Probate - help with a claim please

If its any help. My nan passed away and has left her house to me, we are going through probate atm and the solicitor is dealing with everything. Its basically to get everything signed over to me in my name. It can take months and months.
We cant do anything untill probate is complete.

I'd speak to CAB.

Thirty years ago I sorted probate for my mother and it took nine months. Last week the financial advisor told me to expect anything up to two years for probate, despite computers the time taken has not improved.

Your D may have a long wait to get her money back kitty so commiserations but while on the subject of probate, how does one get to see the contents of a will once it is in the public domain?
I assume probate has to be granted first.

But how does dd know who to send a claim to?

We see public notices in the local paper asking for claimants but have no idea who to apply to in thiscase. The widow is being less than helpful and dd doesn't want to nag her under the circumstances.

How about a solicitor's letter addressed to the executors of the estate of the late Mr. X at his address, setting out what DD is claiming as a creditor? A solicitor costs money, but is less likely to be ignored.

Thanks grumppa - we'd suggested that but dd and DSiL are a bit anti 'harassing' the widow if they can bypass her. They are very conscious that the family have been through an awful time but they do want their kitchen finished!

I think it will depend on whether the trader was working as a sole trader/partnership/limited company as to how the probate would proceed.
Did you pay directly to the trader or to a company? I would address your claim to the address on the invoices you have for the work. Your claim is with the business element of the estate.

I think Primrose is right. If he was a sole trader then it will probably be more difficult. Have you tried asking at a citizens advice bureau?

Annesixty. Here is the link you need to obtain copies of wills

www.gov.uk/wills-probate-inheritance/searching-for-probate-records

Thankyou M0nica.

When the form is filled in for probate, all debts should be included. As kind as your dd is being, I really think she does need to send a letter outlining the debt and what she is claiming from the estate - can she get an estimate or two from local tradesmen about how much it would cost to get the kitchen into the state it should be? If she waits too long, the state can be distributed and I guess claiming would be much more difficult.

I'm currently an executor for an estate so I'm right in the thick of it. If it's a simple estate, probate can be granted in a matter of weeks, but if there is inheritance tax to pay it takes longer. We've managed to get probate in 4 months by working hard at a complicated estate with IHT.

Until probate is granted, it's all confidential, but even at this stage, there should be a business address where the executor should be picking up and dealing with outstanding debts. Debts are high up the priority list when the assets are paid out. These liabilities should be included in the probate accounts, although they won't be paid out until after probate is granted.
Once this happens, the estate is in the public domain. To get a copy of the will and the Grant of Probate (which gives an estimate of the value of the estate), just put "Find a Will" into a search engine and go to the government website. It costs £10, and you will need to know some details of the deceased - full name, address, date of death, place of death. You don't need all of those, but as much detail as possible. When you have found it, you pay and wait a few days, then you can download it. If you don't know whether probate has been granted, I suppose you just have to keep looking.

The Will and the Grant both show the name and address of the executor(s), so if there is an outstanding debt, you can then chase it up with them.