Mills Curry

Mr Knox did an excellent job in the probate of my grandfather's estate and in executing my grandfather's will. He was patient and helpful throughout, despite some very unpleasant family arguments arising in the process, and his fees were extremely reasonable.

David Michael Knox has been truly awful, starting just weeks after my father died and thus probate began. A few examples:
1. in order to allow my late mother's tax free allowance, her UK domicile had to be demonstrated and accepted. For 3 months Mr Knox failed to make any progress about this critical issue. Then I contacted an accountant friend of mine who sent me the necessary paperwork from the HMRC manual. Hence, it was I who obtained the proof of my mother's UK domicile status, not Knox.
It was not all that complicated.
2. Knox has been hostile towards me, the first named heir, throughout.
3. Knox has refused to send me most of father's bank statements that I asked to have. For example, when I asked for all 2021 and 2020 statements for two accounts that my father held with bank A, he initially sent me only SOME statements for 2020. He has never agreed to send my any 2020 statements for my father's.
4. When Knox eventually closed the two bank A accounts, he moved to an account comprised of just 6 numerical digits, which, of course, cannot be a UK bank account. Even now, he refuses to explain why he transferred the balance, 60,000 pounds to the mysterious 6 digit account. Nor will he explain why he sent me bank A statements for only SOME 2021 periods but NOT, for example, any statements for one of the bank A accounts from 1st January 2021 to 8 March 2021. Why the secrecy? What does Mr Knox NOT want me to know of? I am very suspicious.
Mr Knox also FAILED to inform HMRC of large cash gifts, or loans, that my sibling received in 2020.
5. Days before my father died in March 2021, my sibling turned up with ANOTHER solicitor whom my father had never instructed. This outside solicitor had drafted a 40,000 pound Deed of Gift with my sibling as the sole beneficiary. My father was then taking large doses of morphine.
When I complained to Mr Knox about this he said it was "absolutely nothing" to do with him.
When I asked Knox if the Deed of Gift had been for 200,000 pounds would he, the sole executor alas, have been perturbed. He has repeatedly refused to say.
6. 15 months after my father's death, Knox has STILL not obtained about $62,000 in cash in US bank accounts. It is not that complicated. The 15 month delay worries me greatly.
7. Mr Knox actually threatened me financially at least twice, via email. Yes, how dare I ask questions. How dare I complain about his poor, slow performance.
8. He gave preferential treatment to two other heirs, such as inviting one of them to have a meeting with him about what would be entered on the IHT forms. He never even told me of the June 2021 meeting until after it had taken place.
9. Mr Knox's IHT406 form sent to HMRC, re: cash in bank accounts, etc., he cited the two bank A accounts as totaling 23,000 pounds LESS than the bank A statements showed! Astonishing, but true. Mr Knox, even now, refuses to explain.
My advice is NOT to use Mr David Michael Knox, for anything.