Probate & Estate Administration 

Probate is the process of applying to court to get authority to deal with a person’s estate after death. We also deal with HMRC inheritance tax submissions, calculate inheritance tax and claims for relief and the application to the probate court.

• With a valid Will, executors apply for a Grant of Probate
• Without a Will, next of kin (called administrators) in a priority order apply for Letters of Administration

Not always. You may not need it when:

• Bank balances are small and under provider thresholds
• All assets were owned jointly and pass to the survivor
• There is no property to sell or transfer We check the position with each estate

• The Executors’ responsibilities are to:
• locate and identify the assets and any liabilities of the estate
• deal with the administration of the estate according to law by collecting in these assets
• determine the beneficiaries
• apply to the Court for a grant of Probate of the Will. (Probate is a formal document that confirms the Executors and gives them permission to administer the estate
• make sure all claims or debts are received, assessed and paid if substantiated arrange for the distribution of the estate in accordance with the terms of
  the Will
• prepare accounts
• deal with taxation returns
• Defend any litigation
• If your Executors as Trustees of your Will. The Trustees are responsible for:
• managing any trust that might arise in your Will
• holding funds for children until the date specified in the Will or until a child’s 18th birthday
• complying with their regulatory obligations which may include registering any trust arising under your Will with HMRC’s Trust Registration Service

Time varies with the estate and Registry timelines. It’s influenced by:

• How quickly valuations and paperwork arrive
• How quickly HMRC deal with any submissions for IHT
• Waiting for HMRC to provide a code to apply for probat and court processes

We set a realistic plan and keep you updated but currently HMRC are taking approx. 1 month to send the required ‘code’ and courts timescales are 12 weeks

We prepare the required forms and can liaise with your accountant where needed.

We outline options such as:

• Tracing assets or documents
• Placing statutory notices to protect executors called a s27 Trustee Act notice
• Referring to specialist contentious probate solicitors if needed

Yes. We confirm who can apply, prepare the application, and explain the intestacy rules for distribution.

Most providers need the grant first. We gather data and prepare paperwork so funds can be collected swiftly once it arrives.

• Death certificate and your photo ID and address ID
• The original Will and any codicils, if there is a Will
• Details of assets and debts, including account numbers and latest statements
• Contact details for all executors and beneficiaries
• The information needed can be completed in our Estate administration form