My parents have both died within the past 12 months and I have discovered that they made a will leaving everything to my brother, whom I haven’t spoken to for five years. He won’t let me see the will, and says he has no intention of obtaining probate since the amount involved is only small. Have I a right to see the will, and how do I go about getting a copy?
You have no right to see the will I’m afraid. A will only becomes a document of public record (i.e. anyone can see it) if it goes to probate. Probate is only required where larger sums, usually above £5,000, are involved since smaller amounts in institutions such as building societies and the national savings bank can be paid out without production of formal documentation.