Find out if there is a Will

The will should set out who the executors are – they are the people responsible for dealing with the assets within the estate and ensuring that they are distributed in accordance with the terms of the will. If the executors are not family members, make sure that they are informed as soon as possible about what has happened.

If there is no will, then the intestacy rules will apply. These say who should deal with the estate; these people are called administrators.

Administrators and executors have the same duties and responsibilities and are known as personal representatives ('PRs').

Probate – Immediate matters

Register the death. This must be done with the Registrar of Births and Deaths for the sub-district where the death occurred. Telephone them for an appointment; they will tell you exactly what information you need to take to the appointment.

Make arrangements for the funeral. Check the will to see if the deceased had any special funeral wishes and ensure the funeral director knows about these.

Identify assets and debts

The PRs are responsible for finding out what assets the deceased owned – e.g. bank and building society accounts, property, insurance policies, shares, premium savings bonds. Each bank, building society, company, insurer or registrar will have to be informed of the death and date of death balances obtained. PRs are also responsible for obtaining details of any outstanding debts – newspaper bills or outstanding care home fees for example. They will have to ensure these are paid in due course.

Grant of Probate

A Grant is a formal document issued by the Probate Registry which confirms the authority of the PRs to act and deal with the administration of the estate. If there is a will, a Grant of Probate is obtained; if the deceased died without a will, a Grant of Letters of Administration is required.

Grant of Probate is not always necessary. If the value of the assets is small, no house is involved, or all the investments are held in joint names, a Grant may not be required.

A Grant cannot be applied for until any Inheritance Tax (“IHT”) due has been paid and a receipt obtained for this which must be produced to the Probate Registry. An IHT account giving details of the assets within the estate and the debts must be prepared together with a short oath which the PRs must swear – a quick and simple procedure.

Collecting and Distributing the Assets

Once the Grant has been obtained, the PRs will need to show it to all the organisations the deceased held investments with – banks, building societies, insurance companies, company registrars and soon. This enables them to arrange release of the money; PRs can then ensure that any debts and expenses are paid before distributing what remains to those entitled to receive it under the terms of the will or intestacy. The assets do not necessarily have to be cashed; shares can, for example, be transferred to those entitled if they wish to keep them.

How long does probate take?

It is very difficult to give an accurate indication of how long it will take to complete the administration of an estate because no two are alike. Tensions or disputes between family members and beneficiaries, large numbers of assets, and complicated assets such as businesses or farms all cause delay; many banks and building societies can also be very slow indeed to provide information and to close accounts and this can cause delays of around 10 weeks. Selling property can also cause delays particularly in the current market.

As a general estimate, it takes between 6 months and a year to complete a routine administration.

Probate Options

It is possible for PRs to obtain a Grant personally by visiting the Probate Registry and some people feel happy and able to deal with the process themselves. For others, however, the time involved in dealing with the administration of an estate is very offputting and many find themselves unable to manage all the paperwork at a time when they are trying to come to terms with the loss of a loved one.

We have solicitors who specialise in the administration of estates. They have experience of all the problems which can occur and are familiar with the many procedures involved.

How much does probate cost?

We offer a FREE initial telephone consultation. At that stage our solicitors should be able to give you an estimate of our legal fees. You can then choose whether to go ahead with instructing our probate solicitors.

Contact our Probate Solicitors

Our specialist solicitors deal with probate cases throughout Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset and Dorset including Shaftesbury, Bradford-on-Avon Malmesbury, Sturminster Newton, Gillingham, Ferndown, Melksham, Fordingbridge Brockenhurst, Frome, Blandford Forum, Ringwood, Sherborne, Calne, Romsey, Lyndhurst, Corsham and Westbury.

For specialist legal advice from an expert probate solicitor, contact our Salisbury, Andover, Verwood, Warminster or Amesbury offices today.