Many of our clients are experiencing delays in receiving a Grant of Probate from the Probate Registry. Unfortunately, this is beyond our control and continues to be an area of concern for our Private Client team as explained in our recent article.
Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), are spearheading a campaign to publicise and seek an early resolution to these serious delays. SFE is a specialist group of lawyers committed to supporting and making a difference to older and vulnerable people, with over 1600 members across the UK.
Girlings’ Head of Private Client, Lesley Rushton, a fully accredited member of SFE, outlines some of the actions they are taking:
- SFE, Chairman, Michael Culver, is meeting HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) on Monday, 2 November to express the legal sector’s ongoing concerns
- SFE is also joining forces with other relevant membership bodies who have similar concerns, including The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- To generate publicity, the SFE is mounting a national PR campaign with journalists and have already had interest from the Daily Mail and Telegraph.
Girlings fully supports the SFE’s campaign and hopes it will bring the necessary attention and focus to resolve this unacceptable situation. We look forward ultimately to the introduction of an easier and less stressful system which will prevent the delays to Grant of Probate applications that are currently causing undue anxiety for grieving families.
If you are an executor, our experienced Private Client team can help guide you through the probate process, or even deal with the estate on your behalf as the Executor. If the Will is contested, our expert Contested Probate team can also help.
Girlings has offices in Ashford, Canterbury and Herne Bay.
