How quickly do solicitors distribute money to beneficiaries of a will

Lost_in_La_Mancha

We have some solicitors sorting out the probate for my late parent's estate. They are now ready to make some interim distributions to the beneficiaries and have asked for our bank account details.

I was just wondering - how soon after we send in the bank details are they likely to transfer the money? Will they wait till all the beneficiaries have sent in their bank details (there are 4 of us) or will they start distributing as soon as they get the details of just one beneficiary? Do they send out formal documents in the post confirming they have sent them?
Do they usually notify you in advance when they are going to make the transfer so you can look out for it?

Are we likely to receive the money within days of sending in the details - or do these things still take a few weeks to get sorted out (I guess depending on how busy the solicitors are with different clients)?

If anyone can tell of their experience when using a solicitor for probate, that would be great.!

Thanks

Yorkshireman99

Lost_in_La_Mancha wrote: »

We have some solicitors sorting out the probate for my late parent's estate. They are now ready to make some interim distributions to the beneficiaries and have asked for our bank account details.

I was just wondering - how soon after we send in the bank details are they likely to transfer the money? Will they wait till all the beneficiaries have sent in their bank details (there are 4 of us) or will they start distributing as soon as they get the details of just one beneficiary? Do they send out formal documents in the post confirming they have sent them?
Do they usually notify you in advance when they are going to make the transfer so you can look out for it?

Are we likely to receive the money within days of sending in the details - or do these things still take a few weeks to get sorted out (I guess depending on how busy the solicitors are with different clients)?

If anyone can tell of their experience when using a solicitor for probate, that would be great.!

Thanks

There is no way to tell just guess. It could be days or weeks.

AnotherJoe

The words "quickly" and "solicitor" may not be used in the same sentence.

Lost_in_La_Mancha

So say they receive details on a Wednesday. Perhaps the earliest would be the following week sometime? Or the latest, many weeks later? I'm thinking the latter in our case as we had to chase them up quite a few times at each stage of the process so far.

Savvy_Sue

the ONLY way to find out is to ask them. Do look at any documentation they sent you when you engaged them before you do that, as that may give some clues ...

brewerdave

I am a beneficiary of my aunt's will. The solicitor wrote to me for some info. last May and then again early in January to obtain further info and bank details - 6 weeks later no sign of anything yet....not counting on seeing anything before June:)

Spelunthus

They may be able to make an "interim distribution" - if there are funds available immediately. But that may still take weeks or months. When all accounts are settled there could be a "final distribution".

Although I agree that solicitors can make snails look fast, you should appreciate how they work ---- If they are dealing with many estates simultaneously, it is not efficient (not a word you often hear about solicitors) to constantly respond and reply to activites.
They open the file once per month, reply to letters, send out new inquiries, statements etc, then close the file again. New replies etc build up in the file till they open it again.

Yorkshireman99

Spelunthus wrote: »

They may be able to make an "interim distribution" - if there are funds available immediately. But that may still take weeks or months. When all accounts are settled there could be a "final distribution".

Although I agree that solicitors can make snails look fast, you should appreciate how they work ---- If they are dealing with many estates simultaneously, it is not efficient (not a word you often hear about solicitors) to constantly respond and reply to activites.
They open the file once per month, reply to letters, send out new inquiries, statements etc, then close the file again. New replies etc build up in the file till they open it again.

And charge for dealing with each one!

Brynsam

You don't have to speak to the solicitor to get a reply. Ring and ask for the solicitor's secretary (there'll almost certainly be one) and ask if they can give any sort of indication of when payment might be made, or 'could they check with Mr/Ms xxx and come back to me'. That way you're much less likely to clock up a fee for the enquiry.

Yorkshireman99

Brynsam wrote: »

You don't have to speak to the solicitor to get a reply. Ring and ask for the solicitor's secretary (there'll almost certainly be one) and ask if they can give any sort of indication of when payment might be made, or 'could they check with Mr/Ms xxx and come back to me'. That way you're much less likely to clock up a fee for the enquiry.

There will still be a fee but maybe at a lower rate !

Lost_in_La_Mancha

Thanks for all your replies. So yes, when they say they are " ready " to make an interim distribution, "ready" could still mean 6 weeks after they get our bank details if they are dealing with other cases. Oh well. And does anyone know if they usually forewarn you of the day they will make the transfer or do you just have to keep checking your account in hope? Do they send out any official letters usually in advance? Or after?