Changing a solicitor dealing with inheritance estate

Mik77

Hi, I have a situation with the solicitor dealing with my fathers will and estate.

My father unfortunately passed away in January, and one of the executors of the will is a local solicitor.

We (me and siblings) are probably two thirds of the way through the whole process, I requested an update of the solicitors charges back in April, then again in June however he procrastinated, it was only when I submitted my request a third time (in writing) that he provided me with his current charges which exceeded £3000. What he didn't provide though was a breakdown of how he got to these charges.

When I requested a detailed breakdown of the charges, I was informed I would be charged a further amount as he would be required to "pore over the computer and files" in order to provide a full breakdown.

Surely this can't be right, but I don't know of any method or means of challenging this.

I'm hoping someone can advise me on how I could challenge the solicitor, but in a way to keep his costs down.

Or if I could withdraw his service, bearing in mind that he is a named executor on the will, (the second named executor is a freind of my late father, but has had little to do with the will/estate as we as a family had agreed it may be easier to keep all matters in the hands of the solicitor.

Heres hoping.

Mik77

Hi could the mods move this to consumer rights forum.

tandraig

i believe you are ALWAYS entitled to a breakdown of costs from a solicitor - so he got to go through his computer and files? so what?

tandraig

just looked again at your OP - £3000 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for gods sake what was he doing? he is padding this i think. insist on a breakdown of charges and if not satisfied go to the law society i think it is - other wiser heads than me will prob advise. that seems excessive to me.............my brother in law did it himself and it only cost just over a hundred pounds to prove my father in laws will and that included all phone calls to family members certificates etc.

Mik77

Thanks for your response.

I found a few other posts on here, (to be honest I wonder if i've written my title correctly), however a few people had suggested a renumeration certificate.

I did request that the solicitor provide me with a breakdown of his charges but as I said he pointed out that this would incur further charges to do this. (which to me doesn't make sense as he must have applied some sort of formula to come up with his charge in teh first place.)

Since day one I have been fully aware of how his costs could build up, and to save money I have tried to do as much as possible myself, ie, contacting various insurance firms/mortgage/etc, and completing as much admin as I can before they request to deal with the executor.

So basically all he has had to do is write to each company informing him who he is and then they settle matters.

Early on in the process he was sending me letters, which detailed information which I already knew, (advising that an insurance policy had previously expired), I had provided him with paperwork pointing this out. When I questioned how much these letters cost, he told me he charges a 'modest fee', therefore I requested that he doesn't send 'pointless' letters. He subsequently ceased all contact with me in terms of letters.

For a proffesional man, I get the impression that he has dealt with these matters in a very 'petty' manner.

I really hope I can get a positive result, as it's causing me so much stress at the moment, it's bad enough trying to deal with losing my dad, never mind having someone causing additional stresses.

I just wonder if anyone has took a case renumeration, is there an additional fee? The reason I'm asking is I'm wondering whether it's best just to cut my losses, pay him and hope that all matters are close to be finished, hence not incurring much more fees.

Laz123

I had to pay our solicitor over £3000 to organise probate on my stepfather's estate. It seems to be the norm. Money for old rope springs to mind. They couldn't have spent more than 10 hours in total, so it works out at £300 per hour. Methinks we're in the wrong business.

tandraig

The Law Society - Complaints about solicitors
Complaints about solicitors. Legal Complaints Service logo ... To complain about your solicitor, or find out how we can help ...
www.lawsociety.org.uk

go on this website hun - I think you have a case.

tandraig

laz123 - I think you should go on website too - £3ooo to do probate??????? you paul gettys heir?