My aunt died recently and had changed her will once she had the diagnosis that her illness was terminal in order to tighten up some loose ends. She was visited at home by a legal assistant who basically talked her into changing the executor from a family member to the lawyers, specifically the person who visited, as it would be "less trouble for your family at a difficult time".
Initially this person was dealing with the estate when my aunt first passed away, but is now supposedly ill and the matter has been passed onto a senior partner. He has submitted a list of his charges to the beneficiaries which are about four times as much as the original person that my aunt signed up with. I know they probably can do this but I wondered if there was any obligation on them to go with the rate quoted to my aunt during the visit? (my cousin has found the letter setting out the costs that the original person quoted) I know she would never have agreed if she thought it was going to cost £200 an hour and I am fearful that my cousins, one of whom really needs the money, is going to end up with nothing. Is there any way of ensuring they stick to the original price quoted?
I am also deeply suspicious that the house clearance company that the new lawyer has appointed has deemed the contents of 'no value' when it's stuffed full of mid century modern G Plan classics, but that is another tale.