Probate is the legal process of dealing with a deceased person’s property, money and possessions (‘their estate’), when they die.

When a person dies, having left a valid Will, the executors named in the Will are responsible for dealing with the administration and distribution of the deceased’s estate. Alternatively, where a person dies intestate, having left no valid Will, administrators will be appointed to administer the deceased’s estate. It is important to note that executors and administrators cannot deal with the administration and distribution of estate assets until a Grant of Probate or Grant of Representation has been obtained.

The role of an executor can include registering the deceased’s death, organising the funeral, gathering details of the deceased’s assets and liabilities to value the estate for Inheritance Tax purposes, encash assets and make distributions to beneficiaries. It can be a difficult to balance these tasks, whilst working through the bereavement itself and therefore it is advised to seek assistance from experienced Probate solicitors.

Our experienced Private Client team will meet with you in order to discuss the likely timescales and costs involved in the Probate process, advise on the law surrounding administration and then deal with the administration process, such as valuing the deceased’s estate, preparing and filing the Inheritance Tax Return where necessary, applying for Grant of Probate and other related matters.

If you need any advice or assistance in dealing with an estate, then do not hesitate to contact our team.