Convinced a will exists but search not successful - next steps?

[Hantschap]

Hi, My father passed away a few months ago and i am convinced there was a will written (verbally told by him, as was my brother) and his second wife also told me verbally what was in his will after he passed before she cut all ties and refused to engage with us. We were refused access to the house to search by the widow and national wills register search and local solicitor searches have not found anything. I am told by my brother that the day after his death when he was allowed in to discuss the funeral, his room looked like it had been ransacked with papers everwhere and his safe was open which was unusual. The widow also has applied for letters of administration without informing us. Is there anywhere else we can search for his will and without being able to prove destruction of an unregistered will is there anything else we can do? Any advice would eb super helpful.

[atticus]

Have you contacted all the solicitors in the area?

Have you lodged a caveat? It might not be too late if the letters of administration have not yet been issued.

[Hantschap]

Thanks for the reply, i lodged a caveat and think i have got round most solicitors! - is there any probate lawyers forums that i can post on?

[Frank1]

What were you told was in his will?

[PallasAthena]

Have you searched here to see if Letters of Adminstration/Probate has been granted? Free to check, a fee to download.

Search probate records for documents and wills (England and Wales)

You can set up a 'Standing Search' to get notified if/when LoA/Probate is granted.

Find a will or probate document: Form PA1S - GOV.UK

Is this a Will you believe he made after the marriage to his second wife?

There is nothing inherently suspicious or wrong in the things you describe if your father's second wife has estranged herself from you. It would be normal for someone's widow to have the deceased's papers out after their death in order to start administering their estate. And his wife is under no obligation to let you search their house or discuss the existence or otherwise of a Will, nor to tell you she has applied for Letters of Administration (if there is in fact no Will she is first in the order of priority to apply for LoA).