You can just picture the scene from an American movie where the
patriarch of the family has died and the warring family gather together in the Attorney’s
office for the official reading of the Will. You find yourself wondering if
this ever happens in the UK and wonder if your family will have to come
together from the four corners of the world to listen to the solicitor read out
the terms of the document that you’ve left as a surprise for them. Lots of
other questions then follow - is the Will valid if it is not read out like
this? What if a family member can’t be at the reading? Can it by done by Zoom in
these days of restrictions on travel?
Well, I’m not sure if I am bursting a bubble here, and if you will be disappointed, but I have to tell you that – at least here in the UK – such a scene is a complete myth. We don’t have to have a family gathering to “read” a Will and it very rare, if ever, that the whole family will be gathered together to find out the content of the Will at the same time.
Normally what happens is that the Executor (the person appointed to administer the estate after death), or their solicitor, will get in touch with each of the beneficiaries of the Will and any other people who may have a legal interest in the estate to advise them of the fact that they are beneficiaries and the extent of their interest. This can be in person or over video-conferencing but will usually be confirmed by letter or email.
It isn’t as dramatic as having a formal Will-reading but it does avoid any face to face fighting over who has inherited what.