Lawyers

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oldwheels

Legendary Member
Location
Isle of Mull
We have all heard the jokes about skid marks and hedgehogs vs lawyers but how many have had active contact with lawyers. There are no doubt lawyers on this forum and I apologise in advance if they are offended but being lawyers they probably are not. I am currently involved with a death with no will involved. The way the law seems to be you have no option but to employ a lawyer to wind up the estate. What do they do? They freeze the bank account and sit on their hands doing nothing. I am supposed to deal with all the utility companies like phone,mobile phone,power, council tax, direct debits etc even tho’ they are employed to do all this. They just sit there and wait on the complaints coming in while the bills all mount up. Who has to sort the mess out? I am expected to do all this which they will no doubt charge me for. I do not really feel better after this rant but what on earth use are they? AAArggh.
 

Drago

Legendary Member
Until I retired my contact was almost daily. Most of them are decent, normal folks. However, make no mistake - in many cases it was not their clients best interests that was their prime consideration, but how to squeeze max dollar out of the system. Two admitted this to me over the years, and both spoke of the same method for doing so.
 
D

Deleted member 26715

Guest
You don't need a lawyer, but it looks like it's too late
 

Bromptonaut

Rohan Man
Location
Bugbrooke UK
Until I was made redundant four years ago I worked for the Ministry of Justice and its predecessors. Over 35 years I met or spoke on the telephone all sorts of lawyers from small town solicitors to partners in top London firms. Similarly through various levels of the bar from juniors to top QC's in their field (mostly planning, land local government). Judiciary too from part timers doing the leg work in County Courts to folks in the Supreme Court. Almost wholly civil stuff though, only passing acquaintance with criminal stuff.

The vast majority were decent people doing their best. A few of the barristers of 30+ years ago were insufferably smug and condescending to lowly clerks and the odd judge too!! Today's cohort are much less likely to have come up through public school and followed Daddy into Chambers.
 

Jimidh

Veteran
Location
Midlothian
I’ve had a fair bit of contact with lawyers mostly property and contract law and again most of them have been very professional and decent fun socially too.
 

NickNick

Well-Known Member
We had an awful experience with the lawyer that dealt with my Gran's estate, it was pretty small sums we were dealing with (a static carvan to sell and one bank account with small amount of savings, the proceeds were due to be split between 3 daughters & a far few grand kids) and he just didn't seem to care. It took months of complaining after the static had been sold for us to get a temporary payment, he then moved offices and apparently misplaced the paperwork, it took him the best part of 2 years to wrap everything up and issue a final payment!!!
 

NorthernDave

Never used Über Member
Until I retired my contact was almost daily. Most of them are decent, normal folks. However, make no mistake - in many cases it was not their clients best interests that was their prime consideration, but how to squeeze max dollar out of the system. Two admitted this to me over the years, and both spoke of the same method for doing so.

No comment
 

irw

Quadricyclist
Location
Liverpool, UK
We have all heard the jokes about skid marks and hedgehogs vs lawyers but how many have had active contact with lawyers. There are no doubt lawyers on this forum and I apologise in advance if they are offended but being lawyers they probably are not. I am currently involved with a death with no will involved. The way the law seems to be you have no option but to employ a lawyer to wind up the estate. What do they do? They freeze the bank account and sit on their hands doing nothing. I am supposed to deal with all the utility companies like phone,mobile phone,power, council tax, direct debits etc even tho’ they are employed to do all this. They just sit there and wait on the complaints coming in while the bills all mount up. Who has to sort the mess out? I am expected to do all this which they will no doubt charge me for. I do not really feel better after this rant but what on earth use are they? AAArggh.

Sounds like you need this guy:
 
OP
OP
oldwheels

oldwheels

Legendary Member
Location
Isle of Mull
If the deceased has no will it has to go to the local sheriffs office where the death occurred. For a non lawyer who lives hundreds of miles away to get through this morass is a nightmare since it is designed to be difficult for lay persons. Since the firm involved does not know my user name I may be safe. It would be too much trouble for them to bother trying to trace me. They could not find their backsides in a bog imo. In this case there is a house involved and with winter coming on fast heating is important to everyone but lawyers as this has been cut off due to non payment of direct debits. So who cares if the pipes freeze up?
 
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