Letter of Admin 1885

[whitej]

I found my relative in Probate Calendar, London, England. He died in Nov 1884 and the calendar entry is dated March 1885.

Deceased did not leave a will. Letter of admin granted to executor as deceased's father living in S Africa.

If I get a copy of Letter of admin will it show who inherited the £353 estate left behind? Thanks.

[bibliotaphist]

I have been told (and I've seen it suggested several times here on Rootschat) that unlike a Will, a letter of Administration generally won't contain any more useful information than what's already printed in the National Probate Calendar entry, and that it almost certainly isn't worth paying the £10 fee to get a copy.

I've never tried ordering one myself to test this, so I don't know for certain that this is true.

[whitej]

thanks Paul. I must admit that is what I thought. Maybe once the LOA was granted the executor shared it out or complied with father's wishes.

[lizdb]

As there is no Will there is no legal record of the deceased wishes.
 The Administrator will have to sort out the estate and it will go to next of kin (I believe there is an official list of who next of kin is - ie spouse, if there isn't one then children, if there aren't any then nephews and nieces etc I don't actually know the correct order).
That is why it is always recommended one makes a Will - to make sure your wishes are carried out.

[whitej]

thanks.

His wife was dead and they had no children. Surviving family were both parents and two/three sisters.

[lizdb]

I don't actually know the correct order, but the person granted Administration would have been made aware of it. 
Im sure someone on here will know what it is or where it can be found!

[stanmapstone]

I don't actually know the correct order,

See https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/death-and-wills/who-can-inherit-if-there-is-no-will-the-rules-of-intestacy/

Stan

[Brentor boy]

I stand to be corrected but I think the order of precedence is:- spouse, children/ grand children, parents, siblings and then the more remote relatives. If no relatives can be traced it goes to the Government Treasury unless the deceased lived in Duchy of Cornwall property, when goes to Prince Charles (Duke of Cornwall)

[stanmapstone]

Another site https://www.graysons.co.uk/wills-estates-trusts/intestacy-rules/

Stan