siblings being secretive and lying about mums estate

[donh123]

hi everyone,

not sure if anyone can give me some advice..

my mum passed away Jan 2025 ,father passed 14 yrs ago they have always lived in London and other siblings nearby in the UK
I am one of 5 siblings

I have lived in Spain since 2011 and visited when I could ,my brother and one sister were caregivers for the last 7 years(brother has always lived in the house he's now 58)while sister travelled when she could help.

I visited in aug24 my brother said that mum left a will(I don't think she would have or has) I asked who witnessed it he said my older brother and his friend?

he is currently buying out the mortgage of his best friends ex wife and will be living in that house(he said the ex wife's solicitor sorted it and she was v good

he mentioned he may get her to sort the sale of my mums house valued approx. 750k

my sister has sent messages from 3 year ago proving my mums bad mental health and also lied saying 8th Nov 2022 that mum wrote her will before dad died "before she was like this.." and then Nov 2022 that she thinks the house is left to my brother i truly believe she holds a grudge that i live in Spain so don´t deserve as much or anything at all she mentioned to my wheelchair bound sister and i quote" oh 40k would be nice wouldn't it and the house is only worth 300k its clearly not a 3 bed semi in north London)and then this on top of my brother saying that she made a recent will and was witnessed by my other brother and his friend both suffer severe mental health with Schizophrenia

I haven't asked too many questions as still sensitive and of course i appreciate what my brother did for my mum ,my sister made out she was always there but according to my brother she wasn't
the ex wife concerns me there is something not right about her or my brother and his friends relationship and I don't mean that with any bad intention just something doesn't add up ,my brother is a weak man
on top of that even at the service the vicar announced twice the 3 siblings names that cared for my mum and left me and my sister out (she's almost wheelchair bound)so its clearly an issue or something and i am living and working in Spain since 2011

I'm just concerned that something untoward is going on and illegal, of course if its shared properly I may even give some to my brother for what he did as if she was in a home the house would have been sold
my sister says he will give us all something ,the last i heard is that in 6 weeks not sure why that time they will look at selling the house

i hope this makes some sense, do i leave it and see if they give me something or am i right not to trust them as so many lies and nothing is being told its all very secretive

i am in a position to get a solicitor but i need to know if there is a will, if there is not then this is all a lie but i don't want to rock the boat and tell them a solicitor will be dealing with my side of the estate or whatever offer they would provide and upset my brother(yes i might lose money I've said it now)

i realise i may come across as greedy and ungrateful its that something does not feel right here, any advice would be great

basically knowing if a will was made or not would make things alot lot clearer and is there a point where nothing can be reversed or a time limit,im sad to write all of this

thanks
w

[PallasAthena]

First thing to do is go on this site and see if Probate has been granted. If it has you can download a copy of the Will.

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/

[donh123]

First thing to do is go on this site and see if Probate has been granted. If it has you can download a copy of the Will.

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/

thanks for your reply,

there are no matches found

[atticus]

In early March it is probably too early to see a Probate for a person who died in January.

Speak to your siblings. Work on reestablishing relations.

[PallasAthena]

In early March it is probably too early to see a Probate for a person who died in January.

My mistake, I hadn't noticed that the death was only a few weeks ago.

OP might want to note that they can set up a 'Standing Search' of Probate records (fee £3) where you will automatically be notified by Probate service if Probate is granted in the next 6 months (renewable).

PA1S_0721.pdf (SECURED)

The Executor(s) of your mother's Estate will not be able to sell her house until they have Probate.

[donh123]

My mistake, I hadn't noticed that the death was only a few weeks ago.

OP might want to note that they can set up a 'Standing Search' of Probate records (fee £3) where you will automatically be notified by Probate service if Probate is granted in the next 6 months (renewable).

PA1S_0721.pdf (SECURED)

The Executor(s) of your mother's Estate will not be able to sell her house until they have Probate.

thankyou everyone

i will try both suggestions

[donh123]

Hi,

just a follow up

my brother the executor(mental health issues) is refusing to cooperate with solicitor and sign over so the solicitor can be the exectuor,he isnt signing papers or acknowledging,i told my sister we should keep the money in case we need to remove him ,she said that cant be done,i said yes it can


apparently there is a will signed 2010 by 2 nice neighbours my brother was made executor,no idea why he was ill back then,i dont believe there is one personally or theyve been told there attempt at a will is not valid was told 3 different versions before

i have been offered 1600 a split 5 ways between what was left from my mums bank after all bills paid funeral solicitors etc,is this possible if the executor still hasnt acted on what hes supposed to do?i said its better to wait until everything is resolved and the house, he also told me in ausgust he has bought his friends ex wifes out of her mortgagae and that he may get the same womans solicitor to deal with my mums house,i said be careful this was in august

my sister mentioned that maybe they will keep the house as a london base so my brother can continue to work there and he will be happy(he already has another house in herts this was said with a straight face,i didnt reply

sister is telling me we all have to agree to the 1600 share before tuesday i asked why tuesday she doesnt know

she mentioned they go to solicitor wednesday and its one less thing to think of,more important than getting my brother to act

i may get a solicitor just to represent me ,likely from the same local solicitor in confidence ,is this allowed,does anyone know a ballpark figure for this

i think im being told a load of lies,what are my options plz

any advice would be great

thanks

w

[donh123]

well my "sister" sent me the will via facebook messenger it looks legit

she is on it and my brother is on it me and 2 other siblings are not on it

its witnessed by 2 respectable neighbours from 2010 this was at a time i wasnt speaking to my mother and was going thro a bad time,their timing was perfect my other sister told me i was being bad mouthed by this other sister to my mum around this time.

they played a blinder here

sad thing is my mum loved me more than them 2 she told me in words we would all get something but its not on paper.

the will looks legit the only thing i could see is the named solicitor who i did a search on companies house says he did not join the solicitors until oct 2010 the will was made may 2010

i still dont trust it,they say they will give me " something" so i cant rock the boat or challenge it,she is a piece of work and my twin sister

thanks

w

[Dev'sAd]

2010 is quite a while ago - worth asking the solicitor is if there are any more recent wills. I'm not sure how to carry out a wider search for wills, but many will-writers belong to an organisation and the will should be registered, and capable of being found - if it exists.