Slow probate

Heighway61

A relative passed away last year. I'm executor of the will. Last October I provided all info and documents the solicitor requested in order to apply for probate.

This week I emailed the solicitor to see how the application was progressing. The solicitor said that they haven't submitted the application yet. They said they are waiting for a reply from a US company regarding shares, that they sent two letters without reply and will now send another.

The shareholding is very small. Not sure of the exact value, under €100 I think, dividends are never above €1.

Is is possible to proceed with the application as is? Is there anything else that can be done to progress?

Heighway61

Just wondering if 8/9 months is too long for a solicitor to sit on this without applying for probate? Can the shares be discounted from the estate (perhaps with agreement of all beneficiaries) as they have so little value?

herbalplants

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122221218#Comment_122221218

Yes too long. I know my friend went through something similar after her mom death but it was just solicitor incompetence.

You may have to complain.

cobham

We were able to apply for probate with a valuation of the shares on date of death. The delay arose after probate in disposing of the shares that had complicated provenance. So the delay was in payment to residual beneficiaries