I just learnt that my father died. Don't know how to proceed
Three days ago, I received a letter from a stranger telling me that she was the manager of supported accommodation where my grandmother lives, and that my father had passed away on March 1st. I haven't seen my father in 35 years, nor my grandmother in over 40. She's 99 years old, and unable to deal with this in any meaningful way.
My father's body was taken to City of London Coroner for an inquest. As far as I've been able to find out, this hasn't happened yet. I have confirmed with the registrar that the death hasn't been registered yet, but the coroner's office hasn't returned my calls so far.
As far as either of us know, me and my grandmother are his only surviving relatives.
She told me that the solicitor with whom his will was registered was no longer in business. I've checked the name she gave me, and it appears to be true. She thinks there may be a copy of his will with a friend of his, but neither of us know how to contact him, and she's been told that he's stuck in Tenerife and unable to fly back due to the current restrictions.
There's another friend of my father who allegedly has a key to his house, but he lives in France, and I have no way to contact him either.
Is there any way for me to find out if his will was transferred to another solicitor? I've called several in the area, but none of them were able to confirm that it was with them. Is there anything I can usefully be doing?
Posted Mar 19, 2020, 4:04 PM UTC
Contact the SRA and they may be able to assist.
When the firm that drew up the will closed, the Wills it held would have been transferred to another local firm. The SRA should have a record of this.