ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES                                            

When someone dies, their estate must be dealt with by the person legally responsible for administering it. This may be an executor named in a Will, or an administrator where there is no valid Will. Executors and administrators are often referred to as personal representatives.

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Administering an estate can involve identifying assets and debts, dealing with banks and other organisations, applying for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration where required, paying any inheritance tax, and distributing the estate to the correct beneficiaries.

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We can guide personal representatives through the estate administration process and explain their duties clearly.

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Our team can assist with:

• identifying what steps need to be taken first;

• advising whether a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration is required;

• explaining the role and responsibilities of personal representatives;

• identifying and valuing estate assets and liabilities;

• advising on inheritance tax reporting and payment, where applicable;

• explaining the intestacy rules where there is no valid Will;

• dealing with jointly owned assets;

• preparing probate application papers;

• assisting with the collection and distribution of estate assets; and

• advising on the next steps if a Will or estate is challenged.

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If a dispute arises, such as a challenge to the validity of a Will or a claim against the estate, we can explain the options available and the likely next steps.

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Information about our fees for probate and estate administration is available on our Fees page. We will also provide clear costs information before any work begins; we also offer a consultation for £60 including VAT.