'solicitor' - release of will

C4ndyfl055

Hi
can't find a subject for my query.

My parents have phoned their solicitor to release their will, the solicitors that originally had it are saying it's been passed onto someone else! they were never informed of this! they had to phone here there and everywhere before they got hold of the person that had it. this person wrote them a letter demanding a postal order of £75 ish, which would cost £10 in addition from the post office, no cheques would be accepted.   this letter didn't have his address details or anything, just my parents home address.
around 11/11/24 I phoned the number they had requesting that he resend the letter with his contact details on, as to me this is very unprofessional. apparently he wasn't available! i requested he be given my message.
18/12, my parents still haven't heard from him. i phoned the original solicitors again today and had a very unhelpful lady on the phone saying he didn't have to give his address on the letter as my parents already had it!!! i told her that they aren't sending postal orders out at an additional expense of £10, i was told he would accept a cheque but won't release the will until the cheque cleared! and if he's a professional, it is professional to put all his contact details on every letter!  apparently HE is on holiday now until the new year. 
this all sounds very scammy to me
what do you think?

DE_612183

I presume your parents are still alive?

Why don't they just write a new will revoking all previous ones?

Then send a note to the person who holds it telling them that they can bin it or do whatever they want but it's no longer valid.

C4ndyfl055

thanks DE, yes they are still alive.  i have suggested this to them, will suggest again

Green_hopeful

Did they get a copy of the wills when they made them. I would expect them to be given a copy but given the rather odd going’s on you have mentioned, perhaps not. 

RAS

As above, just get them to make a new will, unless the old one was written very recently? 

kipsterno1

If they still have any paperwork from the solicitors that drew up the wills see what their T&C 's say about storage and release. 

Keep_pedalling

If they are asking for it to be released because they are making new wills then don’t bother, just inform the solicitor that it has been superseded.