Probate specialists are urging the four major high street banks to sign up to a protocol setting out agreed procedures that aim to reduce the delay and distress in dealing with probate transactions.

In a joint letter to HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Barclays and NatWest, the Law Society and Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) said work is needed to improve the efficiency of the service offered by the banks to both personal representatives and professionals acting on their behalf.


'Over a number of years our members have reported to us that service levels and procedures vary significantly not only between different banking institutions, but sometimes within the same bank, depending on which branch or centre is dealing with the matter,' the letter said. 'Uncertainty about what to expect causes difficulty for our members and this may result in additional costs being incurred and distress for family members when confusion leads to delay.'


The proposed banking practices protocol sets out the information solicitors would need to include when making an initial approach to a bank, and the information with which the bank would then be expected to reply. There would also be agreement on the time-scales in which the bank would respond with the information and send out closing balances.


The letter continued: 'We hope that if this process bears fruit, then professionals will know what to expect when they deal with each institution and that each bank will benefit because the professional user will have the required information ready at each stage of the process.' It was signed by Meg Andrews, chairwoman of the Law Society's wills and equity committee, and Andrew East, who chairs STEP's probate and estates committee.


Law Society representation chief executive Desmond Hudson said: 'The current situation leads to delay and confusion for solicitors and their clients. The Law Society wants to work with the banks to agree standard procedures which produce a workable system for our members.'