Family left high and dry after solicitor's sudden closure leaves them unable to access their dad's legacy.
A family's grief has been compounded by the sudden closure of their solicitor, Samuel Phillips Law, leaving them without access to their late father's estate. The probate application was nearing completion when they received an email stating that the firm had ceased trading with no explanation given.
Now, the family finds themselves in a desperate situation, unable to confirm whether they meet the inheritance tax threshold due to the firm holding onto their file. With no money left after being self-employed and unable to work while their father was dying, the family is now facing an uncertain future without guidance from the solicitor who had promised to help them.
Regulatory Action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has taken action against the closed firm, with another law firm appointed to deal with its clients. The SRA has also shut down a sister firm run by the same individual, Hathaways, and issued a warning over allegations of dishonesty.
However, it appears that despite their sudden closure, the files of affected clients remain in the hands of the now-defunct firm. It was only after being alerted to the situation by the Guardian that one family received immediate assistance from the SRA, who promptly provided electronic copies of their files and arranged for disbursement of funds.
A Message to Others
For those left in a similar predicament, it appears that the SRA will take action, holding onto paperwork such as deeds and wills in its own archive. Clients are advised to contact John Owen of Gordons LLP in Bradford for further assistance.
The Guardian has received numerous letters from families affected by the closure of Samuel Phillips Law, and we invite others to share their experiences with us at [email protected] or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU.
A family's grief has been compounded by the sudden closure of their solicitor, Samuel Phillips Law, leaving them without access to their late father's estate. The probate application was nearing completion when they received an email stating that the firm had ceased trading with no explanation given.
Now, the family finds themselves in a desperate situation, unable to confirm whether they meet the inheritance tax threshold due to the firm holding onto their file. With no money left after being self-employed and unable to work while their father was dying, the family is now facing an uncertain future without guidance from the solicitor who had promised to help them.
Regulatory Action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has taken action against the closed firm, with another law firm appointed to deal with its clients. The SRA has also shut down a sister firm run by the same individual, Hathaways, and issued a warning over allegations of dishonesty.
However, it appears that despite their sudden closure, the files of affected clients remain in the hands of the now-defunct firm. It was only after being alerted to the situation by the Guardian that one family received immediate assistance from the SRA, who promptly provided electronic copies of their files and arranged for disbursement of funds.
A Message to Others
For those left in a similar predicament, it appears that the SRA will take action, holding onto paperwork such as deeds and wills in its own archive. Clients are advised to contact John Owen of Gordons LLP in Bradford for further assistance.
The Guardian has received numerous letters from families affected by the closure of Samuel Phillips Law, and we invite others to share their experiences with us at [email protected] or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU.
they're literally left high and dry with no idea what's happening to their dad's estate it's like they're being left in limbo while the solicitor who was supposed to be helping them just disappears overnight 
i feel for them, can you imagine not knowing if you even qualify for any of that inheritance tax relief? 
hopefully the SRA can sort them out ASAP and give them some peace of mind 
just read about this family who's being left high & dry after their solicitor closes shop! can't believe no one warns them before that 
what's going on with all these law firms just closing without notice? SRA needs to do more than just shut down the firm, they need to make sure clients get their files back ASAP 
and don't know who to turn to now... anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? should be a clear protocol in place for something like this to happen... 
That's just awful. I was expecting them to have access to their dad's estate by now 
. What if they miss out on some of the inheritance because of this? And how are they supposed to move forward without any guidance from a solicitor who promised to help them? 
It's not just about the financial loss, it's also about the emotional toll this is taking on them 
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this is crazy! I had an uncle who went through something similar with a lawyer in LA and it was a total nightmare trying to get anything done. Can't believe these firms just ghost their clients like that 
. I hope they don't have to go through all that stress again... those families are literally holding on by a thread 
. Does anyone know if there's any way to get the files from the old firm or is it too late? 
. Can't believe a solicitor just closes shop without warning and leaves people high and dry like this. I mean, you'd think they'd at least have some info on who's got their files... sounds like some people are really struggling here 
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I mean, can you believe this? Some solicitor just shuts down and leaves families with no way out of a sticky inheritance situation? It's like they're playing some crazy game of financial Russian roulette! 
And the worst part is, it was probably all due to their own "law-yer-ful" mistakes 