Will Information

[herbie]

My freind who is a dog groomer was asked by one of her clients to take care of his 11 year old dog in the event of him having to go into a hospice (he had terminal cancer) he told her that he would pay for dogs medication and dietry needs which cost about �70 per month.
Now for the problem
He died last week leaving a daughter and her 2 offsping and a house alone which is worth about �250 thousand the daughter rang my freind to say he had died and that she should come and collect Max (the dog) if not they didint want him and would have him put down,she went to collect him and was told that he had not left anything for dogs care as far as she knows and that she has the will so no money.
My freind is an animal lover but by no means well off is there any way she can check the will or legally get some money off these heartless people? i bet the old boys spinning the funeral is next week ive told her to go and take Max and try and shame them into coughing up Help Please

[bednobs]

you think the daughter is being heartless, but really the dog is as much to do with the daughter as it is with your friend, in fact if your friend agreed to take care of the dog so she has obligated herself more than the daughter. they have no obligation to either give your friend money (they might be poor too! they wont get money for a will for some time) or to show her the will,(she can look herself by applying for a copy when it has been dealt with) or even to look after the dog!
There is no "fault" on the daughters part - clearly the man didnt fulfill his part of the bargain

[Buenchico]

Any will becomes a public document once the executors have been granted probate but that probably doesn't help you because this might take several months. However, your friend could set up a 'standing search' with the Probate Registry. For a fee of just �5, she'll automatically receive a copy of the will (if one exists) as soon as it becomes a public document. (If it takes longer than 6 months, the search has to be renewed with a further fee of �5).

If the relatives of the deceased are trying to hide something, simply telling them that a standing search has been set up might jolt them into disclosing the contents of the will (and putting its provisions into operation).

A more practical step might be to approach the Dogs Trust (which is still better known under its former name of the National Canine Defence League). They're the experts when it comes to caring for and rehoming dogs (even elderly dogs with special dietary needs). They rehome over 10,000 dogs each year. More importantly, they have a policy of never destroying a healthy animal. If your friend could persuade the relatives to let the Dogs Trust take care of Max's future, it might be better than spending months of uncertainty worrying about him:
http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/
(email: [email protected] )

Chris

[Buenchico]

Oops! I forgot this link about setting up a standing search:
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1211.ht m
(However, I still think that the Dogs Trust is still your friend's best source of help).

Chris

[herbie]

Thanks Chris my freind already has the dog we will ring Dogs Trust but she cant bear the thought of him in kennels he has already lost his master and home and to be put in kennels will be too much for this pampered pet we are also going to try the PDSA but dont hold out much hope there as they only help people on benifits