Will beneficiary - solicitor wants me to sign a contract with them’

😊

I was a beneficiary in a friend's will and all I had to do was show proof of ID when they were sorting it out.

That’s as it should be.

I was an executor of my mother's will. My sister was too. The solicitors firm did what was required (at enormous expense). We didn't have to sign a contract but we're very aware that they wanted us to become clients of theirs. There were offers of lunches out or trips to local events. We declined.

Is the solicitor concerned the executor of the will? If so he is acting for the deceased person's estate. So surely acting for a beneficiary as well is going to be a clash of interests at the least, possibly even unethical.

A will is a public document so a copy should be available. Personally I'd take some free legal advice from CAB or similar

If you are one of the beneficiaries, the solicitor will write to you asking you to provide your bank details and documents to verify your identity and address. That is all, you do not have to sign any contract.

If there is no will, the beneficiaries can nominate someone they can trust in writing to act as executor of the estate.

With my husband's cousin estate who die intestate , the biggest beneficiary is the Inland Revenue, followed by the solicitor.

Just want to say how lovely your meal out was PamelaJ1 - I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear friend 🧡

*meal out gift
(Correction)