Advice on solicitor Deed of Renunciation

whelkmice

Seeking advice on obtaining a Deed of Renunication (DoR) from a solictior who is named as the sole Executor on both my parents' wills.

Firstly, the charge quoted by the solicitor is £325 + VAT per will - this seems extortionate to me: I do realise that solicitors don't work for free but this does seem way over the top. I have read similar threads on the board & the general advice seems to be 'bite the bullet' & 'solicitors charges for acting as Executor will be far higher that the fee' - does anyone have experience/advice on challenging the fee or have had success in getting the fee reduced?

If I do decide to go ahead and request the DoR, am I then free to obtain Probate etc. or do I have to register myself as Executor on both wills or do anything else? Any advice welcome from anyone who has been through this process - thanks in advance.

Mods: if this post has too many questions/topics in one go, happy to split into several posts if required.

Thanks!

Keep_pedalling

If you take on the administration you can do so using form PA 1P. This is known as applying for grant of probate or letters of administration with will annexed. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/form-pa1p-apply-for-probate-the-deceased-had-a-will

Do you actually need to apply for probate for both parents? If the first to diy left everything to the surviving spouse  you may only need it for the second death. 

ahfat41

Son in law is going through this process. His mother just died last Monday. They created mutual wills. Appointment with solicitor tomorrow he is also the executor of both wills. I will let you know what comes out of the meeting. He is hoping solicitor will renounce but for how much?

doodling

Hi,

At over £100 per page for completing the relatively simple three page PA15 form, their price does seem expensive, even more so if they are charging that twice for a married couple.

I suspect that they will have all kinds of reasons why they think it should cost that much though.

whelkmice

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated.

@Keep_pedalling - yes, my father died first & did leave everything to my mum, I had Power of attorney for mum so was able to do some estate work. Probate for my father has not been obtained yet and my mother has just died recently - it would certainly simplify things if only one Probate is required... how to find out??

@ahfat41 - thanks, I would like to know 

@doodling - yes, I agree - it seems very expensive, I believe their fee was for each will. Perhaps they may consider a 2-for-1 discount!

Keep_pedalling

whelkmice said:

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated.

@Keep_pedalling - yes, my father died first & did leave everything to my mum, I had Power of attorney for mum so was able to do some estate work. Probate for my father has not been obtained yet and my mother has just died recently - it would certainly simplify things if only one Probate is required... how to find out??

@ahfat41 - thanks, I would like to know 

@doodling - yes, I agree - it seems very expensive, I believe their fee was for each will. Perhaps they may consider a 2-for-1 discount!

If all your father’s assets have already been transferred to you mother then you won’t need probate for him. Assuming their home was jointly owned, is not required for his share house even if you had not registered the change it with the land registry. 

uknick

The price quoted is about the rate per hour I've paid for a experienced probate/estate lawyer.  Juniors were about £175 per hour plus VAT. 

Katiehound

As an aside I had DoR from the solicitor when my mother died about 25 years ago. She had appointed both of us as joint executors but I decided to go it alone. I think the fee charged then was around £100

boingy

Solicitors' fees truly are a rip-off. Charging £200 or £300 per hour and charging in 6 minute intervals is ridiculous.
It's an industry that could do with better regulation I reckon.

Pennylane

Are you sure that’s not what they are charging per hour? That’s about what mine was charging plus a £30 admin charge plus VAT. never could work out why that was extra. 

Our solicitors were so poor and unprofessional that I told them so and they did the Deed of Renunciation for no charge at all.

boingy

My favourite (not) is being charged extra for getting something out of the safe.  That was on top of an "admin" fee.