RE Will made by friend?

Question

I was friendly with this gentleman for about 8 years, in that 8 years my wife and I practically saved his life as he was living in poor conditions, his home was a health hazard. My wife and I adopted him as a stepdad as his wife was in a nursing home and he had poor health. We took him everywhere we went, we felt awful to leave him on his own, we even took him on holidays with us. Really he took over our life, and I had no private life with my wife. He adored my wife and called her the daughter he never had. We managed to clean him up etc and eventually got him into a residential sheltered accommidation in which he bought his own flat. One day he said to me I want to make a will and that I was to be his executor of the will, we went to a solicitor who drew up the will for him, I wasnt allowed in at the time he was giving details. He told solicitor about me and that I knew all his wishes should he die. One day he made me read the will so I knew all his wishes, and I noticed that he

left half of the final payout of his flat when it was sold, the other half to go to his son. He wanted to give this to my wife because of all the help etc we gave him over the years, he left his car for me in his will but i told him to give it to his son.
Since then he has met this old girl who lives next door to him, both fell in love, she stopps him from seeing us and is milking him dry. RE the will, if he dies have i any way of finding out if he has had the will changed or if its not how do i get what he wanted to give to my wife, i dont want any fights as i am disabled. Will his solicitor contact me? does the solicitor open and read the will or can she just tear it up.

Answer 1

Once probate has been granted the will becomes a public record and absolutely anyone is entitled to see it, but not any "side letters" that are left with it.

It may just be that his wishes have changed now. He loves this lady and will probably want to provide for her in the event of his death. There's nothing you can do about that, but if you get the chance try to make sure that he knows that you still care for him and value his friendship. If this lady is not genuine she may desert him once she has had all there is, so he may well need your help and friendship again.

If not, if she is genuine, then be happy for him. You didn't befriend him in the first place for the sake of material gain, although it's sad if his lady friend is stopping you from seeing your friend.

I think all you can do is be reasonably friendly towards them both. Come Easter, put a card through their door addressed to both and wishing them a joyful Eastertide or whatever.

Answer 2

his solicitor will contact you if you are to get anything from the will when he dies. if you arent contacted, then maybe you can try and inquire about it, but the chances would be that the old woman got it all

Answer 3

She can't just tear the will up - if she has pursuaded him to change the will then you will not find out until after his death. If he has changed the will to benefit her you cannot do much about it other than try and contest it

Answer 4

The solicitor will contact you if you are a beneficiary of that will.

He may however change his will so may be best to ask him if he has.

Answer 5

That he what???? ;-) move onto the extra detail section and finish the tale ;-)

Answer 6

you'd be contacted by the lawyer

Answer 7

Don't hurt him because of bad news...

Answer 8

That he...? What?

Answer 9

what?