Solicitor's clients account

[Proseccoagain]

My solicitor has been holding some of my late husband's money in his clients account (don't know how long for), and has just presented his bill for dealing with the estate. He now wishes to deduct the amount owing on the bill from the money he is holding in the clients account.

Is this usual practice? To me this doesn't seem right. Surely he should transferred the money to me and let me decide how I want to pay the bill? I know the bill has to be paid but I may prefer to pay by credit card.

Not sure whether to query this or not.

Perfectly normal for the bill to be paid from monies held.

Totally normal in my experience. I'm sorry for your loss.

Should add if you would prefer to pay by cc ask them if they have that facility.

Normal to suggest it (and a lot of clients prefer it) but it is open to you to say that you want it transferred to you and that you will pay separately. Sorry for your loss.

Normal. Have done this in every practice I’ve worked in. It’s very rare to send all money back (even on completion of a house sale) without deducting a fee

They have a solicitor’s lien over the money in client account and are entitled to use it to settle an invoice. Doesn’t stop you challenging the invoice if there are grounds, but that’s not the issue here. Why should the invoice not be paid out of money held in the estate?

Thank you for that information. I have not had to deal with a solicitor over a will before, so just wondered if It was usual. I have just re-read the solicitor's terms and conditions and found the relevant sentence there - invoices will be issued and monies transferred from assets recovered to meet the same. I shall deal with it today.