Who Inherits If Children Are Adopted ?

[CW1]

A divorced uncle dies intestate, his ex wife remarried & their children took the new husband's name & may have also been legally adopted by the new husband.

The only other living relations are nieces, one of which has children.

Who would inherit if the uncle's children were adopted ? Both nieces presumably but what about their children ?

[Barmaid]

Probate Registry will not do any such checks, Barry.  

[Barmaid]

In fact, I am not sure about the references to "probate office".  Generally, a grant will be issued to the person entitled under intestacy but it is necessary to "clear off" prior entitled people.  It seems that no-one really knows who is entitled as of yet.  I imagine, the heir hunter has picked this up from the bona vacantia list.  

 

[CW1]

I say probate office but they are heir hunters, just like the tv show. One phone number did appear on my phone as a probate company.

They said they would need to apply to the courts to find out about any adoption. I don't know anything about how they go about that, guess they're just hoping the son (if, in fact, it is him they've left a message for) calls them back. Be easier all round !

As I say the mother was a particularly vindictive character, accused him of allsorts I know not to be true, so I don't know she would have sought his permission re an adoption. 

& yes, it was the publishing of the bona vacantia list that seems to have started this. I can see his name on there.

[Barmaid]

I would be inclined not to sign anything with the heir hunter.  And secondly the comment that the step-father may have adopted the children is probably a carrot to get you to do the work for them.  

[CW1]

I'm not signing anything, Barmaid, not that they've offered anything anyway. All one said was *if* they were adopted, I would be an heir. They were just trying to find out if I know any more than them. I didn't even know they'd taken their step father's name, much less if they were adopted, so I was no use there.

For my part it'd just be nice to be back in touch with the son, that's all, tho' he may well not remember me. Been a while ! 

[Auntypoll]

It really isn't that difficult to find if somone has been adopted

[CW1]

I wouldn't know, but presumably not that easy else they wouldn't waste their time waiting to hear back from the son to find out, & just try sign me up if it turned out they were.

[Peter Pedant]

Hi Barmaid - thanks for your practical input