My sister-in-law died a fortnight ago. She’d told her solicitor that she had no family and left all her money to charity. However my son, as her nephew, is her next of kin. But the solicitor says he’s not even obliged to tell my son the name of the charity involved. Surely this is not correct?
It is correct. Unless you’re a “residuary beneficiary” of a will you have no automatic right to see a copy of it. However like any member of the public you will be able to obtain a copy at the local probate office once probate is granted. Your sister-in-law was entitled to leave her money as she chose. It’s unlikely your son will have any claim on the estate unless he was being financially supported by his aunt at the time of her death.