Challenging Solicitor's Bill for Probate

Crabapple

You have a difficult situation here. As we've said, the Solicitors costs don't seem out of proportion to the Estate.

The Executor was perfectly within her rights to instruct Solicitors to deal with matters. What you describe as 'legwork' in contacting the asset holders etc actually needs to be done asking the right questions or you might not have the information needed anyway.

You might not like it, but the reality is if you pursue this it will delay matters substantially, and the costs will not be reduced by very much if at all (the Solicitors did the work they were instructed to do by the person legally allowed to instruct them) and any tiny rebate would then be divided by all beneficiaries.

To be honest, I don't think it's worth your time taking this on. As much as you might not like it, it's done and nobody has acted improperly.

g6jns_2

Crabapple wrote: »

You have a difficult situation here. As we've said, the Solicitors costs don't seem out of proportion to the Estate.

The Executor was perfectly within her rights to instruct Solicitors to deal with matters. What you describe as 'legwork' in contacting the asset holders etc actually needs to be done asking the right questions or you might not have the information needed anyway.

You might not like it, but the reality is if you pursue this it will delay matters substantially, and the costs will not be reduced by very much if at all (the Solicitors did the work they were instructed to do by the person legally allowed to instruct them) and any tiny rebate would then be divided by all beneficiaries.

To be honest, I don't think it's worth your time taking this on. As much as you might not like it, it's done and nobody has acted improperly.

Looking at the situation pragmatically I think you are probably right. Nevertheless I can't help feeling the solicitor has not dealt with matter very professionally by refusing to hand over the cheque in the way she has.

Crabapple

g6jns wrote: »

Looking at the situation pragmatically I think you are probably right. Nevertheless I can't help feeling the solicitor has not dealt with matter very professionally by refusing to hand over the cheque in the way she has.

No, I agree with you on that point, I mentioned somewhere above that they shouldn't be holding onto the cheques. Everything is dealt with else they wouldn't have been able to issue final Accounts, and only the Executor actually needs to approve them.