Is There Any Way You Can Find Out If A Probate Service Is

[lilacben]

genuine.? My mother in Law made a Will with them a few years ago and has died recently... My husband is the eldest so is dealing with all the paper work and as her Deputy of the Crown Court of Protection.
We have contacted the Probate service and they are getting it all sorted including sending a estate agent to value it.
The address we have is a private house up north and we live on the Somerset/Devon boarder. So cannot go in and see them...the person we are dealing with has said he will come down to us for the death certificate and other papers.
You hear so many things these days of people being riped off ....but just wanted to make sure if I can.
Thankyou

[SirOracle]

A long and expensive journey. !! Can't the death certificate and other relevant papers not be sent by registered post?

[Fairlight]

If you are not sure, I suggest you contact GOV.UK who would be able to help you.

[bhg481]

It sounds to me very like the people who jump in to get your PPI refunded, apply for your passport renewal etc, for a fee when you can do it yourself free.

[woofgang]

did she name this firm as her executor?

[dzug2]

I would say they are genuine in that they will do the necessary work - assuming as you imply that she appointed them executors.

Whether their charges are reasonable - pass but I suspect you are lumbered with them. I doubt if they will willingly stand down.

[woofgang]

my will is stored at the solicitors who made it but they are not my executor and in fact it was them who said not to name any solicitor or firm of solicitors as executor. if they are just storing the will, that might be prepaid or there might be a fee for doing that. From what the OP has said though it sounds like they are already doing the work and its a bit late to stop them.

[atalanta]

The sons/daughters of the deceased must at least see a copy of the will. When you have this, the first port of call could be the Citizens Advice Bureau.

[dzug2]

.. The sons/daughters of the deceased must at least see a copy of the will ..

Must they? After probate, yes, but I'm not sure they are entitled beforehand.

[woofgang]

"While someone is alive, only they can give you a copy of a Will: no one else is normally entitled to see it or know its’ contents. On death, the executors (only) are entitled to see the Will. They may or may not chose to let others have copies. If probate has been granted then the Will becomes a public document and anyone can obtain a copy.

BUT only if it was necessary to obtain a grant of probate and often it is not. In which case all you can do is ask the executors for a copy – and they may not wish to give you one as even the beneficiaries have no right to a copy Will! Perhaps not really a satisfactory situation."

Taken from a commercial probate website
http://theprobatedepartment.co.uk/how-do-i-get-a-copy-of-a-will/

[lilacben]

Many thanks to you all.
Well my husband, sister and brother are all executors of the Will....and this firm was the ones who made it for mother in law..
We are not sure where she got there contact address from in the begininng. But they traveled to London to do it..in the home.
They do offer a cheaper quote for doing all the work. And being as the Will was already there we assumed they had to deal with it.? And we all have a copy of the Will.
Which shares equal between the three. So makes it much easier I should imagine to deal with.
I expect I am just getting worried about nothing but I would rather be cautious than let someone ripp them off.
Thing is they do have the will with them... and once they have all the other paper work ..death certicates,marriage, birth...just wondered if anyone could just take the money at the end.?

[SirOracle]

They will take their fees out of the proceeds of the estate,but they must carry out the wishes of the deceased regarding disposal of the assets.

[Peter Pedant]

If they are not named as executors of the will
you should insist on doing it yourselves

much cheaper

you are looking at £200/h fees
and you know - one of you can write a letter for 25p....

If they have got your mother in law to name them I am afraid you are stuck