What does a pending application at the Land Registry mean please?

[LimoncelloMadness]

Just that really. Family member is a beneficiary of a will. There was a big dispute that was resolved but the solicitors acting for the Executors also acted for them in the dispute (and drew up the disputed will) so they just don't give out any information and ignore all correspondence from my relative's solicitors. There was a house that is part of the estate and it sold and fell through once then the sold sign went up again. Now it's been removed and lots of work is being done on the house - it had structural issues - but no one appears to be living in it. Relative has no idea if the house has sold or not sold or when they are likely to get their legacy. They are elderly so it's really stressing them out. I've just had a look on the Land Registry and it says an application is pending and was lodged on 22 February. Does this give any indication of status, I'm a bit clueless about things like this having only moved once in my life. Any help gratefully received.

We're moving this thread to our Legal Matters topic for the OP and giving it a bump.

It very much depends on the wording of the will and what they are the beneficiary of. Have they seen the will? It sounds like probate needed to be applied for. Has your relative seen the grant of probate?

Yes, my relative has seen the will. Probate has been granted. The estate consisted of cash and a house. The cash covered all the pecuniary beneficiaries' legacies and outstanding debts but the solicitors refuse to distribute any of the cash until the house is sold - or even partly distribute. We feel this is because the will was disputed and it was a will they executed. House sale fell through once, then it appeared to sell again but solicitors refuse to reply to emails asking for confirmation of this. For sale sign has been taken down and significant work seem to be being done but no one living in it yet. We are baffled as to what is going on.

Thank you for your reply by-the-way.

Is the solicitor acting as executor?
This might be useful reading.
www.co-oplegalservices.co.uk/media-centre/articles-jan-apr-2017/can-a-beneficiary-of-a-will-see-the-estate-accounts/

@LimoncelloMadness

Thank you for your reply by-the-way.

You’re welcome. I’m currently sorting out my mums estate as her executor, and it’s a legal minefield!!!

It certainly is - good luck with it. Unfortunately, she is a pecuniary beneficiary. We're not worried about the funds as such, just want to know whether the house has now sold so that there is absolutely no excuse not to distribute the cash funds. My feeling is they've been stalling as long as they can just because the will was disputed - they were quite vicious throughout the dispute.

A pending action registration signifies that the property is the subject of a claim being made at court so anyone who buys it takes subject to that claim.

Thank you very much. There was a dispute but that was legally resolved and probate has been granted so I'm not sure what that means. It seems to have been lodged a few weeks ago after a search was . It says a pending application not a pending action though - is that the same thing? A search was lodged a few weeks earlier.

Pending means Land Registry have received it and are currently progressing the application.

It means something is pending against the title – it could be the new buyers application to register it in their name? You should be able to see which solicitor lodged it which may give you a clue.

Thank you @GinPalace2 & @Nickinoo30.