Solicitor as Executor/ling probate query

yogitravels

Great to read through this forum and would love some feedback or advice from but I am one of 4 beneficiaries, our friend passed away Feb 24, he had a will drawn up by a solicitor who is also the executor. We have a buyer patiently waiting for his house, the solicitor told us there will be no IT. Probate was submitted last May and we are still waiting. One of the other beneficiaries was chasing it up last summer and as the solicitor was unhelpful they ended up arguing I think the solicitor acted unprofessional but the other beneficiary was also to blame as from what he said he must have come across rude. Anyway since then we just left it to run its course but a couple of weeks ago I thought I would ring as it's been so long I spoke to the secretary who said she would ask solicitor to chase, she did ring back a week later to say it's now with the tax office, I said ok thanks for letting us know but is there a problem? She said not as far a I know they do have a backlog ? Does this sound normal, I can't find out direct from probate can I as I'm not an nor do I have a case number?

Any help would be appreciated. 

Hoenir

Only the executor(s) will know the full story and the reasons for any delay in winding up the deceased's estate.   

Beneficiaries are not the solicitors' clients and therefore are not accountable to them. Getting into arguments with them isn't a good way of conducting a relationship either. 

Browntoa

I did a probate a couple of years back 

Low value, no property or other assets so no IHT

Applied early October, finally got probate in May the following year .

One minor delay as I was listed in the will as co executor with a firm of solicitors that no longer existed.

Every question by the probate office stops the clock.

There is no way to accelerate the process, it takes as long as it takes 

yogitravels

Yes I agree but unfortunately I can't do anything about how other people act and I know a solicitor is not obliged to tell you anything but from past experience most are happy to keep you updated. I just was not sure if this was normal as I can see generally it has not been taking that long. All I know from the secretary is that it is with the tax office  

tooldle

You can check with the Probate Office online, to see if the grant has been issued. As the estate is not expecting to pay IHT, it could be that things have progressed with grant and house sale, and solicitor is awaiting ‘sign off’ from HMRC for capital gains tax?

yogitravels

Thanks yes I can see online it has yet to be issued, I was told it shows online  couple of weeks after it has been issued.