Tax and Wills

Caroline_a

Hi All - can anybody let me know roughly how long it takes after probate has been granted to finalise all the tax etc? I have the slowest solicitor in the world who appears to be taking forever to finalise my dad's estate. Probate was granted last year (!!) and most of the money distributed, no property to sell, was told that with the allowance after my mum died that no tax would be due.

I've been chasing these guys to finish this for ages now, I'd like to know exactly what sort of timescale it should be.

Tuesday_Tenor

You've posted about this before:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4039017

To summarise (correct me if I'm wrong): You know the solicitor is very tardy, have complained to the firm, and in June directed the complaint to the Legal Ombudsman.

What did the Legal Ombudsman say?

[I note that neither you nor the solicitor is actually the Executor, but the solicitor is acting on the Executor's instructions. Did the Executor make the formal compaints? Would be better if they did; the solicitor is not directly accountable to you, you're 'only' the beneficiary].

Caroline_a

The day after I complained the Executor blasted the solicitor who then sent out an interim payment with the promise that it would be resolved very quickly. Stupidly we both believed him.... and I cancelled the complaint with the Ombudsman who had said they would take up the case. We both thought that we were nearly there, and that the threat of the Ombudsman would have an effect.

Wrong!! It annoys me that I keep giving him the benefit of the doubt and still he lets me down. I wrote in August to the solicitor who deals with complaints to ask what was happening. He said they were 'waiting on tax completions' hence why I asked my question.

I will speak to the Executor tomorrow to ask if he will chase it again. All I want is for this to be finalised and over - my dad died in April 2010, the paperwork went to the solicitor in May 2010... and still he hasn't completed it. Is it so much to ask?

Caroline_a

The power of MSE!! Today I had the final details, invoice and a cheque! And true to form, despite a full breakdown of figures they still have managed to add up the figures incorrectly and the cheque was a minimum (there are other omissions too) of £200 short!

Tuesday_Tenor

Well, you're NEARLY there!
Glad it's sorted.