US Intestacy - UK relatives - Family tree
Discussion
Apologies this is a complicated one but I'm after a bit of advice for the long term future.
I have an Uncle in the US who we are in contact with but maybe only 3 or 4 times a year. - He has no children and his wife died a few years back, his parents (my grandparents) are now both deceased as well. It's a very complicated back story but he is a US citizen and gave up his dual British citizenship to join the military over there. I don't believe he has a will and my Dad (his twin brother) would obviously be 1st in line to the inheritance of his estate with myself and sister second in line (if you assumed my Uncle outlives my Dad).
I am concerned however, upon my Uncle's death in the future, how far the powers at be try to trace down blood family? There would be nobody to inform us of his death so we (in the UK) would not know if he had passed away and I suspect the easiest traceable family to him would be his step mother (though will likely die before him) and her children (all of who are by marriage and not blood), whom he does not get on with and would certainly not want any of his estate going to.
Far short of ensuring he has a will in place, would any legal team dealing with his death ensure the estate finds its way to rightful people?
I don't believe this will really effect myself or my parents as he's only in his 60's at the moment and certainly don't wish him any ill health, but I have a 3 year old who may be in a position to benefit from the sale of a house in a few years and would like to see it fall into the right hands.
I have an Uncle in the US who we are in contact with but maybe only 3 or 4 times a year. - He has no children and his wife died a few years back, his parents (my grandparents) are now both deceased as well. It's a very complicated back story but he is a US citizen and gave up his dual British citizenship to join the military over there. I don't believe he has a will and my Dad (his twin brother) would obviously be 1st in line to the inheritance of his estate with myself and sister second in line (if you assumed my Uncle outlives my Dad).
I am concerned however, upon my Uncle's death in the future, how far the powers at be try to trace down blood family? There would be nobody to inform us of his death so we (in the UK) would not know if he had passed away and I suspect the easiest traceable family to him would be his step mother (though will likely die before him) and her children (all of who are by marriage and not blood), whom he does not get on with and would certainly not want any of his estate going to.
Far short of ensuring he has a will in place, would any legal team dealing with his death ensure the estate finds its way to rightful people?
I don't believe this will really effect myself or my parents as he's only in his 60's at the moment and certainly don't wish him any ill health, but I have a 3 year old who may be in a position to benefit from the sale of a house in a few years and would like to see it fall into the right hands.
In the absence of a will, I do not believe there exists any obligation on the state to trace relatives (other than to notify of the death) and even if there is, without a will obtaining any benefit from the estate would be tricky.
Given he lives in the US, there may also be issues pertaining to tax / death duties.
Difficult a subject as it may be, I would suggest that a frank discussion be had with him about the matter.
Given he lives in the US, there may also be issues pertaining to tax / death duties.
Difficult a subject as it may be, I would suggest that a frank discussion be had with him about the matter.
Thales said:
Hopefully he sees this and writes you out of his will completely.
Which is fine if he wants to do that, I expect nothing from him. He has spoken to me about it in the past and directly said he wants to leave his estate to myself and my sister, it's a difficult one to bring up with somebody you see once every 6 - 7 years or so and speak to a couple of times a year. Bear in mind the next time I speak to him will probably be at xmas - "Hi Uncle, Merry Xmas - by the way have you sorted your will out oh and a Happy new Year"That's why I'm trying to find out if his wishes will be carried out without a will and without myself or my Dad having to broach the subject with him.
How would you feel if knowing your family moved abroad that either the State got all of your estate or it was passed onto people you don't like after you died?
MECHENG84 said:
Apologies this is a complicated one but I'm after a bit of advice for the long term future.
I have an Uncle in the US who we are in contact with but maybe only 3 or 4 times a year. - He has no children and his wife died a few years back, his parents (my grandparents) are now both deceased as well. It's a very complicated back story but he is a US citizen and gave up his dual British citizenship to join the military over there. I don't believe he has a will and my Dad (his twin brother) would obviously be 1st in line to the inheritance of his estate with myself and sister second in line (if you assumed my Uncle outlives my Dad).
I am concerned however, upon my Uncle's death in the future, how far the powers at be try to trace down blood family? There would be nobody to inform us of his death so we (in the UK) would not know if he had passed away and I suspect the easiest traceable family to him would be his step mother (though will likely die before him) and her children (all of who are by marriage and not blood), whom he does not get on with and would certainly not want any of his estate going to.
Far short of ensuring he has a will in place, would any legal team dealing with his death ensure the estate finds its way to rightful people?
I don't believe this will really effect myself or my parents as he's only in his 60's at the moment and certainly don't wish him any ill health, but I have a 3 year old who may be in a position to benefit from the sale of a house in a few years and would like to see it fall into the right hands.
So you are worried you are going to miss out on some inheritance from a distant family member you barely have any contact with?I have an Uncle in the US who we are in contact with but maybe only 3 or 4 times a year. - He has no children and his wife died a few years back, his parents (my grandparents) are now both deceased as well. It's a very complicated back story but he is a US citizen and gave up his dual British citizenship to join the military over there. I don't believe he has a will and my Dad (his twin brother) would obviously be 1st in line to the inheritance of his estate with myself and sister second in line (if you assumed my Uncle outlives my Dad).
I am concerned however, upon my Uncle's death in the future, how far the powers at be try to trace down blood family? There would be nobody to inform us of his death so we (in the UK) would not know if he had passed away and I suspect the easiest traceable family to him would be his step mother (though will likely die before him) and her children (all of who are by marriage and not blood), whom he does not get on with and would certainly not want any of his estate going to.
Far short of ensuring he has a will in place, would any legal team dealing with his death ensure the estate finds its way to rightful people?
I don't believe this will really effect myself or my parents as he's only in his 60's at the moment and certainly don't wish him any ill health, but I have a 3 year old who may be in a position to benefit from the sale of a house in a few years and would like to see it fall into the right hands.
Wow.
Initforthemoney said:
So you are worried you are going to miss out on some inheritance from a distant family member you barely have any contact with?
Wow.
Yes I am, Firstly he's an Uncle, not what I'd call a 'Distant' relative, the contact is not often as there is lot of distance involved and an 8 hour time difference. In the event of his death it's going to go 3 ways - Either to his step family which he doesn't want, to Donald Trump which nobody wants or hopefully to the family where he actually wants it to go, but seeing as we're in the UK I'm not sure how the US would handle this if there is no Will in place.Wow.
vtecyo said:
Give him my bank details and I'll act as a sort of inheritance protection fund if you want.
Sounds like a good idea...send them across to me with your address and credit card details as well, the long number on the front, the expiry date and the 3 digit code on the signature strip. 
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