18/02/2025 10:31

Thanks for all input. There's more to think about than I anticipated.

I'm going to call the solicitor who handled the will and see where I stand

OP posts:
BilboBlaggin · 18/02/2025 10:36

Cottonplease · 18/02/2025 09:18

Sorry to jump on your thread OP but dies anyone know how to check if someone died recently in the UK? Like as in December last year as am in a similar position. How long does it take to show on records?

They should be available on the GRO site six months after death. If the death was within the past six months you'd have to check with the Register Office in the district where the death took place.

Edit to add: this may not be the district where they lived, it will be where they actually died, eg a hospice.

Mumofteenandtween · 18/02/2025 10:43

Who is the other recipient and are they in contact with
(1) him
(2) you?

(1) is more important as if so they will probably contact you when he dies anyway as they will want their money from the their share of the hide and will need you to sell it.

Original poster
SargeMimpson · 18/02/2025 11:01

So I've found the paperwork.

Page x confirms both MY NAME and OTHER NAME as owners thereof in the proportions (ie percentage ownership)

Page x confirms there are no Securities or Charges registered against the property.

Page x sets out the conditions that will attach to my ownership (states nothing about maintenance, etc)

There is also a 'liferent in favour of NAME (DM's husband).

A quick google tells me that the type of liferent matters re charges and unless stipulated in the will, costs are borne by the liferent (the husband)

OP posts:
Original poster
SargeMimpson · 18/02/2025 11:02

Mumofteenandtween · 18/02/2025 10:43

Who is the other recipient and are they in contact with
(1) him
(2) you?

(1) is more important as if so they will probably contact you when he dies anyway as they will want their money from the their share of the hide and will need you to sell it.

I am also NC with the other recipient (again, for good reason)

OP posts:
MovingSwiftlyOn · 18/02/2025 16:46

In England you can sign up for alerts with the land registry should any changes (and possibly searches but I can't quite remember) happen against a particular property, it might be worth seeing if something similar is available for Scotland but first port of call is solicitor. I think your name should be put on the land register xx

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