Probate services

Probate is the legal and administrative process of dealing with someone’s Estate after they’ve passed away. It includes:

• Proving the Will (if there is one)
• Valuing the Estate
• Reporting to HMRC and calculating any Inheritance Tax due
• Collecting in the assets and settling debts
• Distributing what remains to the Beneficiaries

While the term “Probate” refers specifically to the Grant of Probate (or letters of administration where there’s no Will), it’s commonly used to describe the full Estate administration process.

Probate is usually required if the deceased owned property or had assets above a certain value. Even when a Will is in place, banks and financial institutions may need to see a Grant of Probate before releasing funds.

We’ll help you assess what’s needed and guide you through the legal and tax requirements.

Key Questions to consider:

• Is there a valid Will?
• Who has been named as Executor (or who is entitled to apply)?
• What is the total value of the Estate?
• Are there outstanding debts?
• What taxes may be due – Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, or Income Tax?

We tailor our support to your situation – from one-off advice to full Estate administration. Our Probate services include:

• Valuing the Estate
• Preparing and submitting Inheritance Tax forms
• Applying for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
• Completing final Tax Returns for the deceased
• Preparing Estate accounts and Tax Returns for the Estate
• Collecting and distributing Estate assets
• Acting as professional Executors and Trustees where required

Because we’re Accountants as well as Probate specialists, we bring joined-up advice across tax, financial, and legal considerations.