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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To nominate family instead of solicitors

32 replies

RelativePitch · 04/08/2024 13:08

To be main executor and administrator of your estate.
Now obviously you should always use a solicitor for estate planning and Wills. There is no way round that.
But in terms of administrating the Will, may I suggest that if you have a relatively organised spouse, child or children with a couple of brain cells knocking about they would be so much better doing it themselves. Much faster and free of charge.
My DF passed away in November and the solicitor still hasn't got the paperwork ready to send off to Probate. 6 bank accounts and 5 rental properties. All straight forwards.
I'm frequently in touch with the banks and all the delay lies with the solicitor. £8k so far in bills and no end in sight.
AIBU to think family could do this themselves?

OP posts:
Shatteredallthetimelately · 04/08/2024 13:36

Family being chosen is fine if every family member gets along well.

I'm NC with my sibling due to them oozing entitlement which my DM also agrees with.

Im nominated as DM won't let sibling do it as she knows they'd take the lot but I refuse point blank to be the one
so I've told her it's her choice to change it or if left I'll hand it over to a solicitor when the time comes.

billyt · 04/08/2024 13:36

Luckily when my mother passed away it was down to a Solicitor to administrate her small estate.

My siblings just confirmed what utter grabby arseholes they are.

Got less than they expected but way more than they deserved.

Deaths bring out the worse in many people. Or rather, accentuate the crap they already have in their tiny minds.

hopeishere · 04/08/2024 13:25

FIL nominated his middle son. Has caused a huge fall out. Trad carefully.

Cosyblankets · 04/08/2024 13:15

A death in our family in November. Probate granted February. Dealt with by a solicitor as they were executor.
I've also done it myself
It's not free i think it's a couple of hundred via gov website but it's not much

SauviGone · 04/08/2024 13:14

Depending on the deceased’s estate and how organised they were themselves, it can actually turn out to be a pretty big job. I speak from personal experience.

I think it would be rather cheeky to ask or expect a family member to do it “free of charge” if they’re not a beneficiary.

TeenToTwenties · 04/08/2024 13:11

Don't nominate a solicitor.
Nominate a family member who can choose to use a solicitor for none/some/all of the work.

SajtosPogacsa · 04/08/2024 13:10

It’s fine. I did it for my Mum and it was quite straightforward. You really don’t need to pay anyone to do it.

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