My father sadly died six weeks ago and I’m his only child and sole executor, only other relatives apart from my children are his elderly brother and sister (both in their eighties )
mum and dad divorced 44 years ago
In my grief stricken state my DM suggested I use a solicitor to look after the estate and apply for probate so I appointed one a week after dads death and got back to them within a week with the value dads estate (approx 400000) His house and remaining estate after beneficiaries are paid goes to me so no IHT is payable
it’s straightforward , a bank account and savings account (already released to me and in an executor account ) Premium bonds , quite sizeable and released already but in the same account until probate is granted , plus the house and a building society account which requires probate .
I passed these figures over weeks ago , yet when I rang today with a query the solicitor said he was waiting for my information gathering to apply for probate , I reminded him I’d done this and he was quite short with me and said he’d need to prepare the paperwork and get me in to sign it .. I can’t believe this hadn’t been done already !
Im wishing I’d just put the application in online now as I realise I could have done this easily , Can I tell them I’m applying myself ?