How to Find Out When Someone Dies
Discussion
Is there a way of being notified of the death of someone you're not in touch with? Yep, it's a really bizarre situation.
Summary:
Wife's father passed away several years ago. He left his house to her, his only child. There is a Deed of Trust which enables his widow (not his daughter's mother) to live there until she dies (after which the property goes to wife). During that time, the house can be divided into two flats (it used to be two dwellings many years ago). The DoT is flaky. As much as wife has put effort into trying to make things amicable, step-mum is being difficult (always has been). The relationship has broken down completely. Last year, step-mum got a dodgy solicitor to send a letter putting pressure on wife to buy her out so that she could use the money to buy a place that she liked. Turns out the letter was not official and the solicitor's firm knew nothing of it.
There is now zero comms between step-mum and step daughter. Step-mum is around 80 years-old. The house is clearly too big for one person to live in alone. She will not allow anyone to visit. This was made clear when it was suggested a surveyor went around to inspect the property and make sure everything was in order. She point blank refused (and part of her response was that moody legal letter). She could be letting out the rooms, or letting the property deteriorate and wife wouldn't have any idea what's going on. On that note, step-mum could be unwell, or even pass away and there is no way of knowing...
It's an absolute clusterf
k and seems that this will last until the old lady passes away. It is not beyond the realms of reasoning to help her into a comfortable retirement flat/bungalow etc and get the house (when seen as an asset) looked after properly as it does need work.
Is there a way of legal entry to have the property inspected? Regardless of the relationship, the old lady's well-being is also a concern but there's no access to her either!
Summary:
Wife's father passed away several years ago. He left his house to her, his only child. There is a Deed of Trust which enables his widow (not his daughter's mother) to live there until she dies (after which the property goes to wife). During that time, the house can be divided into two flats (it used to be two dwellings many years ago). The DoT is flaky. As much as wife has put effort into trying to make things amicable, step-mum is being difficult (always has been). The relationship has broken down completely. Last year, step-mum got a dodgy solicitor to send a letter putting pressure on wife to buy her out so that she could use the money to buy a place that she liked. Turns out the letter was not official and the solicitor's firm knew nothing of it.
There is now zero comms between step-mum and step daughter. Step-mum is around 80 years-old. The house is clearly too big for one person to live in alone. She will not allow anyone to visit. This was made clear when it was suggested a surveyor went around to inspect the property and make sure everything was in order. She point blank refused (and part of her response was that moody legal letter). She could be letting out the rooms, or letting the property deteriorate and wife wouldn't have any idea what's going on. On that note, step-mum could be unwell, or even pass away and there is no way of knowing...
It's an absolute clusterf
k and seems that this will last until the old lady passes away. It is not beyond the realms of reasoning to help her into a comfortable retirement flat/bungalow etc and get the house (when seen as an asset) looked after properly as it does need work. Is there a way of legal entry to have the property inspected? Regardless of the relationship, the old lady's well-being is also a concern but there's no access to her either!
https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate
This only works if probate has been granted and there could be considerable delay following the date of death.
This only works if probate has been granted and there could be considerable delay following the date of death.
Glassman said:
Is there a way of being notified of the death of someone you're not in touch with? Yep, it's a really bizarre situation.
Summary:
Wife's father passed away several years ago. He left his house to her, his only child. There is a Deed of Trust which enables his widow (not his daughter's mother) to live there until she dies (after which the property goes to wife). During that time, the house can be divided into two flats (it used to be two dwellings many years ago). The DoT is flaky. As much as wife has put effort into trying to make things amicable, step-mum is being difficult (always has been). The relationship has broken down completely. Last year, step-mum got a dodgy solicitor to send a letter putting pressure on wife to buy her out so that she could use the money to buy a place that she liked. Turns out the letter was not official and the solicitor's firm knew nothing of it.
There is now zero comms between step-mum and step daughter. Step-mum is around 80 years-old. The house is clearly too big for one person to live in alone. She will not allow anyone to visit. This was made clear when it was suggested a surveyor went around to inspect the property and make sure everything was in order. She point blank refused (and part of her response was that moody legal letter). She could be letting out the rooms, or letting the property deteriorate and wife wouldn't have any idea what's going on. On that note, step-mum could be unwell, or even pass away and there is no way of knowing...
It's an absolute clusterfk and seems that this will last until the old lady passes away. It is not beyond the realms of reasoning to help her into a comfortable retirement flat/bungalow etc and get the house (when seen as an asset) looked after properly as it does need work.
