Wills & probate solicitor recommendation?

salstars

Hi, we’ve hit some complications in carrying out the wishes set out in my dad’s will and really need some legal advice on our options. Can anyone recommend a good wills/probate solicitor?

Keep_pedalling

To make such a recommendation is against the forum rules, and you should never look to strangers on the internet make such an important recommendation.

Can you share with us the issues you are having, there are a lot of members on this board with experience of of administering estates and it is almost certain that someone here has dealt with similar issues.

Wishes in wills are exactly that they are not binding on the executor. For example if I wish to be buried in a gold plated coffin, the executor would be right to ignore such a costly request as it would be detrimental to the residual beneficiaries. 

Savvy_Sue

And to add, the key question is whether you need a Contentious Probate specialist, or a STEP specialist.

poseidon1

I concur with the recommendation to consult a firm that has STEP ( Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) members on their roster.

Not all Wills and Estates solicitors are STEP certified, and without that you will have no idea of their competency.

salstars

Thanks for your replies. Quite funny that you advise against asking for a recommendation online but then suggest that I take advice from the forum!

Savvy_Sue

salstars said:

Thanks for your replies. Quite funny that you advise against asking for a recommendation online but then suggest that I take advice from the forum!

I think the suggestion was more that if we knew what sort of issues you needed advice on, we could suggest what sort of solicitor to look for. 

For example, if the problem is that you don't really understand what the terms of the will mean, but that no-one's going to kick up a fuss once you DO know, then a STEP solicitor would do the job. 

If, on the other hand, someone is screaming that Dad would never have done X, Y or Z, and that Fred must have exerted undue influence when he wrote this will, then it's someone who specialises in Contentious Probate. 

Keep_pedalling

salstars said:

Thanks for your replies. Quite funny that you advise against asking for a recommendation online but then suggest that I take advice from the forum!

The big difference in getting advice from a public forum like this rather than one to one advice from a stranger on line is that the advice can be seen and corrected by others so you are unlikely to get duff info, or get conned. If you read through some of the threads on here you will quite often find the people are advised to take professional advice, but most questions asked tend to be basic ones that the experienced members can answer.

The only advice we can give in your case is the one Sue gave you as you have chosen not to give us any details.

David220266

Do not choose anyone regulated by the SRA.  They are the most dishonest organisation in the UK (Check Trustpilot) and are not to be trusted by anyone.  Unfortunately they have the backing of gov.uk which I can happily provide evidence of.  It would be much better for you to find an independent executor so that the will may actually be settled in accordance with your fathers wishes.

Keep_pedalling

David220266 said:

Do not choose anyone regulated by the SRA.  They are the most dishonest organisation in the UK (Check Trustpilot) and are not to be trusted by anyone.  Unfortunately they have the backing of gov.uk which I can happily provide evidence of.  It would be much better for you to find an independent executor so that the will may actually be settled in accordance with your father’s wishes.

Utter nonsense, you are basically saying don’t use a solicitor because they are all regulated by the SRA. There is no such thing as an independent executor.