Probate Lack of Progress

eekthereek

submitted June 25. Asked for various information at least twice.

Simple husband to wife transfer. All hmrc paperwork in order.

Nearly 8 months down the line and still no progress.

Latest is that the case is with a specialised team, they wont tell us anymore on the phone.

Tearing hair out as close to a year since death of parent and surviving spouse needs funds held up in probate( shares and funds with bank over bank’s probate limit)

Tried to complain and stonewalled.

Has anyone tried raising complaint with MP or head civil servant in hmcts?

Any help appreciated.

Keep_pedalling

Seems odd that it is taking so long with everything going from your father to your mother. I would take it up with your mother’s MP.

IOWJJBTM2025

My father in law passed away 4 years ago and we are still waiting to complete. It is not in a solicitors interest to complete quickly. The longer it goes on the more the fee is. You cannot complain to other solicitors as they will not complain about each other. Just our experience. We never tried our MP - may be worth a try.

I think that getting hold of a news channel or Martin Lewis may give them a kick.

Keep_pedalling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81883764#Comment_81883764

I think the OP is referring to delays with the probate office not solicitors.

SadCodeMan

I was in a fairly similar situation to you (though had had no response from probate at all). I put in a complaint via the HMCTS online process (pretty simple other than the list about which court you are complaining about. Luckily I scrolled past all the ones in actual cities/towns and saw the 'probate' entry so only a mild worry).

I followed that up with a letter to my MP to ask if they would help in the process and gave them the reference to the complaint raised above. I may have been lucky but MP was super helpful.

Just by chance, Probate office got in touch the following week (no reference made to my complaint) and it was all sorted a couple of days later. How coincidental!

eekthereek

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81886015#Comment_81886015

I’ve emailed my MP this evening. Thanks for the reply