Omlet cube and run

[Lewis]

What a shock!

I'm sorry

[Luvachicken]

That's very sad news.

I'm really sorry for your loss and send hugs to you and your parents xx

[snowberry]

I have just got back from Cardiff & the whole situation has gone from bad to bizarre. Thankfully, the police aren't pursuing the poisoning link, it seems that if anything was injested, then it was by her own hand; typical for someone who should have had a diagnosis of Munchausens years ago in my opinion. Considering how little I know of her recent life, it may have been an option; the coroner is certainly looking into it now. The autopsy was completely inconclusive, so everything is being analysed & will take weeks if not months to get through.

My sister had been in daily contact with my parents for the last 2 or 3 years. They had been on good terms for the last 10 years, but she only came to see them if she wanted money or somewhere to stay. She spent her adult life hopping from one city to another every couple of years, to get away from people that she had annoyed, or joining different churches or religious nuts. Apparently she had been under the care of different psychiatrists for pretty much of the time.

On Thursday, my dad got a call from a man claiming to be a Reverand. I have Googled him & can only see one reference to him; it's a very happy clappy type of church, that isn't traditional. He claimed to have known my sister for the last 9 years and said that he was the Executor of her Will. I arrived to see the Coroner the next day & we saw a copy of this Will that had been scanned & faxed from somewhere. It was dated 2005 & in it, she listed the Rev as her Executor & Sole Beneficiary (apparently there is money around somewhere). She went on to write that any debts were to be met by my parents. All of our family are barred from her funeral that is to be held in Liverpool.

I'm sure that you will understand that my parents are between distraught and hopping mad at this. I have various questions: How strange to sign over your estate to someone that you've only known for a year, someone that you never ever mentioned to your parents during your daily phone calls. Considering that she was obviously severely mentally ill, was she of sound mind enough to make a Will, and was she coerced into it by this Reverand?

I Know that You can be Executor & Beneficiary, but wonder if there could be a conflict of interest?

I couldn't even collect her possessions, because he is undoubtably in charge of it all now. Well, yesterday he swanned off on holiday for a fortnight, so she is in the morgue for even longer...The coroner thinks it all quite bizarre too and is happy to not release her to him until I say to.

I really think that I'd better take legal advice, but don't have the money to pursue it financially

[merlina]

Wills aren't my legal area of expertise, but I do know that you can't bequeath your debts to someone in the way you describe. That alone casts doubt upon the validity of the rest of the will.

Does it look as though it has been properly witnessed?

(by two people who are not beneficiaries)

My advice would be to contact a solicitor that offers a free initial consultation or a local CAB for more help. You might also contact the local probate office to warn that the will may be contested

 

Before probate can be granted, it has to be established what the assets, if any, are. It's illegal to dispose of any assets, apart from 'necessary expenses' such as funeral costs (for which receipts must be produced) without probate being granted

[Ain't Nobody Here]

What a horrible situation . This "reverend" sounds very dodgy . If the will is dated 2005 and he's mentioned in it, I suppose he must have known her that long but it still sounds very odd. Has she lived where he is based for a while? You mention that she moved around regularly.

 

Re you all being barred from the funeral - was that in the 2005 will? Surely that can't be enforced, especially if your parents had a relationship with her more recently.

 

It must be very upsetting for you and your parents - I hope you manage to get to the bottom of it .

[Egluntyne]

Can you sign your debts over to someone else? I'd be very surprised. In fact I'm pretty sure that debts are paid out of the estate before beneficiaries see a penny. I bet this was a DIY will, and not worth diddly squat. Sorry you are having this additional agro.

[chickencam]

I think that you are right E, also the executors have to put ads in the local and national press announcing the death and asking for anyone who is a creditor to come forward within a given period, I think a couple of months, the all creditors are paid before the residue of the estate is divided up.

 

You may find solicitors who will give initial advice for free.

[The Dogmother]

I agree with Eggers and Liz.

[snowberry]

Thank you for that! I'd forgotton about putting notices in the papers... I know that she had debts, she just ignored them. No, my parents can't be forced to take the debts on, if he wants it his way, then he will have to deal with it all. I so need to see a solicitor or CAB this week while he is on holiday (God does move in mysterious ways eh? ) & on a further surreal note, he moved parishes from Liverpool to Cornwall earlier this year...actually to the town next to mine...whoops for him!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Just wondered how you were getting on?

[snowberry]

That's so thoughtful, to still be thinking of me

The Slimeball vicar (as he has become) came back from holiday this week. He rang my dad & asked him where my sister banked. My dad told him; then the vicar asked how much money was in the account When I heard this, I went up the wall, a bit...I thought that if he wants to be the executor, then that's his job to find it out? Also, he's going to get a shock, as I presume that the DSS are still paying her benefits into her account as "Ooops, word censored!"ody has informed them of her death yet. However, all of that will have to go back to them won't it? As he's the sole beneficiary as well, I'm wondering who he has to accountable to?

The first inquest hasn't even been opened & adjourned & she is still in the morgue; it's been 6 weeks now

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I can't believe he has the nerve to contact your family asking questions like that . It's hard to believe he's a vicar .

 

Is he not accountable to the lawyers who are dealing with her estate? Or perhaps not, if they aren't executors . I'm sure the DSS will be taking their money back - perhaps you should inform them so Slimeball Vicar doesn't get his hands on that money at least?

 

I'm so sorry nothing's been resolved yet - it seems unbelievable that it's taking so long . How are your mum and dad coping?

[snowberry]

There isn't anybody else involved. My parents have decided that as he wants to take over the entire thing, that they are going to retreat with their dignity intact. They sound reasonably okay over the phone, but I think that they are having memory issues over it all, unsurprising really! They don't want to contest the will either. I'm just hoping that the funeral leaves him out of pocket. Am I being vexatious?!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Blimey, no, not at all . This guy sounds like a total con man . Is there not a law in England which means you can contest a will if you think you or someone else should have been entitled to someone's estate? (I know it's different in Scotland.)

 

There was a case a few years ago where a couple left their considerable estate to the RSPB or similar, despite having a daughter who had given up her career to care for both of them - she contested and won.

 

However, there is a case for keeping your dignity, I can see why your parents feel like that. Very sad though .