Dealing with the death of a loved one is difficult. You might feel overwhelmed. You may be emotionally drained. To remove the stress and hassle from the Estate Administration process, instruct our Probate Solicitors to handle matters on your behalf.
Discuss any aspect of Probate in complete confidence and take advantage of our free Client consultation – get in touch or call 0191 5666 500 for a friendly chat.
You do not need a Solicitor to carry out the administration of a deceased person’s estate. But it is not a task you should enter into without giving it a lot of thought.
Some people like to oversee the process themselves. Others find it mentally and emotionally draining, and prefer to instruct Probate Solicitors to act on their behalf.
Our involvement depends on how much control the Executors/Administrators want to have. For complete peace of mind, we would advise talking to our Estate Administration team, who specialise in dealing with the legalities following a death.
Appoint us to take on the day-to-day Probate responsibilities and you can be sure your liability as Executor/Administrator is protected. No costly mistakes. No risk of being held legally and, potentially, financially responsible for any errors.
Whether someone has died with a valid Will or without (known an Intestacy), we will clearly set out all your options and help everyone involved to make informed decisions.
Benefit from impartial and expert assistance, call 0191 5666 500 to arrange a friendly and informal discussion
Our caring & tailored approach to Probate
During what is often a highly-emotional time, we adopt a ‘hand-holding’ approach to compassionately guide you through the Probate process.
It’s important to remember that we are not here to take over, unless you ask us to. Our level of participation is dependent on how much involvement you want to have during the Estate Administration process.
Some people want to handle as much as they can themselves. In instances like this, we provide a Grant Only service, where we obtain the Grant of Probate and/or Grant of Letters of Administration on behalf of the Executor/Administrator. You are then free to carry out your duties and, if needs be, we can be available to assist as the administration is finalised.
If you do not want any stress or hassle, we will take care of everything. Known as a Full Estate Administration, you can instruct us to deal with all matters on behalf of the Executors/Administrators.
No matter what advice or level of assistance you need, our experienced team will sympathetically guide you through the various options.
Comprehensive & Professional Probate Services
The loss of a loved one is one life’s most stressful events. Dealing with the legalities following a death can be complex. We hope our empathetic approach offers the right support you need at each step of the journey.
Monitored by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, we are proud members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Full Accredited Members of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (previously known as Solicitors for the Elderly), recognising our expertise in supporting older and vulnerable people, as well as their families and carers.
After listening to your wishes and discussing the Estate, our experienced team and Probate Solicitors will provide you with the reassurance that all Executor/Administrator duties are carried out correctly in accordance with UK law.
Tasks carried out by our Probate Solicitors include:
- Identify and secure estate assets
- Pay final bills or outstanding debts
- Collect proceeds from life insurance policies
- Deal with Government/Private Pension Companies
- Obtain property value appraisals
- If a property is being sold, deal with the marketing and sale
- Prepare and file all documents required by the Probate Registry
- Determine if Estate or Inheritance Tax is due and, if so, ensure it is paid
- Resolve any Income Tax matters
- Manage the Estate checking account
- Transfer any assets in the deceased’s name that are being retained by the Beneficiaries
- Make a final distribution of assets/capital to the Beneficiaries
- Manage the transfer/sale of any business interests
Should a claim ever be brought against the Estate, we would act as your representative and work closely with you to resolve the dispute and minimise any legal implications.
Clear & transparent Probate costs
Providing an exact cost figure is difficult as every person’s Estate is unique.
We individually assess assets and liabilities and the terms included in a Will, if applicable, so that we can accurately calculate our estimated costs before starting any work.
Once we have the full details of the Will terms/Intestacy and assets and liabilities, we will provide you with a detailed breakdown of the likely costs involved so you know what to expect in advance.
Should an Estate contain multiple or complicated assets and multiple beneficiaries, or if the Will is complex, our costs will be higher but this will be discussed with you at the outset of the matter.
All our costs are calculated by reference to the time we spend on the matter. For example, dealing with correspondence, telephone calls, emails, preparing forms and having meetings with you and others.
The Solicitors Remuneration Order permits us to charge a percentage of the value of the Estate in addition to fees charged at the hourly rate. We are permitted to do so as a reflection of the importance of the matter and therefore the responsibility of the Company. We will usually charge 1% of the gross value of the estate (excluding the value of the Deceased’s residence where a charge of 0.5% of that value will apply).
Please click to access detailed information about our Probate Costs and further information about fees relating to Estate Administration matters.
To discuss any Probate matters in confidence, call 0191 5666500 and speak to our friendly experts or contact us to request a call back.