Is there a way of legal entry to have the property inspected? Regardless of the relationship, the old lady's well-being is also a concern but there's no access to her either!
Surely someone would know of the death. Would they not let others know? Summary:
Wife's father passed away several years ago. He left his house to her, his only child. There is a Deed of Trust which enables his widow (not his daughter's mother) to live there until she dies (after which the property goes to wife). During that time, the house can be divided into two flats (it used to be two dwellings many years ago). The DoT is flaky. As much as wife has put effort into trying to make things amicable, step-mum is being difficult (always has been). The relationship has broken down completely. Last year, step-mum got a dodgy solicitor to send a letter putting pressure on wife to buy her out so that she could use the money to buy a place that she liked. Turns out the letter was not official and the solicitor's firm knew nothing of it.
There is now zero comms between step-mum and step daughter. Step-mum is around 80 years-old. The house is clearly too big for one person to live in alone. She will not allow anyone to visit. This was made clear when it was suggested a surveyor went around to inspect the property and make sure everything was in order. She point blank refused (and part of her response was that moody legal letter). She could be letting out the rooms, or letting the property deteriorate and wife wouldn't have any idea what's going on. On that note, step-mum could be unwell, or even pass away and there is no way of knowing...
It's an absolute clusterf
k and seems that this will last until the old lady passes away. It is not beyond the realms of reasoning to help her into a comfortable retirement flat/bungalow etc and get the house (when seen as an asset) looked after properly as it does need work. Is there a way of legal entry to have the property inspected? Regardless of the relationship, the old lady's well-being is also a concern but there's no access to her either!
Is it worth having a chat with social services? It sounds like you need some kind of neutral advocate to see if anything can be negotiated as it's unrealistic now to do this directly. They might be able to recommend something even if they can't get involved with the detail, and presumably they'd be interested to at least know that the MiL doesn't have much in the way of support.
Op
Ask a solicitor to make sure there is protection with land registry regarding the property
I can't remember what it's called but it will alert you if anyone tries anything on.
Cammy
Leave a couple of mates a few grand each and tell them where the will is and what's in it for them and I am sure they will keep an eye on things.
Ask a solicitor to make sure there is protection with land registry regarding the property
I can't remember what it's called but it will alert you if anyone tries anything on.
Cammy
Leave a couple of mates a few grand each and tell them where the will is and what's in it for them and I am sure they will keep an eye on things.
CammyN said:
I have the opposite situation, no relatives or dependants, if I write a will I don't know who will execute it, if I appoint a solicitor as executor how will they know if I have died on the basis that the death is sudden.
£1m estate.
Who are you going to leave your money to? If it's a charity, tell them & they'll phone you every week to see if they can collect yet.£1m estate.
The OP should ring stepmum up once a month or so and try to panhandle a donation to random charities, Battersea Dogs Home etc. If she will recognise his voice engage a 3rd party to do it or use a voice changer thing.
CammyN said:
I have the opposite situation, no relatives or dependants, if I write a will I don't know who will execute it, if I appoint a solicitor as executor how will they know if I have died on the basis that the death is sudden.
£1m estate.
Don't wait until you snuff it, start giving it away now then you get to see how much of a difference it can make. Small donations to local youth or sports groups would float my boat but YMMV. £1m estate.
Check the current situation by downloading the land registry title for the property which only costs £3 to download.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/property-alert
Register for Land Registry Property Alerts which will tell you if anything changes.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/property-alert
Register for Land Registry Property Alerts which will tell you if anything changes.
hidetheelephants said:
The OP should ring stepmum up once a month or so and try to panhandle a donation to random charities, Battersea Dogs Home etc. If she will recognise his voice engage a 3rd party to do it or use a voice changer thing.
That is a good idea although it is not easy to give money away when you have had £0 in your bank account, twice. I appreciate that this makes no sense at all.CammyN said:
I have the opposite situation, no relatives or dependants, if I write a will I don't know who will execute it, if I appoint a solicitor as executor how will they know if I have died on the basis that the death is sudden.
£1m estate.
Don't wait until you snuff it, start giving it away now then you get to see how much of a difference it can make. Small donations to local youth or sports groups would float my boat but YMMV. £1m estate.
There are also people in my past that deserve some money, almost compensation, although I have no idea where they live or even if they are still alive, which takes it back to the OP.
The first step to finding people is to do an internet search for them, especially if they have unusual names. Searches for names will generally give links to 192.com or similar websites, which will often give you quite a bit of information for free which can then be used to refine the internet search or be used to search for phone numbers etc. Alternatively you could just pay a tracing agent who will do all that for you.
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