inheritance

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My parents don't have Wills and so my mother has now bought a "Will kit", are these Wills valid? — by mariam — last modified 2008-09-02 12:39

My sisters and I recently discovered that neither of our parents has a Will and have therefore urged them to make one. My mother has agreed and bought a "Will kit" from a stationers. I am not very happy about this and question the validity of such a Will. Can you please outline the pitfalls of such a Will? Secondly, my father has refused to make a Will as he feels that it is not necessary as everything he owns would automatically come to us, his children. However, his family are rather unscrupulous and should he die intestate, could they have a realistic claim on any of his estate?

I don't want my children to inherit my estate. Can I make a list of friends who would be the only beneficiaries? — by mariam — last modified 2008-08-18 13:24

I am divorced with two adult children neither of whom live at home. Is it correct that upon my death both children would automatically inherit my estate equally? It is my choice not to leave my estate to either of them and I was hoping to make a list of friends who would be the ONLY beneficiaries. I have been told that the law would not allow this regardless of any Will stating all my estate to be left wholly to my friends, as both children are legally next of kin? Is this correct?

My grandfather died intestate but I am sure he made a Will. Can the Will be traced back to the firm of Solicitors if I knew who he used? — by mariam — last modified 2008-07-08 18:56

My grandfather, whom I lived with for 15 years, died intestate and all of the property went to my mother. I know that a Will was made by my grandfather and grandmother and I was due to inherit half the property. I want to know if the Will he made can be traced back to the firm of Solicitors he used. Unfortunately, the name of the Solicitors is unknown.

My wife has served me with a Notice of Severance of Tenancy, what does this mean? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-05-13 13:09

My wife has served me with a Notice of Severance of Tenancy, what does this mean?

My grandmother died and we have now found a copy of a Will but cannot find the original. The Solicitors have said the Will is null and void as the Executors have both died. Should we just ignore the copy of the Will? — by mariam — last modified 2008-05-09 12:04

My grandmother died a few months ago and we all assumed she had died without making a Will. However, while going through her possessions we have found a copy of a Will. We have tried to find the original but have been unsuccessful. Also we have contacted the Solicitors she instructed to write the Will and they have said the Will is null and void as the Executors have both died and that they do not have the original Will. Should we just deal with this as if there was no Will or do we have to send the copy of the null and void Will to the Probate Registry? Please help, what should we do?

My husband has left me and our young daughter but he is due to inherit from his late mother's estate. Can I make a claim on this money? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-04-03 20:04

My husband of several years has walked out. We have a young daughter and he has recently started his own business. He has no income as far as I am aware and I work part time. My question is this, as part of his late mother's estate there will be enough money coming to him to pay off our mortgage, all our financial matters are joint, can he walk off with the money and start again or can I claim it to pay off the mortgage?

Husband promised a fixed figure to pay off ex wife from sale of property but the market has since fallen and her circumstances have also changed: can he go back to court to renegotiate the settlement? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-03-17 02:01

During divorce proceedings last year, my husband consented to let his ex-wife have £101,000 from the sale of the matrimonial home to rehome herself and their two children. The property has been on the market since February 2006 and was originally valued at £209,000. My husband has had to reduce the price of the property several times, it is now on for £184,000. Now his ex-wife's solicitor wants to force the sale of the property by putting the sale of the property in the hands of the Courts who will reduce the price of the property until it is sold. My husband's ex-wife's circumstances have now completely changed, she is engaged, her boyfriend has a property to sell and her mother recently died which means she will inherit half of her mother's property when sold. If the matter goes back to court, is my husband within his rights to expect more from the sale of the property given her change in circumstances?

Daughter was given half share in marital home but was pressed to sign it over to father and stepmother: is there any way this transfer can be rescinded? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-02-20 00:09

When my parents divorced my mother gave her share of the marital home to be held in trust for me until my 18th birthday. My father subsequently remarried and my relationship with my stepmother has always been strained. Leading up to my 18th birthday my stepmother applied pressure to ensure that upon reaching majority I would sign over my share of the property to both her and my father. Her argument being that when they died I would inherit the entire property anyway and there wasn't much point me holding a share which I could demand at any time. The whole transfer process was arranged through their solicitor and I had no independent legal advice at any stage. Their solicitor seemed wary and asked me if I understood what I was doing and was I sure that I wanted to do this. In truth I was very naive and didn't really understand the implications of what I was doing. When the property was sold some years later my father was instructed by my stepmother not to divulge how much it was sold for. I have come to realise that my stepmother is a dishonest women and I now wonder where I stand legally with this matter.

I don't get on with my sister who is executor of my mother's will and she is determined I will not inherit: Can she do this? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-02-08 13:09

My sister and I do not speak to each other. She is the executor of my mother's will. My mother died 2 weeks ago. Mum has a will in which she left everything to be shared between my sisters and my family equally. My sister has said in the past that she will make sure myself and my family do not inherit anything. Can she do this? The will was drawn up by a solicitor.

Uncle died intestate without leaving a will: how must the estate be divided? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2008-02-04 12:20

Recently an uncle of mine died leaving no will so I have been dealing with his estate. As it is only financial with no property it shouldn't be to much of a problem. As there are no children and he never married the estate should go to his brothers. But they have died so it should got to the children of the brothers. This is where I have a problem. My brother sadly passed away before my uncle and as a result it leaves myself plus 2 cousins, so I would assume that it gets split between the relevant brother's children, as in I would get my father's share and they would split their fathers share between them, but they are disputing this saying that they think that my brother's children should be included despite the fact that my brother died before my uncle. Please put this straight for me as its driving me mad!!.

Will dead husband's children from a previous marriage inherit if second wife dies intestate? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2007-10-29 12:23

My friend's husband died a few years ago. She is now terminally ill but has not made a will and there are no children or relatives on her side of the family. Her husband had children from a previous partnership. On her demise will those children have a claim on her estate?

My partner was killed but did not leave a will. Now his wife is claiming our house. What are my rights? — by Conrad Murray — last modified 2007-06-07 07:12

My partner was married to a Roman Catholic woman who refused to agree to a divorce. They initially parted three years ago and she pressed him for an immediate judicial separation which he agreed to. We have been cohabiting for 2 1/2 years but the house is his. We have fostered a baby boy. Three months ago my partner was killed in a road accident. I thought I was provided for but it turns out he did not leave a will and I am informed that the house will go to his wife. Is this right? Don't I or the child have any rights? I have now had a letter from his ex-wife's solicitor asking me for my proposals for vacating the property in order that it can be sold. Please tell me what are my rights...