Author Topic: Will Query  (Read 749 times)

Offline zetlander

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Will Query
« on: Tuesday 02 June 20 16:01 BST (UK) »
Mary made a will in 1983 and died in 1986.

She left her entire estate to be divided equally between her 10 cousins (she herself was unmarried and had no children.)

One of the cousins she lists John had died in 1979 - 4 years before she made the will

In the will she states that if any cousin dies in her lifetime then the share due to him should go to his/her descendants.
However if the descendant is under 18 then what would have gone to him/her should be shared between the surviving beneficiaries.

Only recently got a copy of her will. (I am not a beneficiary)

John the cousin who died had a son of 40 when my aunt died - he got nothing.

The executor/solicitor has wrongly assumed that either because one beneficiary had pre-deceased the aunt then his share should be shared between the others. Or the executor who wasn't a family member has assumed John was under 18.

Or is the problem that the cousin although named as a beneficiary had in fact died before the will was made?

Mary let almost £1million !

So John ( a close friend) has missed out on a ton of money.

Can anything be done or is it too late?
Who is responsible for the error the Solicitor or the Executor?

Thanks.


Offline louisa maud

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Re: Will Query
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 02 June 20 17:21 BST (UK) »
Can you get in touch with the treasury?, or a different solicitor, at sometime it will be to late to challenge,  don't know if this is good knowledge or not

Louisa Maud
Census information is Crown Copyright,
from  www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Granath Sweden and London
Garner, Marylebone Paddington  Northolt Ilford
Garner, Devon
Garner New Zealand
Maddieson
Parkinson St Pancras,
Jenkins Marylebone Paddington
Mizon/Mison/Myson Paddington
Tindal Marylebone Paddington
Tocock, (name changed to Ellis) London
Southam Marylebone, Paddington
Bragg Lambeth 1800's
Edermaniger(Maniger) Essex Kent Canada (Toronto)
Coveney Kent Lambeth
Sondes kent and London

Offline CaroleW

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Re: Will Query
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 02 June 20 18:32 BST (UK) »
Did she actually use John‘s name in her will?  Rather strange to name a cousin who had been dead 4yrs as a beneficiary?

I would have expected her to have named John’s descendants.

However - given the wording re descendants - even if she was unaware of John’s death it could be argued that her intention was for his descendants to receive his share

John’s descendants really need professional advice so I would start by possibly contacting Probate Registry and asking what procedure needs to be followed.

What you want to avoid is a situation where the legal fees are greater than the inheritance!!

The executor has responsibility for any possible error - not the person who drew up the will
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Carlin (Ireland & Liverpool) Doughty & Wright (Liverpool) Dick & Park (Scotland & Liverpool)

Offline louisa maud

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Re: Will Query
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 02 June 20 18:40 BST (UK) »
Please let us know if you persue this enquiry,  will be interesting for further reference

Louisa Maud
Census information is Crown Copyright,
from  www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Granath Sweden and London
Garner, Marylebone Paddington  Northolt Ilford
Garner, Devon
Garner New Zealand
Maddieson
Parkinson St Pancras,
Jenkins Marylebone Paddington
Mizon/Mison/Myson Paddington
Tindal Marylebone Paddington
Tocock, (name changed to Ellis) London
Southam Marylebone, Paddington
Bragg Lambeth 1800's
Edermaniger(Maniger) Essex Kent Canada (Toronto)
Coveney Kent Lambeth
Sondes kent and London


Offline zetlander

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Re: Will Query
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 02 June 20 18:45 BST (UK) »
Did she actually use John‘s name in her will?  Rather strange to name a cousin who had been dead 4yrs as a beneficiary?

I would have expected her to have named John’s descendants.

However - given the wording re descendants - even if she was unaware of John’s death it could be argued that her intention was for his descendants to receive his share

John’s descendants really need professional advice so I would start by possibly contacting Probate Registry and asking what procedure needs to be followed.

What you want to avoid is a situation where the legal fees are greater than the inheritance!!

Yes, John's name was in the will - I agree it does seem odd to leave something to someone who is deceased  --  but perhaps not as unusual as you may think  --  someone could well assume a distant cousin living abroad was still alive.

It's 36 years since the will was made - is it now too late to do anything about it even if there is a case?

He would have inherited about £90K  ! !

Offline louisa maud

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Re: Will Query
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 02 June 20 19:24 BST (UK) »
Oh gosh!

Louisa Maud
Census information is Crown Copyright,
from  www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Granath Sweden and London
Garner, Marylebone Paddington  Northolt Ilford
Garner, Devon
Garner New Zealand
Maddieson
Parkinson St Pancras,
Jenkins Marylebone Paddington
Mizon/Mison/Myson Paddington
Tindal Marylebone Paddington
Tocock, (name changed to Ellis) London
Southam Marylebone, Paddington
Bragg Lambeth 1800's
Edermaniger(Maniger) Essex Kent Canada (Toronto)
Coveney Kent Lambeth
Sondes kent and London

Offline mazi

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Re: Will Query
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 02 June 20 19:41 BST (UK) »
The time limit is 12 years, unless you believe fraud was involved, in which case there is no time limit.

As the sum is so large and the executor is personally liable, I would have thought that definite legal advice would have been sought at the time.


It is my thought that the bequest was invalid when the will was written, even if johns death was not known.

Mike

Mike

Offline mazi

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Re: Will Query
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 02 June 20 19:48 BST (UK) »
In 1986 almost £390,000 would have vanished in inheritance tax  ;D ;D

Mike

Offline zetlander

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Re: Will Query
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 02 June 20 20:08 BST (UK) »
The time limit is 12 years, unless you believe fraud was involved, in which case there is no time limit.

As the sum is so large and the executor is personally liable, I would have thought that definite legal advice would have been sought at the time.


It is my thought that the bequest was invalid when the will was written, even if johns death was not known.

Mike

Thanks.

No fraud involved - carelessness possibly.

It's a bit odd for the person making the will to name a dead person as a beneficiary. (It's quite a complex will - no reason to suspect she was slightly confused or anything when she made it.)

Are you saying that because an intended 'beneficiary' is dead before the will is written he/she is regarded as not eligible to be part of the will?

Again, thanks!