Probate : 16 weeks and counting

tooldle

I don’t think the process is necessarily any slower with a solicitor. A lot depends on how large and complex the estate is and how many individual companies are involved. Even simple estates with perhaps a house and a couple of bank accounts can take a while if for example the house takes months to dispose of. 

Solicitors will juggle a number of cases as would be similar in many jobs. If this wasn’t the case, the solicitor would be charging a huge amount of money to cover all their costs. I think I’m right in saying the norm is to charge a percentage of the estate, unless negotiated otherwise.
I have a friend who is still trying to complete processing a parents estate. The end is not yet in sight and it has been rumbling on for 2.5yrs. In that case the executors are similar in age to the deceased and struggling. Friend has done a lot of the running around and chasing up on their behalf. There is a trust involved which adds some complexity and a large (very large) legal bill is being run up to resolve matters outside of the agency of the executors. Myself I think it key to chose a capable and appropriate executor at the outset.

oglop

I can only speak from my own experience, but things have absolutely taken longer using a solicitor. I think I may have just picked a dud, though. It feels like having an expensive middleman, really. I wish I had just done it all myself 

And the solictor's already do charge obscene amounts of money! Although I suppose if I could charge hundreds of pounds an hour, I'd be tempted to hire more clients than I could reasonably handle, too..

Edit: just to clarify: for my case, there is only one beneficiary, and everything is very straightforward. For more complex cases, I could definitely see the use of a solicitor being worthwhile. I feel I'm just wasting my time, money and sanity though 

CharismaticMegafauna

I have now been waiting over 17 weeks for the Grant of Probate for my mum, who died in November. It is so frustrating! The application has not even been looked at yet, but has now been escalated and is supposed to be looked up before 19 weeks are up. It all seems very random in terms of timescales, as I was chatting to someone recently who received the Grant after just 8 weeks. My mum's house is sitting empty and the insurance is due for renewal soon, which will be another expense. 

lisyloo

CharismaticMegafauna said:

I have now been waiting over 17 weeks for the Grant of Probate for my mum, who died in November. It is so frustrating! The application has not even been looked at yet, but has now been escalated and is supposed to be looked up before 19 weeks are up. It all seems very random in terms of timescales, as I was chatting to someone recently who received the Grant after just 8 weeks. My mum's house is sitting empty and the insurance is due for renewal soon, which will be another expense. 

You can have it marketed whilst waiting for probate. 

CharismaticMegafauna

That’s what’s frustrating - the buyers are ready to go but we are keeping them waiting.

tetrarch

Finally - Probate Granted

UPDATE

Application Date : 10-Jan-23 
Query Received : 6-Feb-23
Query Response : 6-Feb-23
Response Acknoweledgement : 7-Feb-23

Intermission - da da da daduh dum da da 

Phone Chase : 10-May-23 (to discover responsesnnhad NOT been acted upon) 
Probate Granted: 26-May-23 

19 weeks and 3 days

Good luck everyone

Regards

Tet

junebaby

Just to give others hope we were granted probate today. 

It took 6 months and 2 weeks!!

All I can say is keep trying. We involved our MP a month ago who wrote on our behalf. Sent numerous emails. Had web chats and made numerous phone calls. 

Yesterday got through to a nice lady who said she would refer it to her manager and ask her to refer it to the affidavit manager. Don’t know if that is what finally did it but so grateful. 

Like others it has been one of the most distressing and frustrating things that I have had to deal with especially when I am mourning the loss of my dear mum. 

tetrarch

Update:

A minor miracle has occurred. Even though probate was only granted last Friday (26th May) and there was a Bank Holiday on Monday the certificates arrived today (31st)

Onwards we can now go

Regards and best wishes to everyone

Tet

junebaby

Probate granted Wednesday certificates (3) arrived today Friday 48 hours later. 

Just glad to bring it all to a close. 

astronautoreo

I also got Probate granted a week ago, finally after the application was submitted on 3 January... They have made a spelling error for the personal representatives though which needs sorting, then I have to wait for the physical copies via the solicitors before I can start on the estate.