Have you got the faintest idea what really happened in this lawyer’s office?

[corygal]

Hello all ? have you got the faintest idea what happened in this lawyer?s office?
My childless great-aunt died after some years senility ? her power of attorney went to my uncle, who then became executor of her will. To everyone?s surprise she left a tidy sum, most of it in the Post Office. Probate was granted 10 weeks later, IHT paid.

The beneficiaries are mum, uncle, and their cousin. Uncle took possession of the flat (left to him) the day of probate, but 18 months on hadn?t handed over the cash (left to them all). Mum & cousin grumbled a bit, noises getting louder as the months went on. Uncle kept saying ?the lawyers are slow?.

One morning last month the lawyers turned up with apologies and a cheque, which they said they wanted to give my mum ?in person?.

Er, what could have happened? I suspect that the lawyers ? who I think could have been co-executors, took the estate back. How and why can they do this?
Thing is, uncle is named as executor for my parents. Is this a good idea?

Have they got the money they were entitled to?

Maybe they were simply acting for your uncle as executor, and weren't co-executors. Maybe they were really slow.

You'd have to take a copy of the will to a solicitor if you wanted their calculations to be checked.

It's down to your parents who they name as executor.

How common is it to wait 2 years for a cheque from a post-probate/tax cash account?

It can take a long time to realise all the assets. Perhaps the solicitors were waiting until all the assets had been realised before paying out?
Your parents may wish to reconsider who acts as the executor of their wills if they feel your uncle has been very slow. From personal experience of being an executrix three times now, the process is very time consuming when you have to do it in your spare time.

If Probate was granted after 10 wks and most of cash was in Post Office, I'd say 2 years is far too long!!!

Your Mum should get full Estate accounts, make sure the interest on money is there

I have never known solicitors personally deliver cheques either if I was in your position I'd be getting your parents to change the Executor in their Wills.