Elderly relative abroad & papers

[dario]

Hi,
not sure which section to post this in. I have a relative living abroad. She feels she is coming to the end of her days at 96 after another fall. She is worried about all her paperwork she has in her house, i.e. house deeds, premium bond certificates, proof of payment to the builder of the property etc. She has carers who visit two or three times a day and neighbours and friends who pop in. She is unsure if some of these people can be trusted. Is anybody able to defraud herself or relatives who may inherit in any way with any of these documents should she pass away. Thank you in advance for your opinions

[echat11]

It's possible that people will try, but if your relative has made a will which contains all her assets and she entrusts a solicitor to retain the will until her passing, then everything will work out the way she intended with regards to her assets. The solicitor could also look after all the documents related to the will. You need to keep a record of who the solicitor is.

[dario]

Thank you ECHAT11, she does have a will. Her relatives are aware of the solicitors who hold the will. She is using these papers to pressure two relatives into visiting so they can take the papers. At the moment work and family commitments are making this very difficult for them to visit as work is on a knife edge post lockdown. To be honest, I think she is a bit peeved that relatives weren't flying over after her hospital vist as she likes people jumping through hoops so to speak. I would like to reassure her that nobody is able to do anything with these papers should her worst fears for her health happen. Thank you again

[echat11]

Is there a place in the house where she could hide them (in box), she tells you where that place is, until a visit is arranged. That should put both your minds at ease.

[dario]

Hi again, sorry for the delay. She keeps the paperwork in a suitcase under her bed. I will suggest to her that I can contact her solicitor and ask them to pick up the case if they are willing to look after it. Thanks

[echat11]

Hi again, sorry for the delay. She keeps the paperwork in a suitcase under her bed. I will suggest to her that I can contact her solicitor and ask them to pick up the case if they are willing to look after it. Thanks

Make sure you get something in writing to say they have it.

[dario]

Make sure you get something in writing to say they have it.

Hi again,
Yes, thank you. Re-reading your first reply, I don't think the items similar to the examples I mentioned are identified individually in the will. Wills are very generalised aren't they?