Will/Inheritance Query

Kalimah

I hope someone may be able to answer this for me. A close relation of mine died recently and left a very simple will directing her house be sold, her liabilities discharged and the estate be divided between her children. No argument with that.

They have then directed that the residue of the estate be divided between the children. There is no mention of personal possessions. I'm wondering does the residue of an estate include possessions like jewellery, paintings and antiques? Much of the stuff is not all that valuable but the executor has taken it upon themselves to squirrel away anything nice and leave the dregs to the rest of the family. Is there anything we can do about this? I suspect a legal challenge would incur huge costs.

For a number of reasons going to the solicitor administering the estate is a non runner.

brian_t

Kalimah wrote: »

I hope someone may be able to answer this for me. A close relation of mine died recently and left a very simple will directing her house be sold, her liabilities discharged and the estate be divided between her children. No argument with that.

The estate would include all personal possessions imcluding all jewellery, paintings and antiques.
In a lot of cases the children would co-operate in dividing all the sundry possessions up among themselves or else sell them and divide the proceeds.

Kalimah wrote: »

the executor has taken it upon themselves to squirrel away anything nice and leave the dregs to the rest of the family.

Report the executor to the Guards for theft.

Pat Mustard

You should consider taking advice from your own solicitor, depending on the value of items in dispute.