I know a bit that I've picked up over the years, and there's quite a lot to be found on line. What do you need to know?
This message board is also quite good for asking questions. There's at least a couple of specialists posting there and lay people who've dealt with it for members of their family etc.
Essentially, my granny passed away in early February and her solicitor has been supposedly putting things in order and organising probate. There was a small estate (classed as small, from what I've found online so far, because it came in at under £300,000) but the solicitor failed to locate around £60,000 of it despite having formerly notified the people it was invested with, that my mother had power of attourney. Anyway that's a side issue, but still, they haven't been able to give any kind of explanation OR apologised for their error
( ... )
It sounds like they're certainly guilty of poor communication if nothing else. It's reasonable to ask the question of why they haven't applied yet.
They may be waiting for information from other parties which isn't being forthcoming - before they can apply they need to have the full picture of the estate's assets and liabilities to go on the inheritance tax form which I believe has to go in at the same time.
This company has been my grandmother's solicitor for years and is in posession of all her financial paperwork.. and have been for a long time.
I've asked the question on the forum you suggested; I'm hoping someone will be able to give me a better idea of what's going on before tomorrow - they haven't confirmed receipt of my identity for the small legacy that I've been left yet, so I want to make sure that's going to happen (I'm already having to cancel going away next month because the money won't be through in time) but I want to have a good idea of what's happening before I speak to them. If I lived closer I would be going in with my mum.. she's currently pretty much penniless and the bank won't extend her overdraft until the solicitor confirms the inheritance that's due. Needless to say the woman agreed to do it straight away and then went AWOL.
Margs isn't and as far as I know never has been a resident of the UK, they probably call it something different where she lives. Thanks for explaining it - it was much more succinct than I probably would have managed!
There are some really good books your library may have on this issue - I can't help on the 'solicitor's going slow, what options?' question, but I can state from experience that a reasonably smart individual with persistence and patience *can* act as executor and apply for probate without solicitors - who, of course, charge for each action.
The Law Society may have some standards on this matter - and no sol practice will want them breathing down their necks.
I believe my granny chose to involve the woman :-S
I think it's too far through to consider firing her, it would slow things down even further :-(
I might see about calling the Law Society. The local CAB probably won't help as I'm in Scotland and this is happening in England - things tend to operate differently. And I can't see my mum having the energy to follow this up.
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This message board is also quite good for asking questions. There's at least a couple of specialists posting there and lay people who've dealt with it for members of their family etc.
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They may be waiting for information from other parties which isn't being forthcoming - before they can apply they need to have the full picture of the estate's assets and liabilities to go on the inheritance tax form which I believe has to go in at the same time.
Or they may just be being crap.
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I've asked the question on the forum you suggested; I'm hoping someone will be able to give me a better idea of what's going on before tomorrow - they haven't confirmed receipt of my identity for the small legacy that I've been left yet, so I want to make sure that's going to happen (I'm already having to cancel going away next month because the money won't be through in time) but I want to have a good idea of what's happening before I speak to them. If I lived closer I would be going in with my mum.. she's currently pretty much penniless and the bank won't extend her overdraft until the solicitor confirms the inheritance that's due. Needless to say the woman agreed to do it straight away and then went AWOL.
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The Law Society may have some standards on this matter - and no sol practice will want them breathing down their necks.
Try the local CAB too?
What a mess! Not what you needed. Good hunting.
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I think it's too far through to consider firing her, it would slow things down even further :-(
I might see about calling the Law Society. The local CAB probably won't help as I'm in Scotland and this is happening in England - things tend to operate differently. And I can't see my mum having the energy to follow this up.
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