Donate SIGN UP

Basic Probate

Avatar Image
andy-hughes | 09:46 Fri 30th Mar 2018 | Law
15 Answers
Can anyone give me a ball park figure for solicitor's costs for probate of my Father-In-Law's estate?

Everything left to his wife, a few stocks and shares - pretty simple I think.

Thanks.
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 15 of 15rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by andy-hughes. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Some solicitors charge a % of the value of the estate whilst the majority apply an hourly charge, based on the work involved and who undertakes it. Could be £1000 - £5000 on an estate valued at £100,000.
If its that easy why not DIY it?
You could try doing what we did. When my father died, we approached his solicitor and said, would you do the whole job for £5,000 ? She said yes, but I'm sure she later regretted it. However, she kept her word
I'd look into helping your mother-in-law doing it herself. Info here:
https://www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance/if-the-person-left-a-will
Yes Andy, Mrs NJ was executor for her mother's estate. Probably more complicated than your MIL's as she was a widow, left a bequest to each grandchild and a bit to her favourite charity. The rest (including her house) divided between her three children.

Obtaining probate was simplicity itself. Selling the property not too onerous. Then just a case of dividing up the total proceeds in accordance with the will. No need to give £,000s to shyster solicitors for filling in a few forms!
sorry for your loss andy

you can and should do this yourself
this column is full of advice on this

otherwise - ring the probate solicitor of your choice and ask about it - clearly if you pay over the odds, saying well all my frenz on Ab said it would cost thruppence ha'penny wont get much of a reduction
The Probate application form is relatively easy to complete, Andy. If I can do it, you can. No need for solicitors.
quite a few of the usual suspects have done it
myself included
It's even easier to apply for and obtain probate if you can use the On-line Service:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/personal-applicants-can-now-apply-for-probate-online
I did it, after my husband died, with the help of a friend who checked my figures.
It was actually fairly straightforward.
Always done it myself (well 3 times) without any problem. A relative chose to use a firm of solicitor who is managing to make it drag on and on - over a year now and there is still no sign of going to probate; and firm has said it will bill the estate for a letter every time she chases them up because she is frustrated at the lack of progress. I'm sure it would have been sorted long ago if she'd done it herself.
Of course non of us has checked whether your MIL had appointed an executor in her will, Andy.
Question Author
My wife has legal Power Of Attorney for both her parents for finances and medical, so that should make it pretty easy I think.

Thanks guys for all your answers.
id your father in law actually dead? POA has no effect upon the death of the door. Who is the executor?
The POA for your FIL ended on his death. If your MIL is named Executor then she can use that POA to act on her behalf.

1 to 15 of 15rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Basic Probate

Answer Question >>

Related Questions

Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.