Question on Wills

Shades799

Hey all,

OK I am going to thread very carefully here so as not to go against the charter. I am not looking for legal advice, but merely asking is there a legal route available to me. I will give the background of my story but will mark it in italics to spare wasting the time of people who aren't interested.

I'll keep it short and sweet. I was very close to my aunt, spent many summers living with her and when she became elderly spent a lot of time visiting her and taking her down-syndrome child out for day trips from the care centre he had to be placed in. Several years ago she informed me that I was being placed on her will. Obviously I was grateful and thanked her and told her it wasn't expected.

When her daughter and son-in-law (daughter's husband) got word of this they weren't very happy. Effectively as far as I was concerned they started poising her mind against me. Telling her that I was only being nice to her to get a part of the will. Communication between me and my aunt broke down and this upset me a lot. I was informed by the daughter that she no longer wanted to speak to me. This happened about 2 years ago and during that time I have rarely seen my aunt but still travel from Dublin to Roscommon about two times a week to take my cousin out on day trips.

In November my aunt passed away. I was naturally very upset, especially considering how our relationship broke down in the last few years of her life, basically because of her daughter and son-in-law as far as I am concerned. I still visit the cousin every week and have maintained that relationship but I have heard nothing about the will.

Sorry for the background, here is my question: Is there anyway I can see my aunts will, or more importantly if and when it was changed, to confirm my suspicions that I have been removed from the will after my aunt became very frail and maybe not of "sound body and mind"?

Many Thanks.

Beez Neez

the Executor is the person charged with looking after the will once the person dies and if you know which solicitor made the will for your aunt, I would suggest writing to that solicitor asking for a copy of the will. He/She will then ask the executor if the copy can be furnished to you. if you are a beneficiary the solicitor will be writing to you anyway asking if you have had any previous gifts or inheritances as he/she will need this info for the documents to be submitted to get the ball rolling

once the will is admitted to probate in the Hugh Court it becomes a public document and you can get a copy at that stage.

good luck

Shades799

Beez Neez wrote: »

once the will is admitted to probate in the Hugh Court it becomes a public document and you can get a copy at that stage. good luck

Many thanks for that. Any idea how long it takes for the will to be admitted to probate?

Beez Neez

Depends on how quick the solicitor is ! Usually 6 -12 months after the date of death. it can be done is six in other words. Once its admitted to probate you cannot dispute the will though.

Hope this helps

Lawstud

When the grant issues to the executor the will becomes a document of public record. Any one can then apply for a copy of same from the probate office.

Reloc8

You can lodge a caveat in the Probate office which will mean you will be notified when somebody applies for a grant of probate/letters of administration, so that you'll be on alert to go check the will etc.

MJD01

Just a note - not all wills go to probate.
If there is under 13,000Euro in the bank accounts - it does not have to! (Contesting a will is a costly business.)
MJ