Dealing with the estate of someone who has died can feel overwhelming, particularly when you are also coping with bereavement. Probate and estate administration can involve a number of practical, financial and legal steps, and it is not always obvious where to begin.
At Your Will Writers, we provide an initial point of contact to help you understand what may be required. Where specialist probate work or legal advice is needed, we can introduce you to experienced professional partners who can assist with the administration of the estate and the probate process.
How We Can Help
When you contact us about probate, we will take the time to understand the circumstances of the estate and explain the next steps in straightforward language. This can include establishing whether a Grant of Probate or other form of representation may be required and identifying areas where specialist assistance is needed.
Where the estate requires probate or professional estate administration services, we can introduce you to experienced professional partners who are able to undertake the appropriate work. This means you have a clear point of contact at the outset without us suggesting that Your Will Writers carries out reserved probate work itself.
Every estate is different. Some are relatively straightforward, while others may involve property, investments, inheritance tax considerations, missing information or more complicated family circumstances. Our aim is to help you understand your options and, where necessary, connect you with the appropriate professional support.
The Probate Process
The exact steps involved in administering an estate depend on the circumstances. One of the first tasks is usually to establish whether there is a valid will, identify the executors or other people entitled to deal with the estate, and determine whether a Grant of Probate or another type of Grant of Representation is required.
The estate’s assets and liabilities will normally need to be identified and valued. This can include property, bank and savings accounts, investments, personal possessions, outstanding debts and other financial interests. The information gathered may also be needed to establish the estate’s inheritance tax position.
Where a Grant of Representation is required, the appropriate application can then be made. Depending on the estate, there may also be tax matters, property issues and other legal or administrative requirements to deal with before the estate can be distributed.
Once the necessary authority has been obtained, the estate can be administered. This can involve collecting or transferring assets, settling liabilities and expenses, dealing with any tax due and preparing appropriate estate accounts.
The remaining estate can ultimately be distributed to the beneficiaries in accordance with the will or, where there is no valid will, the intestacy rules. More complex estates can involve additional steps and may require specialist legal, tax or financial advice.
If you are unsure where to start, contact Your Will Writers for an initial discussion. We can help you understand what may be required and, where appropriate, introduce you to experienced professional partners who can provide the necessary probate and estate administration services.
At Your Will Writers, we provide a personal and straightforward approach to probate enquiries. Based in Codsall and working with clients throughout Wolverhampton and surrounding areas, we can help you understand the next steps and, where appropriate, introduce you to experienced professional partners for probate and estate administration services.
