Solicitors not very helpful, can we contact Probate office ourselves?

martin2345uk

Our mum's estate has been in probate for almost a year now, the solicitors are not very good at responding to us and they just talk of a backlog at the probate office...

Am I able to contact the Probate office myself to try and get a proper update? I can't seem to find a number online, I am in Essex/London, are there different probate offices around the country?

I just want some idea of what's going on :-(

SiliconChip

This is the probate helpline web page which includes a phone number, but note that the page specifies "HMRC cannot check the progress of a probate application for you." so you may not get any further forward. Whether you are permitted to speak to them when the application has been made by a solicitor is not something that I'm able to answer.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/probate-general-enquiries

msb1234

Looking at various threads on here, many of us have managed to get probate within 3 months, so unless the estate is very complicated, the solicitors are fobbing you off!

martin2345uk

To be fair, someone in the family did put a "block" on probate as they were not happy with something, so that had to be sorted out, but even so I think it's a bit much to be waiting for this long!

I'll try that number on monday...

p00hsticks

martin2345uk said:

To be fair, someone in the family did put a "block" on probate as they were not happy with something, so that had to be sorted out, but even so I think it's a bit much to be waiting for this long!

I'll try that number on monday...

I don't think that number is going to be of any use to you - as Silicon said it's for HMRC rather than the Probate Office and so they're not going to be able to advise on the progess of a submitted probate application. You could be on hold for a long tome only to be told that.   

There are some contact details (phone, webchat and e-mail)  for the Probate Office themselves here, which might be better, although I can't guarantee it

https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate/apply-for-probate

Keep_pedalling

The probate office are only going to talk to the executor. Where solicitors are executors 1 year to complete probate is not unusual, and the fact that someone put a caveat in is likely to add a few months more.

martin2345uk

I'm one of the executors so hopefully they might talk to me...??

Marcon

martin2345uk said:

To be fair, someone in the family did put a "block" on probate as they were not happy with something, so that had to be sorted out, but even so I think it's a bit much to be waiting for this long!

I'll try that number on monday...

Has it been sorted out and removed?

martin2345uk said:

Our mum's estate has been in probate for almost a year now, the solicitors are not very good at responding to us and they just talk of a backlog at the probate office...

Solicitors can't win. If they don't respond every time they get asked a question, they are 'not very good at responding/communicating' and if they do respond, they are criticised because each response ramps up their fees.

You're an executor, so why not ring the solicitors and agree a strategy for updating you (and your fellow executors, if there are any - talk to them before making your call and get them onside) which will ensure you don't continue in limbo for any longer than is strictly necessary, but equally won't increase costs needlessly.

Pennylane

martin2345uk said:

To be fair, someone in the family did put a "block" on probate as they were not happy with something, so that had to be sorted out, but even so I think it's a bit much to be waiting for this long!

I'll try that number on monday...

You are talking about a caveat being put on the probate application I think.  Has that been removed now?  

Happened to me and has taken nearly 2 years. 

martin2345uk

Oh jeez why did it take that long???

Marcon

martin2345uk said:

Oh jeez why did it take that long???

I'll repeat my question above - has the caveat been removed? If so, how long ago? That might answer your question!