Financial planning, POA, advice for recently widowed Mum

[julesover40]

I dont really know what I'm doing or where to start. We recently lost my lovely Dad , suddenly, and he has left alot of 'loose ends' behind.
His will was over 20 years out of date. We're not talking huge amounts on money, maybe a few hundred thousand plus the family home.
Everything will pass to my mum, so no issues there. But how do we go about looking after mum's interests? She is only early 70s ,in good health thankfully.
We need to get a new will drafted, a POA put in place for the future, of which she's in agreement with. Do we need to get a an IFA? or a financial planner? f so where to even begin finding someone she can trust. Mum is of the era of trust no-one.
We really want the existing savings to be working for her so she doesn't need to worry.
Their 'current' solicitor seem pretty useless, so don't really want to go to them for advice.
Any advise or pointers appreciated x

The bereavement dept won’t help as the same person is also executor, so on top of them taking everything when they were alive, the banks have paid out to them and they are refusing to administer the estate. Will cost ££££ in legal fees, especially as they say probate isn’t needed, so the beneficiaries will have to let it go.

if your dd is a barrister then that reassures- I am a sole POA but I also have a reportable job so my job’s on the line if I act incorrectly.

@toomanytonotice

DDs would be too. There are people who are just not trustworthy. Families are not exempt,