UNPROFESSIONAL, *********, *********** - DO NOT USE!

Do not under any circumstances use this firm of attorneys.

My Mother passed away without a valid will in January of last year, making myself and my sibling equal co-beneficiaries.

Without my knowing my sibling appointed this firm in February 2019, as he was in South Africa and I am currently abroad.

Leicher (the Executor) failed to notify that I was a beneficiary until 31 July, when my mothers house had been sold, and when their documents were rejected by the Masters Office as Lazzar Leicher had failed to declare me as a beneficiary, and had failed to obtain my consent to use them as a lawyer which should have been done immediately before they began working on the Estate, or put the property on the market as, by law, all heirs need to have consented to the sale of the property BEFORE putting on the market. Anne Williams - the Estate Agent also broke the Estate laws by not obtaining my permission to sell, and accepting an agreement from Leicher when he at the time had no authority to sell.

Prior to my ever having been been informed, the property had been sold - not only was I not informed of the sale, or been provided with a copy of it (this was given to me after the deal had expired?), but at that point Lazzara Leicher had not even been been granted the Executorship for the estate, so had legal power to sign the Agreement of Sale.

The reason he had not been granted executorship, my understand is, is because whilst he had sought my brothers consent to his appointment, Chris Leicher had failed to get my consent and thus the documents were rightly picked up by the Master (and a BIG credit to them - they really did THEIR job well).

Finally in mid-August 2019 I got the same documents as signed by my brother in March 2019. I was not able to sign and return immediately. The level of rudeness from Christoper Leicher is unlike any other I have ever received from a professional whose fees I am paying. He then proceeded threatening me with telling everyone I was delaying the sale. If he had acted ethically and according the Masters and Legal requirements a last minute rush to get consent would not have been needed.

Following this I have received virtually no correspondents other than two sets of differing accounts, a refusal from the conveyance (also Lazzar Leicher) for a statement of account of funds received from the sale and related to the sale (occupational rental etc, and a breakdown of an unaccounted for amount of R95 000 of the sale price).

At no point in any of this was I kept informed or consulted unless a signature was required - I was not kept in the loop with regards to the sale, I had to phone Leichers office for details and Sharon initially refused to reply. And when she did, she said please see statement of account as attached. I emailed her to sent attachment - she said she could not, only Christopher Leicher had access. He never responded to that request either.

Next thiing, I get an email from Chris telling me to phone a Francis for finalisation of the Estate, I was told to confirm my bank details over the phone (I already had provided these on email). Francis BIZZARLY then said someone could have hacked my account and sent them my own bank details. He refused to give me the amount to be paid - and when it came through it was over R1000 less than it should have been. He couldnt have been more rude if he'd tried - in fact the entire office team at this firm are rude and had clearly been instructed not to provide me with information.

Also, along with the deposit, there was no final statement of account - and to date I have been unable to get an idea of the missing amounts. I have logged this with the Law Society and with the Masters Office in Johannesburg, and will be logging a complaint with the EAAB as to the Estate Agents failure to comply with legal regulations.

I believe it was Christopher Leicher, actually in collusion with the other beneficiary to avoid having me know about the estate and ensure that full funds went to the other beneficiary.

Many times I pointed out that whether or not Leicher or my sibling where happy about the state of affairs I am paying half his (and his conveyancors) bills and had a right for full information and full breakdowns of any related transactions.

Many times he failed to do so. Again, one hears bad reviews of the Masters Office - in this case it was their excellent diligence that prevented Lazzara Leicher from ********ly processing the Estate.

I thought I would take to Hello Peter to warn anyone off this company, whatever legal service it is you are looking for - they are unprofessional, ********* and utterly ***********.