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It was a fixed fee for granting probate, no estimates. Most of the work had already been done by the executors anyway so there was little for the solicitors to actually do. Where they have been involved, f’rinstance with DWP, they messed up by paying a sum owed even though the executors had already paid it & had told them so. The solicitor has now asked the executors do they want the refund to be paid to the practice. I’ve said don’t – no doubt that’ll be another “chargeable item” to add to the bill !
The extra fees have been incurred by phone calls & e-mails relating in part to querying why will documents that same practice destroyed though the deceased was actually still living. Also, the will is being contested and the executors wanted a letter written to the “contestee” advising he wasn’t to go to the property (everyone had agreed he had no right to do so anyway) and for his belongings to be removed. The solicitor refused to write it, ultimately passing it to her manager who then spoke to the executors for an hour, charging, unbeknowns to them, over £300 for that conversation alone ! And they’re charging, on average, £20+ for “conferring with a colleague” !
My point is, they knew a bill was mounting, the executors were totally oblivious they would have to pay 1p over the fixed fee, and now they’ve had a bill for FOUR times the original fixed bill, nearly £5000 - and still rising.