From where can I seek legal assistance to get my deceased father's British Passport from my sister?

Question

My deceased father’s British Passport is in possession of my step sister and I cannot apply for a British Passport without it. What can I do now?

My father (re-married to a Pakistani women) was a British National and passwed away in Jan 2005. My step sister has refused to submit my father’s documents to me that are required by the British High Commission, Islamabad for British Passport issuance.

This deprives me and my son from achieving British Nationality.

I don’t know whom to approach as the British High Commission does not provide legal assiustance in domestic matters.

I don’t know which UK department should I approach in this regard and from Where can I get legal assistance to retrieve my father’s documents from my step sister in England. I am living in Pakistan at the moment.

Answer 1

i dont know much about this, but do u actually need the passport or just the passport number?, when i applied for a passport i just needed my mums passport number not the actual passport.

if u need just the number can u just call up the passport issuers and get it. or will ur mum know the number?

y will she not give it to you?

Answer 2

You can still contact the British High Commission & explain them the whole situation. You need to prove your relationship with ur deceased father. Once that is establish, the officials know that ur deceased father was British so they would issue ur passport.

It wont be easy for you, yet possible.

Answer 3

You might try checking with the Department of Vital Statistics in Britain and getting a copy of your father's birth certificate, which could help you in your quest. If your step-sister flatly refuses to give you your father's passport, you can always contact a lawyer and sue her for possession of it - or at least, for a certified copy of it, which should satisfy the British High Commission. But you would be responsible for the legal costs involved.

From what you say, it appears that what the immigration people require is proof that your father was a british citizen, and there are other ways to do this than through a passport. You could request proof of your father's citizenship from the British departmente of Vital Statistics. It could be a little harder if your father was an immigrant who became a British subject but was originally the subject of another country. But if he was born in Britain, you should be able to get proof of that thorugh his birth certificate.