Thanks for your reply, the will was archived in a holding room, they have now found it. They have advised her that they have passed it on to another solicitor to deal with & they will be in touch soon.
My mother never instructed them to do anything, its strange really. I think at that point she felt she could not do anymore, that maybe her sister would turn up. I suppose she felt as if they held all the cards. We also live over a 100 miles away from this solicitor, life goes on & it gets put to the bottom of the list so to speak. In the past year we have also conducted searches, but nothing.
After reading various posts, I gather she should of placed the money in an account herself, is that correct? Or taken out a Missing Beneficiary Insurance policy if she would be able to distribute the remaining shares to the other beneficiaries in the will.
I have advised her that she needs to get a second opinion & get legal advice from a local solicitor as back up, so when they do call back she will have a little knowledge on what to do as after 12 years she would like to have closure