Hannah, 46, an NHS administrator in Hertfordshire, lost her mother this year and has been told by her stepfather that he is the sole beneficiary of the estate. He has refused to show her the will, saying it is private, and has told her she will inherit whatever is left when he dies. Concerned that something more sinister is going on, she asked Metro consumer champion Sarah Davidson what to do.
Hannah says her mother owned half of the family home and had savings from her grandmother. She is her only daughter and cannot shake the feeling that her stepfather is hiding something, especially after he bought a motorhome and began talking about moving abroad.
Probate records are public
Davidson advises that when someone dies leaving a valid will, the appointed executor must apply for a grant of probate before assets can be officially distributed. Once probate is granted, the will becomes a public document. Hannah can search the GOV.UK probate registry online and order an official copy of the grant and the will for a fee of £16 per document.
If probate has not yet been issued, she can enter a standing search with the probate registry, which ensures she receives a copy of the grant as soon as it is issued. This official route removes the need for confrontational arguments and provides factual proof of what her mother legally decided.
No automatic right to inherit
Davidson explains that as an adult child, Hannah does not have an automatic right to inherit if a valid will leaves everything to a surviving spouse. However, an adult child may be able to bring a claim under the Inheritance Act 1975 where reasonable financial provision has not been made, especially if they were financially dependent on the person who died. These claims are fact-specific, carry a high threshold, and usually have a six-month deadline from the date probate is granted.
Davidson advises that if legal action or mediation becomes necessary, approaching professionals early ensures Hannah understands her rights completely without escalating family hostility. Going to a solicitor will incur costs, so she needs to weigh up whether the financial and personal consequences are proportionate to the situation.
Balance emotion and legal steps
Davidson acknowledges that grief makes people hyper-vigilant, and watching a stepfather buy a motorhome and talk about moving abroad is triggering, particularly as Hannah says she is close to him. She advises separating emotional hurt from the legal reality governing estates in England and Wales.
Ultimately, Davidson says knowledge is the strongest ally amid uncertainty, and advises Hannah to start with the facts, then decide how to approach the relationship that remains with her stepfather, who is also grieving in his own way.
