Help with executors

Warren100uk

Hi all, hope everyone is well.

I need some general advise about mum's will and executors. Story is we cared for mum for 5 years in her home as she had Alzheimer's. Sadly she passed away but in her own home which was her wishes. Mum was kind enough to give us a 2 year right of stay in her home before before being split between 4 people which my wife is one of. Mum's will asked for the solicitor to be executor , however they were bought out and the new solicitor has not taken over the executor role. After 5 years of intense care me and my wife are exhausted and just want the solicitor to do it. We know it will cost but other want to shop around or do it themselves. We are happy for them to shop around but should we allow one of the others to be executor of the will or insist its an other profession body? To be honest we don't care who does it but we are too tired to want to get involved. Thanks

elsien

Other option is to apply for letters of administration yourself, because whoever you get to do it will be coming to you for a lot of information anyway as you were the ones who supported your mother in her final years and has all the relevant information.

But pay a solicitor to do all the bits that you are not wanting to do. Are the other beneficiaries her children as well?

RAS

Sorry for your loss and understand your exhaustion.

Has the executor officially renounced executorship?

If so, any one or more of the beneficiaries can administer the estate (with will). Probably a good idea to have two so if one becomes ill the other can step in. It will be a lot quicker than getting solicitors involved because they usually insist on waiting 6 months after probate to do anything else.

That'd allow the house to go on the market before the 2 year deadline.

Anticipate 6-12 months for probate and another 9-12 months to sell. If you will be using your wife's share to buy, that'll give you time to recover a bit and then look round. Just make sure the EA is clear about the completion date. Once probate is granted, maybe ask the others what happens if you want to move before/shortly after the 2 year deadline?

And all remember that selling and buying houses is very stressful.

Keep_pedalling

As long as this is a straight forward estate and your wife trusts her siblings to administer the estate there is no need to get a solicitor involved. Solicitors are not only expensive they also tend to take a lot longer to administer an estate than a lay executor.

Warren100uk

Hi , thanks for your replies. The relationship between the sisters is not the best and hasn't for years. It especially became strained while caring for mum as people didn't want to help but have an opinion on every thing a distance. They are meeting the solicitor today, the will asked for it to be done by a solicitor, we are happy for it to done by them and know it will cost. We have nothing left to get involved in it but wanted to know if they especially don't have a good relationship is it a good idea for them to do it.

elsien

If they don’t have a good relationship, it probably isn’t going to work.

Keep_pedalling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82040584#Comment_82040584

Having poor relations between siblings is one of the reasons to use a solicitor. Did anyone have financial LPA for your mother?

Warren100uk

Hi , 2 of them had lpa for their mum. Their mum's wishes was formit not to be done by them and a solicitor do it. The property is worth 450k and then split between 4 of them in different parts after the 2 year right the stay. We don't want anything to do with and a solicitor handle it, even if it costs. But one wants to do it to save money. To be honest, after 5 years and watching mum die,.we just don't want to fight. If my wife stepped away and just said do what you want in regards to being or arranging an executor, is it that easy?

RAS

It might be sensible for her to decide what she wants? Is she happy if the sibling who wants to self-administer does so? Does she see any complications with that? Or would she prefer to use the solicitor? Bear in mind who ever gets the admin will be selling the house.

Whatever happens the house needs to be sold by the estate not put into anyone's name(s). And she should insist that the conveyancer pays each sibling directly from the sale, rather than the money going to the administrator.

I assume that you as a couple have now picked up the CT and utility bills? Make sure you take pictures of the meters and get final bills when you move out.

And try and get a holiday?