Probate advice

Tatatatata

My parent died in March, application for probate submitted by end of June by a solicitor (who is the executor).
I am the only beneficiary, no IHT, no property, only savings. I haven’t heard anything at all and the last update I had was that it takes 18 months. The solicitor charges £250 an hour so any emails cost me a fortune. 

When can I realistically expect my inheritance? I need to retire but I can’t do it until this comes through. 

Thank you. 

Hoenir

What reasons were given for the 18 months? 

Tatatatata

That’s how long it would take? Because they were very behind with all the applications.

Keep_pedalling

The fact that a solicitor is the executor is probably doubling the time this is taking. A bit late now but anyone els3 in your position should request that the solicitor renounces and take on the process themselves.

unfortunately you can’t chase the probate office only the solicitor can. You however check with them to see if probate has been already granted if he was resident in England or Wales.

https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate

Tatatatata

Thanks, there’s nothing on that search.  The solicitor is very hard to pin down as to when she applied for the probate and I have absolutely no details. I know people whose next of kin died before mine and they have theirs already. Like I say, it’s not a complicated case. 

Is there anything I can do to speed this up? Anyone I can get involved? I feel as though the solicitor is fudging the issue. 

tooldle

Applying for probate at the end of June, for a June death seems unlikely. We’re there no pension companies, no employers, Inland Revenue etc to be contacted?

Tatatatata

Sorry my parent died March and probate was applied for in June. My mistake - was late at night. 

No pension, no employer, no IR. My parent had been in a care home for some time, paid for by their savings. There had been a property previously but under PoA I had sold it some years previously to pay for care home fees. 

torchie

We applied for probate for my late Mother in Law in February 2023 following her death thee month before and we did not receive the Grant of Probate until mid-November.  This was an entirely straight forward application but it still took nine months from the application. They were quick enough to take the £273 fee though.

sew_what

We've just had a straightforward probate application for my mum go through in 7 weeks - and the solicitor agreed a fixed fee for the service.  yours sounds long (and expensive!)

Tatatatata

Tbh the solicitor could have applied just after they died because it’s so straightforward. I can’t believe it’s taking so long. I’ve had letters from the bank/building society about the accounts (which obviously I can’t do anything with) 

Is this a solicitor issue (in which case I can ‘hassle’ often) or a probate office issue (in which case I can ask the solicitor to hassle - for a fee!) ? I can’t work out who is holding this up. 

Brie

Can you ring the probate office to enquire?  Even if they can tell you what the current wait time is?