Will

[Goyambokka]

A friend has received a letter from the nephew of her godmother enclosing a cheque (nice!). The gm died in October last year, but my friend has not heard anything until now. Presumably she is a beneficiary, but has not seen a will or had any information from a solicitor.
Is this legal?

[cassa333]

Probably.

If the estate has gone through probate then she can get a copy of the will as it becomes a public document.

[Goyambokka]

OK, thanks, but shouldn't the solicitor or executor have sent her a copy?
It must have gone through probate if she's been sent some money.

[factor-fiction]

No- there is no obligation to show the will to individual beneficiaries and there is no reason fo a solicitor to get in touch. As has been said, a copy is available at the Probate office.
October is only 5 months ago- that is not slow for distributing an estate.

[madmaggot]

It is up to the executor to see that each beneficiary gets what is due to them. If you suspect that you did not get what you should have then ask to see a copy of the will. Is she peeved that she did not get more or is it that she would have wanted to go to the funeral? She can ask to see a copy of the will.

[Goyambokka]

OK, thanks, that's helpful. I'm just surprised there is no obligation to get in touch or show the will to beneficiaries.
Far from being peeved, she is absolutely delighted. It was unexpected and very welcome. Bless Aunty Eva!

[fredpuli47]

A solicitor might not be involved in administering the deceased's estate.The executor is personally responsible for administration. An executor may use a solicitor for the conveyancing of the property of the deceased and other matters which require a lawyer but do the rest, like writing cheques to beneficiaries, himself.Presumably the nephew who sent the cheque was the executor.

[dothawkes31]

I was sent a cheque for £2000 a ew months after my godmother died in 2001. It was paperclipped to a solicitors letter, whcih i have kept. My godmother had no children of her own, ust a brother, who was in his late 80s whem she died, and so a solicitor was needed to sort things out. Probably if there is a person capable o being an executor a solicitor is not needed for posting a cheque to a beneficiary.