I have two daughters aged 16 and 13 who are benificiarys in their grandads will. He passed away in 2007 and left a valid will. He appointed his own daughter as an executor and after paying all his debts, making 3 gifts he left the remainder of his estate to his daughter and two grandaughters (my daughters) in 80%/10%/10% shares. There is no mention in the will of holding any monies until they are 18 years old etc. There was also so family history and as a reult of that he specifically wrote out and provision for his son.
Now after a recent family reunion, his son mentioned he had used £2,500of his grandfathers money to buy a new kitchen. Money he should not have been given. My daughters have not heard or received anything from their grandads will and the executor is not being very helpful.
Is there anyway we can find out the final value of this estate or any advice on how to tackle this sensitive issue.
What solicitors, zacmaster?
Have you seen the will and are you sure it was the final one? You can ask at probate office for the value of the estate.The executor has a duty to follow the terms of the will.
This money needs to be put into trust if your daughters are not to receive it until they are 18 not be used to finance someones house renovations. It is correct that the money should be held until they are 18 but not I would have thought in an account that other family members can dip into! It could turn out that the money is all gone by the time they are of age and you will end up having to take legal action to recover it. Speak to a solicitor as soon as you can
Might the daughter who received 80% of the estate have given £2,500 to the son, as a gift, using money she received from the deceased 'grandad' ? Or did that definitely not happen? Whatever the wishes of grandad that the son receive nothing under his will, there's nothing to stop the adult beneficiary giving him some of 'grandfather's money' from their own share