When producing a will to the beneficiaries prior to the issue of the Grant, can names of other beneficiaries/addresses be blanked for anonymity?
Of course, post grant the will will become public and anybody will be able to see the detail anyway, but is there anything to prevent this?
As usual, this may depend on the specific circumstances of each case.
If you have any reason to expect a challenge to the will, should you not supply full details - whether to a named beneficiary or not - or face a caveat and/or possible Larke v Nugent claim, in either case with a risk of costs penalties?
Similarly, if your firm/partners are Executor, full disclosure may be required in order to give full costs information, at least to the residuary legatees [assuming the estate is solvent, otherwise to whoever will effectively be funding your fees].
In the last century, [not that long ago to some of us] the “Agatha Christie” style of reading a will after a funeral simply did not happen - if only because the solicitor was no longer the “man of business” with full knowledge of all assets and liabilities. For the same reason I would not routinely notify pecuniary legatees of their “windfall” until I was in a position to make payment - ie after the grant, and assets confirmed, and statutory notices have expired.
So Evelyn, I would be unlikely to produce a will to any but the RLs, whether redacted or not; but welcome thoughts from those in the 21st century.