Solicitors sat on my inheritance!

Patchett73

My mother past away in March 2020, probate was granted 2nd September 2020 and her property was sold end of October 2020, so almost a year ago! Someone else is  now happily living there. Notice was put in the gazette and the deadline was 28th October 2020 and myself and my sister are beneficiaries as there was a will, the solicitors are executors  but they are still stitting on out money!! We have had little interim payments but that was like getting blood out is stone. We keep chasing the solicitors up as to why it’s taking so long and it seems one excuse after another. We know they have all the accounts back last one was the post office account and post office have confirmed that the have sent monies across and that account is now closed. After all of mother’s care home fees and other bills were paid that should be 102k left. Citizens advice said we should complain but my sister thinks that will slow the process down even further. Having this money would really help me out as I’m in financial hardship myself. So upset and frustrated now and really had enough .. 

sammyjammy

Have you asked them what the hold up is?

thegreenone

Someone more knowledgeable than me will come along soon but in the meantime, it sounds as though the solicitors are waiting a year for anyone else to come out the woodwork.  Edited: sorry just re-checked the dates - it's over a year.

A ridiculous amount of time has lapsed since your mother passed away (my condolences) and I think I, personally, would write to the solicitor's to say you have consulted CAB and want this finalised by 31st October or you will make a complaint.  Ask for the exact reason as to why it is taking so long and what percentage of interest will they be paying on top of your inheritance.

Keep_pedalling

You should definitely complain, doing so will not slow the payment down. 

https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/en/public/for-public-visitors/using-a-solicitor/complain-about-a-solicitor

Thrugelmir

Patchett73 said:

We keep chasing the solicitors up as to why it’s taking so long and it seems one excuse after another. 

Enlighten us. Facts , facts, facts. That's what's required. 

Patchett73

Solicitors keeps on saying we’re waiting to settle accounts but they’ve been settling accounts since July!!  Another excuse was waiting for anyone to make a claim but that timescale was October last year ! COVID was another excuse .. 

Stubod

...somebody is taking the proverbial p1ss.....get onto them ASAP and complain, complain, complain....after 12 months I would be emailing and calling them on a daily basis...

Mojisola

Patchett73 said:

My mother past away in March 2020, probate was granted 2nd September 2020 and her property was sold end of October 2020, so almost a year ago!

When you signed up with the solicitor, you should have had details of how to complain if you're not happy with the service.

tooldle

I was executor for my dad’s estate. Quite a simple estate consisting of a house and a variety of savings accounts. It took me a little over a year to complete the work. Some business were slower than others to process and release monies. In the grand scheme of things your situation doesn’t seem overly slow, but i would definitely ask how things stand.

RetSol

You should definitely complain, doing so will not slow the payment down. 

Complain, initially to the firm. 

The Legal Services Ombudsman website tells you how and provides a template letter - https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/information-centre/consumer-resources/complaining-to-a-service-provider/. 

thegreenone

tooldle said:

I was executor for my dad’s estate. Quite a simple estate consisting of a house and a variety of savings accounts. It took me a little over a year to complete the work. Some business were slower than others to process and release monies. In the grand scheme of things your situation doesn’t seem overly slow, but i would definitely ask how things stand.

My Mum died on 1st November 2020.  My husband and I were executors but asked her Solicitors to obtain Probate.  I did the leg work and they did the paperwork.  Probate was granted on 6th May 2021.  We're about to exchange and complete on the property.  So a little under a year.  

But the OP's situation is over 18 months.  Death in March 2020 and property sold in October 2020.  It's unbelievably and unacceptably slow.