Losing a loved one is never easy. It can be particularly challenging to arrange the legal aspects when you’re grieving and feeling stressed. During this tough time, our expert probate solicitors can help guide you sensitively through the process of administering an estate.
At Ashtons Legal, we always cater to the needs of our clients, ensuring that they are not confused by the legal processes and their probate duties. We have extensive experience handling both straightforward and complex estates, particularly resolving cases where there is no Will or disputes have arisen.
The term probate describes the legal permission to manage an individual’s property, money and possessions upon their death. It is usually the duty of the Will executor to take care of the probate. The executor should be named in the deceased’s Will. If a person passes away without a Will, their closest living relative may take on the role of administering the estate based on the Intestacy rules.
Contact our Probate Solicitors in the East of England, East Anglia and Yorkshire
For personal, practical advice on probate and estate administration, get in touch with your local Ashtons Legal team in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich, Leeds and Norwich.
Alternatively, please fill in our online enquiry form, and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
Our Probate and Estate Administration Expertise
Our probate lawyers can support clients with all manner of issues and legal processes relating to probates, including:
- Gathering and valuing the deceased’s estate
- Applying for a grant of probate
- Support with estate administration
- Contentious probate matters
Gathering and Valuing the Deceased’s Estate
Whether you are the Will executor or a close relative administering the estate, our solicitors can provide you with detailed probate advice from the very beginning.
You’ll need to collect details about the deceased’s estate, including their assets, property, savings and debts. From here, you will need to value their estate and assess the Inheritance tax position before you can proceed with the probate processes.
The process and responsibility can feel overwhelming, especially because a Will executor’s personal assets are at risk if they do not carry out their legal duties correctly. We are able to provide expert legal support and advice to ensure that this early stage of the process runs smoothly.
Our lawyers understand that this is an emotional time and will do all that we can to cater to your needs. If you’d like more information about valuing an estate, a member of our team will be happy to discuss your case.
Applying for a Grant of Probate
If you are the chosen Will executor for a loved one, you’ll need to apply for a Grant of Probate in most cases. If the estate is valued at under £10,000, then you may not need to obtain a Grant of Probate.
Our solicitors in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich, Leeds and Norwich can support you with straightforward probate guidance. We can help you accurately complete the probate application forms and supply the accompanying paperwork, such as the Inheritance tax return. Our legal team will ensure that you complete the process correctly to avoid delays and protect your legal rights, as well as the wishes of the deceased.
Support with Estate Administration
As the Will executor or another party responsible for administration, you’ll have various duties to complete, such as:
- Calculating how much inheritance tax is due and making the payment
- Sending the documents required to HM Revenue and Customs
- Paying off fees such as probate fees, solicitors fees, and other debts
- Dividing the estate between the chosen beneficiaries
Administering the estate can often be complicated but rest assured, our expert probate lawyers will ensure that the procedure is stress-free with minimal setbacks. We can advise you on any part of the estate administration or handle the whole process for you.
Contentious Probate Matters
Contentious probate is a term that covers disputes about how an individual’s estate is administered. Losing someone you love is an incredibly difficult experience, and the situation can become even more challenging if there are disagreements about the estate.
If you are concerned that your loved one’s estate is not being managed as it should be, our solicitors can help you to contest the probate. Equally, if you are administering your loved one’s estate and are in dispute with a relative or beneficiary, we can help here too.
Read more about contested Wills and contentious probate.
Probate and Estate Administration FAQs
What is the Probate Process?
The probate process involves collecting information about the deceased’s assets, valuing those assets and applying for a Grant of Probate.
On obtaining a grant of probate, the Will executor must begin to share out the estate between the chosen beneficiaries and pay off any debts owed. The process may also involve completing inheritance tax forms and paying any tax.
How Long Does the Probate Process Take?
The length of the probate process varies according to the complexity and size of the estate. On average, the probate process should take somewhere between 9 months and 1 year to complete.
Working with a probate solicitor is a great way to speed up the process by ensuring that everything runs smoothly and that any debates are quickly resolved. Our probate lawyers will be able to offer an accurate time frame once we discuss your case.
What are the Probate Costs?
If the estate is valued at £5,000 or more, you’ll need to pay a £300 application fee for the probate. If the estate is under £5,000, you will not need to pay the application fee.
Hiring a probate expert incurs extra costs, yet it is advisable to do so. These costs are usually payable from the estate. Working with a solicitor means that you can ensure that your loved one’s estate is administered properly and that you are adequately fulfilling your role as executor.
What Happens if a Person Does not Have a Will?
If a person passes away and they do not have a Will, the estate must be administered according to the rules of intestacy. These rules state that only certain people are entitled to inherit the estate. For instance, unmarried partners do not stand to inherit, yet surviving married partners automatically inherit.
If your loved one has passed away without a Will, and you’re seeking legal support to arrange their affairs or raise a dispute, we can offer the probate services you need.
Why choose Ashtons Legal Probate Solicitors?
At Ashtons Legal, we offer a sympathetic, caring, and friendly service. Our solicitors can handle a full range of probate cases, from simple matters to multi-jurisdiction estates and highly complex situations.
We provide our clients with an initial fixed fee consultation and follow this up with a written report. Our team ensure that we work closely with our clients, getting to know them and their unique situations, allowing us to adapt our service to their needs at every turn.
We take a flexible approach with our probate services, dealing with the entire administration of the estate or just the aspects you need support with.
Our team are always transparent, and upfront about the expenses involved and strive to offer competitive pricing options, including fixed fees where possible. Click here to view pricing information on our Probate service.
At Ashtons Legal, we have a wealth of experience and expertise comprising members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, Association of Lifetime Lawyers and the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
Contact our Probate Solicitors in the East of England, East Anglia and Yorkshire
For advice about our probate services, get in touch with your local Ashtons Legal team in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich, Leeds and Norwich.
Alternatively, please fill in our online enquiry form, and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
