Probate solicitor in Edinburgh

[Pluschanges]

Has anyone used a probate solicitor in Edinburgh? I am sole executor of my Mother's will and my sibling is kicking up a fuss as she wants to be joint executor. She didn't know until recently that I am sole executor. I don't want to do it with her as I think we will fall out. She isn't very practical and has never done anything like this before. I can just see it being a nightmare.

It occurred to me that it might be better to get a probate solicitor to deal with it all to avoid arguments and take stress of all of us. How much do they charge? There is a property to sell which is held in Trust, and her affairs are really quite complicated.

i’m sorry for your loss and hope you are ok. This must be stressful. You could try a few to get an idea of costs. Somewhere like https://www.beveridgekellas.com/executries/ You want a firm that has an estate agency attached to them for the house sale. Wishing you good luck with your sister.

Most firms will have an Execs Team, forget 'Probate' as that is an English law terminology. Scottish equivalent is 'Confirmation ' but depends on the estate value if you need it.

If the will was drafted by a solicitor that's maybe a good place to start if you live in the area.

(Glasgow not Edinburgh) I was recently quoted £5k plus VAT not including sheriff court fees for straightforward estate - one property (not in trust), savings including premium bonds and some whole life policies. Will named both my sister and I as joint executors but I did the work for confirmation (she did other things like sorting the funeral). I did discuss important things with her (mainly to do with selling property and giving away personal possessions). You have to explain any changes to executors (and have the appropriate documentation) so if will only named you it might be easier to go with will (and just run things past your sibling).

@Pluschanges have sent you a PM

I’ve just been through the Probate process with my mum’s estate - it has been a long drawn-out process due to there being a Trusr - it has added a layer of bureaucracy.

Are you a Trustee as well as Executor? Do you know who the other Trustees are?

I can’t help with a solicitor I’m afraid as we were Glasgow-based.

I am a trustee on the trust and executor. It will be a nightmare. I am tempted to just say to my mother get on with removing me and my sister can do it all. I know she will be totally overwhelmed. She doesn't live in Scotland either. My mother doesn't understand what an executor does anyway, she just wants to keep my sister happy.

She's still alive but my sister and I are really falling out as she doesn't trust me and I don't trust her.

Oh that’s difficulty @Pluschanges

I have another sibling & my relationship with them is distinctly poor since my mum became unwell. Thankfully they chose not to be an executor or trustee as they would have been impossible to deal with.

From my experience, it will be very difficult if not impossible for your sister to act as a trustee/executor from abroad.

She lives in England, not Scotland. I am termites to just say you do it then, but I worry about her making a mess of it.

Thornton's are good. We are using Anderson Strathern in Edinburgh for my FIL estate as it's been very complex with a trust from the other side of the world. They are not cheap but very very good. Our solicitor is a STEP lawyer and is actually dual qualified in English and Scottish law.

I see, i completely misunderstood. If you are falling out now it will be absolutely awful when the time comes. Good idea to go the solicitor route.

How much is it costing if you don't mind me asking?

Don't want to say publicly ours is a huge estate. Getting up towards 6 figures just now.

😧