Cost of probate

dyanne_thaker

Quick question.

A solicitor is the soul executor for my mother's estate, which is very straight forward. I should mention that I have not been left anything in the will, but my children have. The solicitor has dragged this out for 10 months now and I am just wondering if you are allowed to ask them for a "final statement". in other words, what they have done and how much they have charged for their services.

thanks in advance. Dyanne

JJ_Egan

Try the Probate section in this forum .
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=217

TonyMMM

Unless some sort of fixed fee was agreed in advance, solicitors doing probate will usually charge for their time ( which may be £100+ per hour or much more) and also a percentage of the estate( typically 1-2%).

Their charges should have been clearly stated at the beginning of the process - but it won't be cheap.

Probate is usually a simple process to do yourself, but if your mother named the solicitor as her sole executor that isn't something you really had a choice about ( unless they were prepared to renounce).

Keep_pedalling

10 months is not unusual and they usually delay distribution a bit beyond probate, in case that triggers the DWP to claim means tested benefits back.

The main beneficiaries should get a final statement of the accounts which will give a breakdown of charges, but as you are not a beneficiary you are unlikely to get anything. Are both children over 18?