Is this normal? Solicitor will not tell us how much we due to inherit from will.

[corlan]

I recently received a letter from a solicitor telling me that I was due to inherit from an Aunt's estate. I have emailed asking him to tell me roughly how much the inheritance will be but he has replied saying that he will not give out the information until myself and about 12 other cousins who will also inherit send in their ID documents.
I find this really strange. Is it normal practice? I've got this horrible feeling that I'm going to spend time and money getting documents notarised only to be told 'Congratulations you've inherited a fiver!'

You don't have to get them notarised surely! Just a copy of your passport (certified as a true copy by a solicitor) and a recent utility bill should suffice.

He can't tell you till he knows how many people are still alive to claim on the estate and until the value of the estate has been established.

this is noraml he can't tell you till he has found out the entirety of the eastate and then how many people are still alive to inherit, then there are costs etc

it takes ages...believe me

Thanks for your answers everyone - it seems bizarre to me, but I'm glad to hear that it's normal. My Aunt died over 2 years ago and the solicitors only contacted me a couple of weeks ago.I don't have a clue what's been going on all that time!

I shall send my documents in and see what happens. If it is a fiver, I'll let you know. (If it's a lot more, I shall be on a tropical island somewhere with a toyboy)

^Had to laugh at that.