Will

[jennyjoan]

How soon after a person's death can a will be read? thanks

[TheChair]

"Despite what many think, most individuals will not have an official reading of the Will. Instead, it is up to the executor to decide when, or if, they will share the Will with others. However, the Will becomes a public document after the Probate has been granted."
From https://www.funeralpartners.co.uk/help-advice/cost-of-a-funeral/how-does-a-will-work-after-death/

[bobbinwales]

You can read it before they die if they show it you or give you a copy as executor. Someone needs to open it assap after death to see whose the executor

[Buenchico]

TC has largely answered your question, Jennyjoan, but I'll add in a bit from my own personal experience:

When my father died in hospital, the first thing I did (after visiting his sister's house to pass on the news and then registering his death at the Register Office) was to go round to his house and find his will. As I'd largely expected, it named my as both sole executor and as sole beneficiary.

Over the next few days I first visited the District Probate Office to pick up the form to apply for probate (and to get some advice about the formalities) and then started on collecting as much of the relevant information as possible (such as details of his pensions, bank accounts and tax position) that I could get hold of without yet having probate. Within a very short space of time, I'd completed the form, submitted it, attended to probate office to swear an oath (or, more accurately, to 'affirm' because I'm an atheist) and been granted probate.

My father died around mid-to-late October (I'm lousy at remembering exact dates!). By the end of November I'd completed the whole process, transferred my father's money to my own bank account and bought a nice car out of the money too.

(As TC has said, the will automatically moved into the public domain as soon as probate was granted).

So things can move at quite a pace when everything is straightforward and the executor really wants to get on with things. However an inefficient executor, together possibly with a few complications in the will or with the estate, can see things dragging on for years!

[jennyjoan]

Thank you

[Peter Pedant]

read it during their life if they will let you

There is no official rule - but as said The will is public after probate has been granted

BM has mentioned that the residuary beneficiary ( the fella or gal who gets 'the rest') can demand an account. No one else can

Strikes me that open-ness is the name of the game. My beneficiaries know my will because one got jam yesterday and the other has to wait until I die. Clearly they are gonna get different amounts

[Peter Pedant]

A neighbour ( another Chris story) died in April but CODEINE was involved and so the coroner dawdled until Nov and then basically said o ***.
Nov the awful cow at the Coroners gave us the death certificate ( yes 6 months) and added - "you can settle the estate now" and I DIDNT reply o god we did that by the end of May