View Full Version : Inheritance left by my biological nan, would I be entitle to it as I was adopted?
elmypops-ap
Mar 4, 2014, 08:48 AM
I am now 21 will be 22 this May. I have 3 brothers two older then I and one younger brother. In 2007 my 2 brothers and I chose to be adopted by our foster parents (the oldest brother didn't want to be adopted as he was turning 18 soon at the time.). Before I turned 18, we my 3 brothers, and I were sat down and told our biological grandmother had died and left my two older brother and I money in her will. My adopted mother tried everything she could at the time to find out more information. All of our social workers was changing every two weeks, most of the time we were in care, and our last social worker we had, who was dealing with the case, left which probably didn't help.
I am now in contact with my biological mother, as my half sister was looking for us all, and it come to light that her brother has all the documents, and we have to go to him to get them. Would I need a copy of the will along with the insurance papers she left for us kids, and even though I have been adopted would I still be entitled to it?
Or will my older brother as he is the only one who didn't get adopted and has his birth name?
smoothy
Mar 4, 2014, 08:59 AM
Depending on what country you live... you might not be entitled to anything automatically at all.
So its important to specify what state and country this is.
Being you were adopted...that generally severed any legal right you might have to anything. Unless the will specifically names each of you individually and what if anything was being left to you.
elmypops-ap
Mar 4, 2014, 09:22 AM
I was born in Islington london untited kingdon england.. still living in England but down in kent. My nan always said I was her favorite and she wanted to protect us but the only way was through care.. she knew we were being adopted as they had to sign the papers for it to happen but she put it in when I was born I don't know all information yil end of month when I go get the docs and evrything from my uncle though I'm dreadinh it as already had one brother refuse to go up there.. she died 3 yr ago as I forgot to mention it before hand x
ScottGem
Mar 4, 2014, 09:41 AM
Ok, You need a copy of the will. The thing is, the will should have been probated and the executor should have contacted you. So if she died 3 years ago, you should not have had to chase this down.
If she specified your names in her will then the adoption will not matter. But if she simply specified "my grandchildren", then the adoption might have severed that relationship. However, if there were inhsurance policies and you were named as a beneficiary, then that should have come to you from the insurance carrier.
That she dies 3 years ago, is not a good sign. It could be that she had nothing to leave.
AK lawyer
Mar 4, 2014, 11:21 AM
I believe it may depend on whether the grandmother died before or after the grandchildren were adopted. If she died before, they probably have the right to inherit (if the will so provides) whether they were subsequently adopted.
Ah: never mind. I see in a later post that "she died 3 yr ago". If I understand correctly, they were adopted seven years ago.
elmypops-ap
Mar 4, 2014, 04:52 PM
I know my nan had put it in each of our names but its in our birth names as it was done either the date I was born or few days later... in answer to we ahould have been sent these docs they gave them to my biological mothers brother.. I am going up to his at the end of the month to get what is rightfully our including pics and that. But I will have to wait until then to find out more information xx thanks guys for your help just wish it was more simpler xx
smoothy
Mar 4, 2014, 05:47 PM
It doesn't matter what she "put in your names" when you were born... fortunes change and most wills do as well. SMart people change their wills from time to time If she had anything left when she died... she legally could have given it all to the BBC if she wanted. And three years after her death... its unlikely there was anything had you not been sought out.
But by all means get a copy of it... and find out for sure. Anything until then is just guessing.
ScottGem
Mar 4, 2014, 06:26 PM
I don't want to be going on expecting some big inheritance. If there was a significant estate, it should have been probated within a year of her death and you should have been informed. So the odds are there was little or nothing left.
elmypops-ap
Mar 5, 2014, 01:33 PM
I only know what my biological uncle is telling me atm as I've said il be trying to get all that I am needing but want a rough idea of what I need to get from him when I go down to london. But thank you for your help I will keep you all posted
smoothy
Mar 5, 2014, 01:35 PM
At least the copy of the will. That gives a rough idea of what she wanted to go to whom... however outstanding debts at the time of her death must be satisfied before anyone gets anything.
If she died owing more money than she was worth...then its possible there is nothing for anyone.
talaniman
Mar 5, 2014, 01:35 PM
The will would be a start.