Probate Services

When someone dies, you’ll need to get the legal right to deal with their property, money and possessions (their ‘estate’).

You may be able to apply for a ‘grant of representation’ - known as ‘probate’. The first thing you need to do is check if there’s a will.  This states who sorts out the estate. If there’s no will the next of kin can apply.

If you're named as an executor of someone's Will, or you’re their next of kin you may require a legal document called a  grant of probate/letters of administration that gives you the right to sort out their affairs.

Proof of probate is often required when dealing with banks and other financial institutions, local authorities, tax and pensions, insurance and estate agents, if you are selling a property.  In most cases, the relevant institution will need to see the grant of probate before transferring control of the assets.

How long will the probate process take?

Probate can be a lengthy process, depending on the size, value and complexity of someone's estate but it is much easier if that person has made a Will. If there isn't a Will, sorting out someone's affairs can become much more complicated, time consuming and costly.There are two types of probate service available that we offer, depending upon your needs:

Full Estate Administration

A Full Estate Administration service deals with every aspect of probate. This includes:

• Registering the death with the asset holders.
• Requesting date of death valuations.
• Preparing the legal paperwork, including Inland Revenue forms and executor's/administrator's oath).
• Obtaining the grant and registering the same with the asset holders.
• Collecting in all assets and closing down accounts.
• Paying all liabilities.
• Finalising the tax position.
• Paying any legacies.
• Distributing the monies in accordance with the will or rules of intestacy.

Grant Only

A Grant Only probate service means you supply the us with all the information. These may include:

• What assets belonged to the deceased.
• What debts they owed.

We will will prepare the legal paperwork for you, including Inland Revenue forms and executor's/administrator's oath. Once obtained and completed, the grant is then handed over to you to deal with. 

At this point, you can then register with the banks, close down accounts, pay off all liabilities, settle all taxes and distribute the monies in accordance with the Will or rules of Intestacy.

In this case, responsibility for making sure all figures are correct remains with you. It is also your responsibility, rather than that of the administrator, to make sure that the administration is dealt with correctly, the tax position is properly finalised, all debts are discovered and paid, and that all distributions are carried out and done correctly.

For more information please contact our Wills and Probate teams in Halifax, Huddersfield or Brighouse.

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