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Elderly parents

DF's solicitor has changed hands - not sure what to do. Help?

4 replies

Octothorpe · 20/08/2019 19:10

Any legal types on here? Just a bit unsure about how to tackle this.

(Very) elderly DF has had a letter saying the firm that made his will and holds all his documents has - out of the blue - 'closed' and another firm, which apparently is now trading from the same premises, is asking for signed permission to transfer his documents to them. Otherwise he needs to take all his documents back Hmm

It looks from the letter as though the new firm might be run by some of the same people as the old, but from its website I think it's primarily a conveyancing outfit and the letter says it isn't 'authorised and regulated to practise by the Solicitors Regulation Authority'.

DF, in his 90's, isn't remotely up to dealing with all this. Should we just take the documents, find another firm and move his affairs to them? Or agree to the documents being transferred to the new firm for now, so they're kept safe, and then help him leave as soon as practicable? DF is already worrying that if he does this, they might 'stop me from leaving' (I've told him he can take his custom elsewhere whenever he wants).

It's all complicated by the fact that I live a long way away and can't get there to sort this for a while. Bother.

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HugoSpritz · 20/08/2019 20:45

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Octothorpe · 20/08/2019 23:01

Thanks for the reply, Hugo. The letter definitely says the new firm is not authorised by the SRA - which worries me a bit - but it is by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers. So presumably they're going to focus on property, but that's pretty useless for DF's purposes as his business with the firm was all to do his will, inheritance/estate planning etc. Nothing ongoing but all matters that will be needed to be gone into at some point.

It also says the new firm isn't a successor practice, it's a totally new firm. So tbh I think we (the family) would be better off finding another solicitor that deals with the areas we need.

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HugoSpritz · 21/08/2019 19:33

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Octothorpe · 21/08/2019 20:08

Very kind of you, Hugo. I also posted on Legal and the consensus was basically the same. Will take you up on your offer if I run into trouble, thank you.

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