Wills & Probate

Probate

Personal Representatives are the people named in a Will to act as Executors, or the next of kin of someone who has left no Will. Being a Personal Representative has heavy responsibilities and can be legally difficult. This is quite apart from the fact that having lost someone close to you, dealing with these matters may prove personally distressing.

With this in mind we can relieve you of the burden of ‘obtaining Probate’ and help you ensure that the wishes of the deceased are followed. We can offer practical advice following a death, and can assist with:

• evaluating the size of the estate
• ascertaining whether any Inheritance Tax is payable
• completing the Inheritance Tax forms
• drafting the appropriate Oath to enable the Grant of Probate to be obtained (if the deceased left a Will) or
• obtaining a Grant of Letters of Administration if the deceased died without making a Will or left a Will appointing no Executors.

Once the Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration has been issued then the Executor/Administrator has the authority to wind up the estate. We can assist with:

• closing Bank and Building Society Accounts
• transferring or selling any stocks or shares
• transferring or selling any land owned by the deceased
• obtaining the proceeds of any Life Assurance Policies
• distributing the assets in accordance with the Will, or the rules of intestacy, if the Deceased did not leave a will.

We are experienced in the administration of large and small estates, and are sensitive to the needs of bereaved families following the death of a loved one.