How does one apply for Letters of Administration?

Question

What purpose are they? If one is not paid for the amount of work done which has taken one year why are soicitors able to charge for the same work then? Surely no one works for nothing and to lose one's inheritance is no joke. You work for a year..you lose your inheritance and it is given to someone else who has never been in the picture whom the donor had no intention of giving anything to so he or she comes along and you hand over everything to them on a plate. How can that be fair? So it seems I was the village idiot that worked hard for nothing and lost my health in doing it all.

It was my brother's will and he named me as the executor and also as a beneficiary but the will was proved invalid as the words "in his presence" was omitted though this was the old format for a Will and he was a solicitor so he would obviously have been present. Now it appears everything goes to his estranged daughter whom he did not want to have anything at all. I did not want to do the Probate and made it quite clear to him that I did not want any part of the work but he still named me as executrix. I have been through hell with the will and it has left me completely depressed and ill. I swore I would never do this for anyone but I still got landed with it and I swear in front of God I will never do this again for anyone.

Answer 1

Complicated. Sounds like you've been through the grinder of all the things which come with dealing with an estate. It can be a really testing time.

In the UK I've known people who've dont the probate themselves, free except for expenses. Solicitors do it but also charge, usually quite high fees. If anyone asked me to be executor of an estate I probably refuse (unless was very close family). Perhaps if a person does the probate themselves, it would be possible to charge the estate a reasonable sum for the work involved.

We don't know full details of your circumstances. You were either named in the Will, or you benefit (or not) via intestacy rules.

http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/basics/wills.htm

Answer 2

letters of administration n. a document issued by the court clerk which states the authority of the administrator of an estate of person who has died, when there is no will or no available executor named by a will and an administrator has been appointed by the court. It is issued during probate of the estate as soon as the court approves the appointment of the administrator who files a security bond if one is required. Certified copies of the letters are often required by banks and other financial institutions, the federal government, stock transfer agents or other courts before transfer of money or assets to the administrator of the estate. (See: executor, probate)

I would get an attorney if you feel you have been ripped off.

Answer 3

I'll just shrug my shoulders, no answer, thanks for the points