Death of a Relative
When a person dies somebody has to deal with their estate - money, property and possession owned by them - by collecting and realising assets, paying any debts and tax due and dividing the estate amongst the various beneficiaries.
If the value of the deceased person’s assets is very small some Building Society, bank accounts and National Savings products can be dealt with quickly and efficiently by letting them have a copy of the death certificate.
For all other assets it is necessary to obtain a document called a Grant of Representation from a division of the Court known as the Probate Registry. The Grant of Representation confirms that the persons named in the Grant are legally entitled to deal with the estate of the deceased, pay any expenses and taxes due and distribute it to the people who are entitled to it.
The two most common Grants of Representation are the Grant of Probate and the Grant of Letters of Administration.
Grant of Probate
A Grant of Probate is issued to the Executors named in a Will. The Executors are the people appointed by the deceased to deal with their assets and carry out the terms of their Will.
Grant of Letters of Administration
A Grant of Letters of Administration is issued where there is no Will or where the Executors named in the Will are not able to act. There is a special order of priority as to who can take out a Grant of Letters of Administration and it is usually the closest relative.
Our Private Client Team has extensive experience of administering estates and trusts created by Wills or the intestacy laws. A meeting can be arranged at our offices, or we can visit you at home, to outline the process of obtaining Probate after the death of a relative. Whatever your requirements, we will handle your needs efficiently and sensitively.
We recognise that cost issues are important to you and we are transparent about our fees. Before any work is undertaken we will outline what we propose to do on your behalf and provide you with written confirmation of our estimated total fees. Our charges are primarily based on the time involved and may also reflect the value and complexity of the estate. We will consult you if the total fees are likely to exceed the original estimate.
