Solicitor costs on invoice

[AutumnRose1]

Hi all
Would it be normal for a solicitor to break down costs on an invoice, eg. Work done by solicitor, work done by paralegal, charged per hour/segment of time

It’s for probate, a bill coming in a double what was initially estimated. I realise that “estimated“ is the key word here.

However, heading for double seems very odd. Also, it seems an interim letter and invoice were never issued, so when we raised concerns, we were to,d we’d been warned about it in May, but we weren’t.

They have also given two sets of invoices with VAT calculated wrongly.

If we ask for a full breakdown of time spent, will it be normal for it to be charged more? Is it not the norm to be given a full breakdown?

I realise some of it might be a simple error but the rest doesn’t look great tbh.

TIA for any help.

[Collaborate]

They should be able to send you a full breakdown at the press of a button. You shouldn’t be charged for this.

[AutumnRose1]

Collaborate thank you
Is in the Law Society code somewhere, does anyone know? Or SRA?
Or is it just generally decent behaviour? Sadly I fear that ship might have sailed already!

[Collaborate]

Just ask for it and they'll give it to you. You don't need chapter and verse of rule whatsitnot from regulation thingummy to quote them. It's a perfectly standard request and they want paying.

[AutumnRose1]

Thank you.

[Xenia]

My father's lawyers when he died sent a non itemised series of bills of large amounts - over £10k - £20k and just said a number of hours. Instead of billing every month as I did they had not sent bills for a few years. It was dreadful. We just paid it in the end and they let me wind up his estate.

My own bills say exactly what I did and on what days and how much that item cost.

[AutumnRose1]

Xenia
Thank you

They didn’t bill you for years?

To be fair, we are being billed regularly, it’s just totally unclear where the money is going.

My mother is the exec and beneficiary and has opted not to ask for details, largely because she can’t face it. Also, as she’d be asking so late, she thinks they’d just make the hours so they look like they’ve spent more time in it.

[SouthWestmom]

I used to work in a different industry where time was charged out (rather than fixed fee) . We often had people asking, and the partners would take a close look at bills and check there was no time dumping, anything they could reduce. It's worth checking and I would be very surprised if it caused any issues or any kind of reluctance on their part.