Where There's A Will, There's A Way..........i Hope.

[san070160]

I had a very close friend, who was much older than me. I used to help him out with everyday things and keep him company 2 - 3 days each week. He always told me he'd "look after" me in his will, as he had no family. Most of his money was going to his best friends' son (deceased best friend).

Anyway, he decided that seeing as I was the only person who genuinely cared for him, he would alter his Will so that I woulod get most of the money.

So the next time this man visited him, he tried to make out that I was conning him in some way. He even rang me at work to "prove" that I didn't even work there. He was very disappointed to find that I did.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, the very next day, my Elderly Friend just happened to burn his kitechen down and ended up in a Nursing Home. He suddenly became very frail and was suffering quite severe dementia, and didn't seem to know what day it was. He told me that he had been forced into changing his will in this guy's favour (obviously), but that he'd still left me something, just not the amount he felt was right. I carried on visiting him at the Home, but when he died, I wasn't even contacted. I missed his funeral and everything. I was gutted, because he was like a Dad to me.

Anyway, I just wondered if anyone knew how I could find out about his Will. I'm not being greedy, but I KNOW that he wanted me to have at least something. But ~I also know that no one will go out of their way to contact me. Any ideas?

[factor-fiction]

Sorry to hear of your loss.
SO the question is: is there a way to find out if you have been left anything in your friend's will.
If it goes to probate I think it's a public document. Also the executors have a responsibility to look for you. Do you know who the executors are? If so, send a letter (recorded delivery) giving them your contact details

[woofgang]

It is a public document once probate has been granted. If probate may not have been granted yet you can ask for a standing search.

http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/probate/copies-of-grants-wills

[VHG]

The problem is the other party do not want you to get anything, so may choose to "lose" his will and pretend he never made one.

And even if a copy is lodged with a solicitor if the solicitor does not know he has died it could sit in thir safe for decades.

This is why I think EVERY will should be lodged with a central government department after it has been made. That way everyone knows what the last offical will was.

As it stands a family can easily dispoase of a will if they dont like its contents.

[factor-fiction]

If there was no will in this case , though, I can't see the deceased's best friend's son being entitled to anything under the intestacy rules

[factor-fiction]

In general, though, VHG, I agree with you - I have heard stories of wills 'going missing', including some cases where an earlier will mysteriously turned up

[tonywiltshire]

Wills have been known not to be found and they can sometimes bring out the worst in families and friends, If the will has been found and has gone to probate (which confirms the executor’s power to administer the estate) a copy can be obtained, from I believe the postal searches Dept in Leeds, rather than York, the cost is around £6.
The testator must have been acting of his own free will and not under duress or undue influence of any other person, if you do not believe this was not the case I suggest you take advice before proceeding.