Argh! Probate application!! 6 August 2022 at 10:44AM in Deaths, funerals & probate 9 replies 515 views

RnK136

They are driving me insane.

I applied online 18 April.

7 weeks later got an email asking for more forms to be completed - which was error by them. They'd incorrectly stated me as Substitute Executor, when I am actually an Executor alongside my Dad and Brother (who I said were Power Reserved).

Asked webchat and was told to reply to the email with my Marriage Certificate as the issue could be that I have got married since Mum wrote her Will and therefore I am stated with my maiden name. (I did answer all of this about my different name correctly in my application by the way!!)

7 weeks later after hearing nothing I chased up on webchat and was told it would be escalated for re-examination.

Now 10 days after this, I have received an email (on a Saturday morning no less!) asking:
"Could you please confirm what name you require on the grant?"

This is *MY* current, married name, isn't it? (and not my maiden name as in the Will)

Have they honestly never dealt with a married woman before with maiden and married names!!!

I've checked the copy of my online application answers and I answered everything correctly. How has this got cocked up?

Now it'll take another 8 weeks for my email reply to get dealt with as I go back to the bottom of the pile AGAIN  

jcuurthht

You shouldn't go to the bottom of the pile if you're application has already started processing and you have waited over 8 weeks. Keep using the web chat or calling them.

shiraz99

It's not a !!!!!! up, the problem, I imagine, lies with the will naming you using your maiden name rather then your correct married name.

baggins_22

jcuurthht said:

You shouldn't go to the bottom of the pile if you're application has already started processing and you have waited over 8 weeks. Keep using the web chat or calling them.

Is that from experience? sorry to hijack the thread, but our application was finally looked at after escalation well after 8 weeks. We were asked to complete some forms for IHT purposes (non IHT needed but RNRB needed) and we have no idea if we are going to end up waiting another 3 months for them to look at these

Dave_5150

jcuurthht said:

You shouldn't go to the bottom of the pile if you're application has already started processing and you have waited over 8 weeks. Keep using the web chat or calling them.

My experience was at least 8 weeks after answering a question. And any follow-up wechat or phone calls always indicated the same

RnK136

shiraz99 said:

It's not a !!!!!! up, the problem, I imagine, lies with the will naming you using your maiden name rather then your correct married name.

Surely this is not an uncommon occurence though? People get married and change their name...

user1977

RnK136 said:

shiraz99 said:

It's not a !!!!!! up, the problem, I imagine, lies with the will naming you using your maiden name rather then your correct married name.

Surely this is not an uncommon occurence though? People get married and change their name...

Yes, but people also get married and don't change their name. Or they get married, change their name, then change it back (or to something else). Or they use more than one name in different circumstances. I don't think it's unreasonable for them to check which name you want the probate in.

RnK136

user1977 said:

RnK136 said:

shiraz99 said:

It's not a !!!!!! up, the problem, I imagine, lies with the will naming you using your maiden name rather then your correct married name.

Surely this is not an uncommon occurence though? People get married and change their name...

Yes, but people also get married and don't change their name. Or they get married, change their name, then change it back (or to something else). Or they use more than one name in different circumstances. I don't think it's unreasonable for them to check which name you want the probate in.

I applied for the grant in my current, married name. One of the questions in the application asked if a name was different to the Will tell them why, which I chose the option for marriage.

It's just been frustrating that this already-provided information seems to have been ignored, and that it is 8 weeks response time each time.
  
That's all.
  

jcuurthht

baggins_22 said:

jcuurthht said:

You shouldn't go to the bottom of the pile if you're application has already started processing and you have waited over 8 weeks. Keep using the web chat or calling them.

Is that from experience? sorry to hijack the thread, but our application was finally looked at after escalation well after 8 weeks. We were asked to complete some forms for IHT purposes (non IHT needed but RNRB needed) and we have no idea if we are going to end up waiting another 3 months for them to look at these

Dave_5150 said:

jcuurthht said:

You shouldn't go to the bottom of the pile if you're application has already started processing and you have waited over 8 weeks. Keep using the web chat or calling them.

My experience was at least 8 weeks after answering a question. And any follow-up wechat or phone calls always indicated the same

Here is a thread detailing my experience. After sending some extra documents to them on may 8, it was approved mid June while I was in the Web:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6365143/probate-was-granted-while-i-was-in-the-web-chat-with-them/p1

RnK136

jcuurthht said:

baggins_22 said:

jcuurthht said:

You shouldn't go to the bottom of the pile if you're application has already started processing and you have waited over 8 weeks. Keep using the web chat or calling them.

Is that from experience? sorry to hijack the thread, but our application was finally looked at after escalation well after 8 weeks. We were asked to complete some forms for IHT purposes (non IHT needed but RNRB needed) and we have no idea if we are going to end up waiting another 3 months for them to look at these

Dave_5150 said:

jcuurthht said:

You shouldn't go to the bottom of the pile if you're application has already started processing and you have waited over 8 weeks. Keep using the web chat or calling them.

My experience was at least 8 weeks after answering a question. And any follow-up wechat or phone calls always indicated the same

Here is a thread detailing my experience. After sending some extra documents to them on may 8, it was approved mid June while I was in the Web:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6365143/probate-was-granted-while-i-was-in-the-web-chat-with-them/p1

  
I rang them on Monday. Waited 20 minutes to get through. Not bad.

Was just told to reply to their email, which I did and I got an automated reply (never had that with previous emails) saying response time is 6 weeks.

I don't understand why they are asking what name I want the grant in. I applied in my current name and stated in the application what name I am in the Will and why it is different (marriage).

Why would I want the grant in anything other than my current name which I applied with because surely having the grant in my maiden name will not be accepted by anyone when I use it?

The lady on the phone couldn't answer that question except to say they want confirmation of my current name??!!

Anyway, back to the bottom of the email pile I go.