Can solicitor begin conveyancing without signed permission?

AdrianC

The issue with the solicitor is not the problem. It's a symptom.

You are four grown adults. If you can't agree between yourselves who's going to get it done, then you're heading for a right mess. Trying to do it by committee is simply not going to work, especially if you're squabbling about every tiny detail.

Skiddaw1

Have to say I'm with Adrian on this one.



There's obviously been a lot of history and it is, perhaps, a shame that your deceased relative didn't make alternative arrangements re the executors in view of that, but you're stuck with it now and if you can't make common cause it's going to take forever for anything to be sorted out.


Can you not negotiate a truce for the duration?

PasturesNew

Everything is OK until one of you says "that is not OK" ... and then it'd probably be found/agreed that the solicitor took the word of the person saying "it's all OK, I'm dealing with it".

For the most part, most people are reasonable and in agreement, so it wouldn't be unusual for a solicitor to take their word for it in the earliest of stages.

Woolington

Act in a reasonable manner to get things done quickly efficiently and dare I say in a professional grown up manner rather than taking sides against one you don't get on with

It's taken months to get things to this relatively peaceful phase of the process - all my careful turning a blind eye to so much bad behaviour to facilitate good communication and less friction. I go out of my way to make things totally transparent neutral and conciliatory which seems to inflame the step sibling more.

I DID phone the conveyancing solicitor - the stepsister has appointed her on our behalf two weeks ago and has just omitted to tell us. We should be receiving our letter of acceptance in the post to sign!

I've just brokered a fantastic deal to sell the house - it ticks all the boxes! I've worked bloody hard to get this far. Physically and mentally, now, insult to injury, I find that she's taken over at the estate agents too and all correspondence is going to her - I'm doing all the legwork and she's quietly undermining me. It's not necessary or should that be 'professional and grown up'.

AdrianC

Woolington wrote: »

I DID phone the conveyancing solicitor - the stepsister has appointed her on our behalf two weeks ago and has just omitted to tell us. We should be receiving our letter of acceptance in the post to sign!

So is this the first the solicitor's even heard of the sale being on behalf of four joint executors?

I've just brokered a fantastic deal to sell the house - it ticks all the boxes! I've worked bloody hard to get this far. Physically and mentally, now, insult to injury, I find that she's taken over at the estate agents too and all correspondence is going to her - I'm doing all the legwork and she's quietly undermining me. It's not necessary or should that be 'professional and grown up'.

Step back a bit.
There are four people involved here.
A, B, C, D.
A is doing one thing.
B is doing something else.
What are C and D doing and saying? If they're equally happy with either A or B's work, then there's really no difference between A "undermining" B and B "undermining" A.
If C and D are saying "Well, hold on, let's go with what (A or is doing instead of doubling-up", then the other one needs to get themselves under control.

Doesn't matter whether you're A or B.

need_an_answer

Woolington wrote: »

It's taken months to get things to this relatively peaceful phase of the process - all my careful turning a blind eye to so much bad behaviour to facilitate good communication and less friction. I go out of my way to make things totally transparent neutral and conciliatory which seems to inflame the step sibling more.

I DID phone the conveyancing solicitor - the stepsister has appointed her on our behalf two weeks ago and has just omitted to tell us. We should be receiving our letter of acceptance in the post to sign!

I've just brokered a fantastic deal to sell the house - it ticks all the boxes! I've worked bloody hard to get this far. Physically and mentally, now, insult to injury, I find that she's taken over at the estate agents too and all correspondence is going to her - I'm doing all the legwork and she's quietly undermining me. It's not necessary or should that be 'professional and grown up'.

Yes but with respect none of this is the concern of the buyer.
or the concern of the solicitor for that matter.

You need to put aside differences if you really do want the easiest and best outcome else you'll never sell the property and in turn just end up frittering away any residue funds from the estate in the form of disbursements and failed actions.

Fight amongst yourself once its all completed...not whist there is a solicitor and a buyer involved. its easy to forget that in these types of situations its not the beneficiary's who benefit but the solicitor who is refereeing the proceedings when they come to present you with the bill.

Woolington

You are four grown adults.

and one of them is behaving like an almighty child!

Today is just the final straw! I've been adult to the point of saintly! I really thought I'd cracked it too!

It's about revenge on the stepsister's part - that we had the audacity to be loved by 'her dad' and live in a house that she didn't. OMG - the bloody house contents row is the next war.

When it's all over I'm going to write an advisory post for step families who are about to write their wills!

Woolington

Can you not negotiate a truce for the duration?

I DID! of all of us I'm the one who has literally said 'lets be friends til it's done' - all the while reminding myself that I don't have to know these people for very much longer. I've never met a more bitter person.

Smodlet

Woolington wrote: »

I DID! of all of us I'm the one who has literally said 'lets be friends til it's done' - all the while reminding myself that I don't have to know these people for very much longer. I've never met a more bitter person.

So she's your "stepsister" and the child of the first (previous?) wife? It appears from your posts she is bitter at having to share her inheritance with the offspring of "the other woman". It does sound complicated, OP, and I do not envy you... Unless you stand to inherit millions, of course.

Can the solicitor offer no help with arbitration of some kind, perhaps? I wish you all a speedy and recrimination-free resolution but admit I am at a loss.

I am sorry but I cannot be the only person who thinks this sounds like the plot of a novel; I'm thinking of a (Name short for Richard converted to "!!!!" by MSE) Francis one. Just watch out for people carrying bags of compost.

Linton

Woolington wrote: »

.....
I've just brokered a fantastic deal to sell the house - it ticks all the boxes! I've worked bloody hard to get this far. Physically and mentally, now, insult to injury, I find that she's taken over at the estate agents too and all correspondence is going to her - I'm doing all the legwork and she's quietly undermining me. It's not necessary or should that be 'professional and grown up'.

Did you keep the other executors informed? Perhaps your step-sister thinks she is doing all the legwork and she is being undermined?


An outsider could get the impression that you are both equally at fault. What about asking the solicitor to run a meeting of all executors to agree a common way forward?