How long should it take to receive money from a will?

jo101_2

Hi

Im not sure if this is the best place to ask this but...

I have been bequethed some money in my Grandmas will and I was wondering if anyone knows how long on average it takes to receive the money, she died at the beginning of June and we all had letters from the solicitor initially and I believe probate was granted back in September. I thought it would be sorted by now as it was a simple will, no one is going to contest it and all the money is in savings as her property was sold 10 years ago.

I understand that this is probably like asking how long is a piece of string, but just want a rough idea.

Many thanks

Jo

dawnydee73

It took just under 5 months when I received something from a will.

kelloggs36

Once Probate is granted then the applications to all the bodies who owed your Grandma can be made - so this couldn't have been done until September. Some companies are better than others - the Executor should be chasing them constantly - I had to in respect of my Dad's Will. Most paid up within a few weeks, but there is one that is dragging their heels. Just speak to the Executor - they will know more about what is going on.

Bossyboots

Debts to the estate also need to be paid before bequests so these have to be tallied and paid. Only then will beneficiaries be paid and that is only if there is sufficient left.

andi2

It took 2 years before I received anything from my Gran's estate. Hopefully it won't take that long.

My great-aunt died last November & I received a cheque in May, I think that's a more "normal" time frame.

elona

When my Dad died he left a will naming me executor and I applied for probate myself rather than using a lawyer - it took about two months and I was able to give my daughters the bequest then - apart from the younger ones who will get this later.

Biddyrolo

We sorted my dads estate ourselves, we got probate in around 3 months but it took around a year to actually recieve our bequests, mainly because we were waiting for a good time to sell shares and also you can keep premium bonds for 12 months after someone has died, dad would've been thrilled to know he won £1000.

jo101_2

Hi

Many thanks for all your replies, it is the first time I have been left any money so I had no idea of what was involved.

Thanks again

Jo

scarybee

I was interested to read your thread as I am looking for help myself as I seem to have fallen out with my sister who is the executor of my aunt's estate and short of going for contested probate I really don't know what to do now. My aunt died in June 2004. Her will was completely straightforward - the estate was to be divided equally between my sister, my brother and me. My sister - the eldest - and my brother - a male - were to be executors. My brother gave up his role because he lives on the other side of the world (NZ). My sister finally got probate granted in February 2005. The house - bulk of the estate - was sold and proceeds divided 3 ways soon after. However the remainder which on the probate application was about £62k and, by the time I finally got some "off the top of her head " figures out of my sister in May 2006, was £40k, is still to be settled. She said then that we had paid £15k IHT on an estate worth £265k at a time when the threshold was £263k. I cannot understand this and have been asking for accounts. She ignores letters, emails and calls and lies to my mother about replying to my solicitor who wrote 2 months ago to reminder her that she needed to account to me. I want to avoid a costly court battle but what other alternatives do I have - can anyone help?
Thanks

sloughflint

scarybee wrote:

I was interested to read your thread as I am looking for help myself as I seem to have fallen out with my sister who is the executor of my aunt's estate and short of going for contested probate I really don't know what to do now. My aunt died in June 2004. Her will was completely straightforward - the estate was to be divided equally between my sister, my brother and me. My sister - the eldest - and my brother - a male - were to be executors. My brother gave up his role because he lives on the other side of the world (NZ). My sister finally got probate granted in February 2005. The house - bulk of the estate - was sold and proceeds divided 3 ways soon after. However the remainder which on the probate application was about £62k and, by the time I finally got some "off the top of her head " figures out of my sister in May 2006, was £40k, is still to be settled. She said then that we had paid £15k IHT on an estate worth £265k at a time when the threshold was £263k. I cannot understand this and have been asking for accounts. She ignores letters, emails and calls and lies to my mother about replying to my solicitor who wrote 2 months ago to reminder her that she needed to account to me. I want to avoid a costly court battle but what other alternatives do I have - can anyone help?
Thanks

Did your brother give up totally or just "power reserved"?

CGG

Going back to OP's question, I worked in Financial Services with one of the high street banks, dealing specifically with deceaseds' accounts. I can recall a handful of accounts that were unable to be closed because of disputes between family members that were Executors who wouldn't communicate with each other. At least three of them went back over 5 years. Stalemate.