My 3 half brothers were executors of my stepfathers estate. His will was very specific as to how the estate should be divided, leaving one quarter of his estate to be shared between his 3 stepchildren, myself, brother & sister & the remainder to be divided between my half brothers. Since his death, they have refused to communicate with us & I have just found out they have split the money between themselves.
Surely this is illegal?
Sue sue sue ..
See a solicitor ..
Get what evidence you can .. Do not have any more contact with them until this case heard. They might try and 'pay you off' to keep quiet.
The will was registered with a solicitor who was originally dealing with it but then the oldest decided they would deal with it & dismissed the solicitor
If you have a copy of the Will, you will have to pay a solicitor. It has to be done legally, if you want any part of your stepfather's money. Phone some local solicitors and get a price before you start or try and get a recommendation for a solicitor.
regarding the one registered by the solicitor, that would still stand if there are discrepancies on any later will, assuming it existed. The onus would be on them to to prove it did and was legally completed.
If you don't at this stage want to involve a solicitor for fear of racking up costs, the other body to contact would be the Probate Registrar. They can give general advice for free. The personal representatives of your late stepfather's estate would have had to apply to for probate to get their hands on the money in various accounts. The probate office is also where the lodged copy of the will be, once probate has been obtained.
This is where the probate registries ar in England & Wales.