ESTATE ADMINISTRATION (Probate)
When Someone Dies
As the famous quote goes; 'the only two certainties in life are death and taxes' and when a person dies, not only do they leave behind loved ones, but also a paper trail of assets and liabilities, known as their estate.
If the estate includes sole assets over a certain amount (the specific value can depend on the asset provider), those dealing with the estate may need to apply for legal authority to gain access to those assets.
Before the administration of the estate begins, you should undertake the following first:
- Get the medical certificate from the hospital, GP or coroner
- Register the death at the local registry office
- Find out if the deceased made a Will
If the person has died without leaving a Will, they are said to have died intestate and that will have an impact on the administration. Once you have identified whether there is a Will or not, you can answer the following questions:
Our service
We offer our services to those tasked with administering an estate, whether they are the appointed executors, a beneficiary or next of kin. Depending on the instructions, we can either assist up to obtaining a Grant of Probate / Letters of Administration or we can provide a full administration service.
Stage One
- Identifying all assets and liabilities
- Notifying the relevant organisations of the death
- Preparing detailed accounts for the date of death
- Completing the relevant inheritance tax forms and settling any inheritance tax due
- Preparing the application for Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
Stage Two
- Arranging the sale of estate assets and paying any liabilities
- Preparing estate accounts
- Dealing with the estate income tax and capital gains tax position
- Distributing the estate in accordance with the will or according to the rules of intestacy