Ok. Thank you. I will try contacting the bank with my partner's birth certificate and see what the lawyer can do in the meantime. Thank you everyone for your help.
Thank you, but this was back when the father died, which was 3 years ago so if he has done it, it was done a long time ago :(
The problem was, we got a message to say my partner's father had died and no contact before or after that, so we assumed that there had been a will and my partner had been left out of it (we didn't understand Italian law at that point). If we had known that my partner would have been automatically entitled along with the brother who has since passed, we would have started the succession procedure a long time ago.
Could we phone the bank and ask if the father's bank account had been frozen after his death, or under Italian privacy laws would they not be able to tell us that?
We spoke to the brother's ex partner last night, who is going to his house to find the father's death certificate (as she hasn't got a copy herself).
We asked if she knew how far the brother had got with trying to get hold of his father's money, and also how the father's financial situation seemed to be at the time of his death and her reply said "I know (father) was having to transfer money out of his account to keep below the financial threshold for free home care, but I don't know what the limit is, as far as I know (brother) had gone to dad's bank whilst he was over there (after dad had died) but they said he and (my partner) had to both sign forms to gain access to the money".
So it seems he just went to the bank my partner's father banked at? My partner knows which one it is, as he's been there himself in the past and there's only one bank in the town the father lived in. This all seems strange to me - unless the brothers ex partner is getting things wrong.
Anyway. I did contact an English speaking notary for the district the father died in, but as someone above suggested lawyer being the best route, I think I will continue with the lawyer.
If the succession goes spouse-children-anyone else, then yes he is the only surviving relative, aside from his niece and a couple of cousins.
I have been in touch with the lady that was mentioned by someone above; what is the difference between a lawyer and a notary and is there a cost difference too, does anyone know?
The brother had a will by the way, he died in this country and has left his estate to his daughter and step daughter.
Comments posted
I meant my partner :)
I will, thank you.
Ok. Thank you. I will try contacting the bank with my partner's birth certificate and see what the lawyer can do in the meantime. Thank you everyone for your help.
Thank you, but this was back when the father died, which was 3 years ago so if he has done it, it was done a long time ago :(
The problem was, we got a message to say my partner's father had died and no contact before or after that, so we assumed that there had been a will and my partner had been left out of it (we didn't understand Italian law at that point). If we had known that my partner would have been automatically entitled along with the brother who has since passed, we would have started the succession procedure a long time ago.
Could we phone the bank and ask if the father's bank account had been frozen after his death, or under Italian privacy laws would they not be able to tell us that?
We spoke to the brother's ex partner last night, who is going to his house to find the father's death certificate (as she hasn't got a copy herself).
We asked if she knew how far the brother had got with trying to get hold of his father's money, and also how the father's financial situation seemed to be at the time of his death and her reply said "I know (father) was having to transfer money out of his account to keep below the financial threshold for free home care, but I don't know what the limit is, as far as I know (brother) had gone to dad's bank whilst he was over there (after dad had died) but they said he and (my partner) had to both sign forms to gain access to the money".
So it seems he just went to the bank my partner's father banked at? My partner knows which one it is, as he's been there himself in the past and there's only one bank in the town the father lived in. This all seems strange to me - unless the brothers ex partner is getting things wrong.
Anyway. I did contact an English speaking notary for the district the father died in, but as someone above suggested lawyer being the best route, I think I will continue with the lawyer.
Thank you all.
If the succession goes spouse-children-anyone else, then yes he is the only surviving relative, aside from his niece and a couple of cousins.
I have been in touch with the lady that was mentioned by someone above; what is the difference between a lawyer and a notary and is there a cost difference too, does anyone know?
The brother had a will by the way, he died in this country and has left his estate to his daughter and step daughter.
Thank you very much for the recommendation.
We just don't know where to start so that is very helpful, thank you again.