Solicitor didn't pay out money from Grandparents will

[Hlc]

Hi. I am hoping someone is able to advise me on this as I am very saddened by this. My Grandmother passed away in 1988 and I have only found her will recently. In it myself and my sibling were supposed to be paid a sum of money when we reached the age of 21. It's not a vast amount of money but it's the principle of it. We never received the money and until I found her will we had no idea we were beneficiaries. We are both now much older than 21. A solicitor who worked for the firm at the time is named as the executor of the will. He is now retired and I don't know if he is still legally responsible for this money never being paid. I am in touch with someone at a branch of the firm who is trying to find which other ompany took over their civil law at some point. I am disgusted by this. My Grandmother was terminally ill when she made this will and these wishes were never delivered on.

[des8]

Sad story, but perhaps the good news is that an executor retains liability for dealing with an estate until he dies!

However you say you have just found your grandmother's will.
Are you sure it was her final will? If probate had been required you can get a copy here: https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate

[Hlc]

Thanks for your reply. Yes it was her final will. I found it on the link you posted above. The solicitor who is looking into this for me knows the retired solicitor but I think they are looking to find a firm that took over their wills rather than the named solicitor on it being responsible. I fear they are going to try and fob me off with this onto some other company. If the retired solicitor is named on it as the executor does that mean he himself is liable and not a firm? Also if it is the solicitor that is supposed to pay out, how do I go about making a claim for the money?

[des8]

What was the exact wording of the will appointing the solicitor?
To whom was the grant of probate issued (exact wording please)?

[Hlc]

The first page which is the probate says administration of all the estate which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representative of the said deceased was granted by the aforesaid Court to Joe Bloggs and the address is where the firm was at the time.
Then the wording in the will and testament part is
2. I appoint to be executors and trustees of this my will (hereinafter referrereferred to as "my trustees") the partners for the time being in the firm of firms name and another address of one of the branches at the time.
3. I give the whole of my estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my trustees to hold onto the following trusts.
(d) to give the sum of xxx to each of my grandchildren our names provided that they attain the age of 21 years.
It's signed at the bottom my my Granny and the solicitor named as the executor.

Thank you again. I really appreciate the help.

[des8]

So the executor Joe Bloggs, should have set up a trust fund for your money.
Assuming he did, and it was held by his firm, when the firm was dissolved that trust fund should have been taken over by another firm and that is what they are trying to ascertain.

Do you know when his firm closed, and was it before you came of age to inherit?

You can try doing your own tracing,
start here: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/en/con...-and-law-firms

[Hlc]

I don't know when the firm closed. I think it will have been before I reached 21 I think though. Thank you for the link. I will have a look. The solicitor who's looking into it fir me mentioned that site so at least I know it is the right track. Thank you fir the help. I will let you know what happens and hopefully I won't be shafted!