probate

Three years is a long time to administer an estate so it cannot have been simple and presumably involved selling properties.

What bills did you pay as you went?

He should have provided an itemised account of all the charges incurred during the period of probate including any settled during that time.

You have a right to ask for an itemised account.

No reason to feel stupid, ask for an explanation as the fees sound exorbitant.

That is daylight robbery. It happens every day in my country , never heard of it here though

It does sound exorbitant but you are right to ask for an itemised bill so you can see how much work was involved. I would be questioning why an interim distribution was not made from that savings account. When you get the full picture maybe you can query the bill, or make a complaint about undue delay.

Your Solicitor needs to account for and provide details of all monies deducted/spent, for fees and disbursements involved with regard to this Estate.

There is not the slightest reason in the world for you to feel awkward or embarrassed in asking for an itemised account concerning the management of funds belonging to your late Father.

You would be very foolish to have concerns or queries now but not ask for everything to be explained to your satisfaction.

Only when this is done, can you feel satisfied that all is as it should be - or be able to take further action.

Fees are often based on a percentage of the value of the estate. If your DF owned properties then the value would be significant.

The bill probably included the cost of selling the properties. We are buying/selling a houses at the moment s and the solicitors fees for this are, as I rmemeber, around £3,000 plus.

Solicitors hourly charges are probably around £100 an hour and the work on your father's estate could have been considerable.

Why not ask the solicitor to explain exactly how the charges work?

if you are not happy you can complain to the Law Society who have some form of rating panel that will examine the fees charged and can require a solicitor to reduce them.

Just to add that you would need to go through the solicitor’s own complaints process first. They should have given you a copy.