Family member fraud.

Oh dear, what a sad tale. I am so sorry that these monetary matters are intruding at a time when you are grieving the loss of your mother and I hope that family relationships can survive even though trust has been lost.

That is a very sorry state of affairs. Thank goodness you have a supportive husband

Feel free to sound off on here - but do be prepared to ignore any of the less empathetic gransnetters who might pop up on here to make nasty, judgemental, unhelpful comments.

Awful for you, CaroleAnne.

We had a few issues with my sibling shortly before and after my mother's death but nothing like the magnitude that you're facing.

Good luck

Oh Carol what a dreadful story if you can’t trust family members who can you trust ? What a very sad story it seems there are four siblings and the youngest one and possibly another are doing the thieving how could they do that to their mother and as granny says all comes to light at the time you should be drawing together and grieving for your Mum
I m glad you have handed it over to the police and that you have a firm backup and support in your husband and hopefully the other brother

What a minefield!
Are you her executor?
I am glad you are not having to cope with this on your own, but what a bitter taste it must leave. ?

Thank you for your replies. The other three siblings are no longer speaking to me so I am going it alone. I will do all I can to stand up for my mother post mortem and wished that I could have done more to support her when she was alive.

How sad - condolences on the loss of your dear mother. I hear so many stories like this - family fallouts over inheritance. I hope things will be sorted soon without too much acrimony and bitterness.

Thank you Maw. It is good to know that you are there. You always make good common sense.
My mother died interstate. My younger brother and sister wanted to take over and I would have been happy for them to do so until I discovered that after three weeks after her death her bank account was still open(after my brother had assured us that her bank account had already been closed) and the money missing. I dread to think how much may have been removed if I had not taken the reins. The bank have made me the personal administrator and it all has to go through me.
She left so very little and they had already taken 25%.
I will do everything I can to give her back the respect and dignity that she so deserved post mortem whatever it takes. Carole.

Dying intestate is a nightmare in itself but perhaps HMG will be more ruthless in chasing up the missing funds than a sibling might have been, but what a foolish waste of all your mum might have saved for and hoped to pass on to her children
Apart from your present problem, ths should be a lesson to anybody who has put off making a will.

Thank you again Maw. Yes we are certainly getting in touch with HMRC tomorrow.

Given that HMG are entitled to the estate I would expect them to be quicker off the mark themselves.

My sympathy, I do hope she didn’t die intestate because it’s going to get very difficult , if there are executors at least it might get sorted out within the family. If your brother had official power of attorney, abusing that trust is serious.

OP has said her mother did die intestate David

HMG will not be entitled to the estate, it has to be distributed according to set rules and no changes, in any case they will check everything, there may be tax to pay.