Administor/Executor approving estate accounts & own fees

Anthear

Dear All

Is an Administrator/Executor allowed to approve/sign off estate accounts without the approval of the Residual Beneficiaries. Quote from letter: "Page ** shows that the Directors of XXXXXX Trust Corporation Ltd have signed the estate accounts as you can see."

The above related to my mother's estate. The firm simply deducted their fees even though I said that I could not approve the accounts and stated the reasons why. The firm have not addressed the complaint that I made.

Anyone have any opinions?

many thanks

Keep_pedalling

Simple answer is yes, they are acting for the deceased not the beneficiaries.

TBagpuss

Ifthey are executors then they have to approve the accoutns (by which I mean they are the only ones with authoruty to do so, not that an executor could not query accounts)

It would be normal where a professional is named as executor to include a charging clause in the will and provided that this was included, they are also entiteld to charge.

are the executors solicitors? If so, then you do have the right to contact the Legal Ombudsman if they have fialed to seal with your comaplint. Although you are not the client, the ombudsman can treat beneficiaries under a will as 'quasi clients' , particualrly where the solicitor is also the executor.

If they are simply a will-writer then they may not be regulated, but you should check their website etc to see whether they wprovie any information baout being memebrs of any professional body, and start there.

Anthear

Yes the Executors are a firm of Solicitors.... and Yes, I have been to the Legal Ombudsman - I have been successful before and have submitted another complaint. There was a charging clause within the Will.

Thanks for the info - I hadn't appreciated that firms, in these circumstances, could effectively write themselves a blank cheque!!