Query regarding solicitors as executors.

Errata

For reasons which are not important to this thread, as the executor I asked a solicitor to deal with my mother's estate. They made it very clear to me what that meant, gave me an estimate of the cost, and I signed the contract.
Frankly, if someone can't understand whether or not they have instructed a solicitor to settle an estate and signed a contract, it may well be that they wouldn't be able to understand how to do it themselves.

nad1611

People don't always perform and function normally when grieving, who would be perfectly capable otherwise.There's no race with the Executing of the Will people can take their time, it's really not that complicated and a lot cheaper in the long run, lots of threads of people on here having done it.

Savvy_Sue

Errata wrote: »

Frankly, if someone can't understand whether or not they have instructed a solicitor to settle an estate and signed a contract, it may well be that they wouldn't be able to understand how to do it themselves.

I did wonder that myself, but could not think of a tactful way to say so ...

MOONGAZER

Savvy_Sue

the Will is very straightforward, everything split between 3 brothers, (their other brother is not named as an executor as he lives miles away). There are no debts. I agree with what folks are saying about doing it yourself; one of our friends has been an executor twice and has not used a solicitor and therefore didnt incur any fees. Trouble is my BiL is willing to let anyone do all the work so that he doesnt, so he signed up to what ever the solicitor suggested immediately. The distant BiL on suggestion by my husband that it could all be done by themselves, (we had read up on what to do, where to go, etc), had a hissy fit and anounced everything had got to be 'done above board', i.e, through the solicitor. The cost of the funeral was met from money from my MiL's bank account, after my husband sent the solicitor the bill. The solicitors fees are;
(so far) £1821.25 paid for professional charges- (which she took out of the bank account and sent us a receipt, Paid With Thanks!)

Its £200 per hour of work. Letters/calls charged at 1/10 of an hour. Considering letters, 1/20 hour. And either 1/2 % of the gross estate or 1/4 of the total bill. She states that she does not expect the charges to exceed £1750+VAT. Havent worked it out yet, but the house should sell for £185,000.