Probate - how long?

joesoap1264

Hi, I see having a solicitor doesn’t seem to hasten the procedure?
can anyone who has used a solicitor to do IHT and probate, what the cost is please?

jarv81178

joesoap1264 said:

Hi, I see having a solicitor doesn’t seem to hasten the procedure?
can anyone who has used a solicitor to do IHT and probate, what the cost is please?

Coop Legal services are charging me around £7000  other solicitors usually base it off a percentage of the estate I think?!

thewad

Wife's friend did her mothers probate through a solicitor.....think it was £400...definitely not 4 figures.

joesoap1264

Thanks for replies.
much appreciated
£400 seems very low!
not worth anyone doing it themselves for that price.
the forms are rather intimidating, to say the least !
£7000 is not too extreme.
what’s included in the fee ?
I was on the understanding that most charge as a percentage of the estate, 4-5% ?
on my estate, circa £1m, that equates to £40 to £50k, quite a chunk, but don’t know what they do for that ?
solicitors are only as good as the info they are given by family, etc.??
I really have no idea, it’s just in case my kids, are not up to the job with IHT and probate.?

badmemory

Solicitors want to wait at least 6 months to make sure no debtors come out of the woodwork even though you may have had POA for years & know it is impossible.  If it is straight forward & the executor is the main beneficiary it is irrelevant anyway so DIY.  Just don't spend it all at once just in case.

GoogleMeNow

I was quoted nearly £9k by Co-op legal services.  Considering the estate is small and under the inheritance tax threshold, I thought that was outrageous.  I have submitted the application myself.  Now waiting......

joesoap1264

Thanks again guys, very much appreciated.badmemory said:

Solicitors want to wait at least 6 months to make sure no debtors come out of the woodwork even though you may have had POA for years & know it is impossible.  If it is straight forward & the executor is the main beneficiary it is irrelevant anyway so DIY.  Just don't spend it all at once just in case.

Twice I have rung my solicitor, who did the wills and are stored with to get thier scale of charges.
answer machine, left two messages, never rang back.
usual thing I have incurred when dealing with them over the years !
the two kids are executors and beneficiaries, they should be able to cope between them, that’s why I am doing as much as I can whilst I’m still here.
👍

Grizebeck

GoogleMeNow said:

I was quoted nearly £9k by Co-op legal services.  Considering the estate is small and under the inheritance tax threshold, I thought that was outrageous.  I have submitted the application myself.  Now waiting......

I did my dad's myself with no issue

Grizebeck

How do co op legal services justify their prices

GoogleMeNow

Grizebeck said:

How do co op legal services justify their prices

They state that they are lower than a solicitor's prices, as a solicitor will often charge a percentage of the estate.  I guess it depends on how big the estate is?!