PROBATE

We fully appreciate that sensitivity and understanding are the watchwords when you have lost friends or family and you seek our advice.

By way of explanation, Personal Representatives (PRs) are the persons named in a Will to act as the Executors, or the next of kin of someone who has died intestate (without leaving a Will).  The role of the PRs can be very demanding in terms of time and the role does carry fairly weighty legal and financial responsibilities.  These duties and responsibilities have to be carried out at the time when you have lost someone close to you.  With this in mind, if you instruct us to deal with an estate, we will do our best to relieve you of much of the burden.

You may feel that the state you are involved in is straightforward, but we would suggest that as the Executor/Potential Administrator, you have a first initial meeting with us, so that we can discuss the situation of the person who has died, and the legal position regarding their estate, and then advise you as to what action needs to be taken.

We will always explain to you at an early stage how we calculate our charges, so that you know where you are in terms of legal costs.  Remember that our legal fees are payable out of the estate, at the conclusion of the matter, thereby relieving the PRs of any anxiety regarding our costs.

The services which we carry out are:-

• Ensuring that the wishes of the deceased are fully carried out.
• Ascertaining the values of the various assets in the estate and collating all the information to prepare the Probate forms, including Inland Revenue forms (where appropriate).
• Identifying the liabilities in the estate and ensuring that any creditors are provided with sufficient notice to lodge a claim against the estate, thereby protecting the PRs position
• Obtaining a Grant of Probate (where there is a Will) or Letters of Administration (where there is no Will), without you having to attend the Probate Court. 
• Advising on Inheritance Tax planning post death (Deeds of Variation).
• Discharging the funeral expenses at an early stage.
• Closing the various accounts, selling any shares, collecting the assets and so on.  Settling any legacies
• Ensuring the beneficiaries receive their proper entitlement.
• Preparing final estate accounts for your approval.
• Winding the estate up as promptly and efficiently as possible.