Solicitors (again!)

Lilio8

Hello, it's me again with Will Executor Blues - will it ever end?!?

 Back at the end of March I moved from Sols.No.1 to Sols.No.2 because I couldn't take it any longer (those who've read my previous posts know the story). The stress was reaching unsustainable levels. I thought best to move to Sols.No.2 who had originally drafted the Will (B. had advised me to go with Sols.No.1 because their fees, he had said, were 'reasonable'--now I know why!).
In April Sols.No.1 withdrew their payment from B's funds that had been transferred from his bank account to their client account. 
Three months have now passed and the balance has yet to be transferred from Sols.No.1 to Sols. No.2. Not only that, also the notes and correspondence requested by Sols.No.2 have not been sent. And I have not even been told the amount that was withdrawn despite my asking in various emails for a detailed breakdown of the costs. Nothing! Nada! Zilch! The only documents that Sols.No.2 received were copies of the Grant of Probate and some other letter. My former case handler has been away either on holiday or away sick. In her last emails she reassured me that the following week something would get sorted. A week follows and there's no progress. I emailed her colleague to no avail. It seems that the recent cyberattack that affected Sols.No.1 is causing the delay. 
Something doesn't feel right! Three months seems a long a time to wait for a bank transfer and paperwork.

Sols.No.2 are unable to make progress with the estate and they need to review all of the paperwork including the calculations for IHT. 

I'm very worried and I don't know what else to do. And I don't think that writing to the complaint department of SolsNo.1 will achieve much. I'm feeling down and lonely in this journey as executor. The only aspect that is moving along positively (fingers crossed!) is the sale of the property (conveyancy too is with SolsNo2).

Does anybody have ideas, suggestions as to what I could do? Or should I simply wait for SolsNo2 to come up with a solution? I've no idea where to go from here.

sheslookinhot

Is Sols No. 1 within travelling distance ? If stress was affecting me at unsustainable levels I would have been encamped in their office long before now, looking for a scheduled road map of what information needs transferred to Sols 2 and others.

However, be relaxed about it don’t let it affect your health and make an appointment to see Sols 1.

Lilio8

sheslookinhot said:

Is Sols No. 1 within travelling distance ? If stress was affecting me at unsustainable levels I would have been encamped in their office long before now, looking for a scheduled road map of what information needs transferred to Sols 2 and others.

However, be relaxed about it don’t let it affect your health and make an appointment to see Sols 1.

Thank you for your reply.

SolsNo.1 have 4 offices throughout the country. The two offices I've sent mail to are in Bristol and Manchester. After the initial meeting, the 'sale pitch', there have not been any face-to-face meetings only email correspondence and it seems that this is the way that they operate.

Lilio8

Update:
Sols1 eventually transferred the balance of the money to Sols2's client account only after Sols2 raised an official complaint. But the paperwork has not yet been sent to Sols2 and Sols2 cannot prepare the Estate Accounts since they first want to see the IHT calculations. Sols2 have reassured me that they will regularly follow up with Sols1 till the file arrives. I emailed yet again Sols1 and there's always seem to be someone on annual leave. This is very frustrating and worrying!  They have four offices around the country but I wouldn't know where my file is stored since we only ever met online, once via MSTeams and by email after the first meeting (the remarkable sale pitch!). I don't know what else to do! Should I contact the Law Society or some other department/association?   

RAS

Don't queer the pitch. Please talk to Sols 2 before any communication with their predecessor and only do what they advise.

msb1234

If there is a certificate of probate then any IHT due would have surely been paid? Or at least, calculated. When did the deceased die?

Lilio8

msb1234 said:

If there is a certificate of probate then any IHT due would have surely been paid? Or at least, calculated. When did the deceased die?

Yes, IHT was paid in February. B passed away last August.