When a loved one dies there are many decisions and arrangements to be made and this can be particularly overwhelming during such an emotional time. Please call us and we will do all we can to help and support you. Every person’s estate is different.  Our experience and expertise ensures that each estate is dealt with personally and professionally, using the benefit of our knowledge in a sympathetic and practical manner.

Firstly it will be necessary to register the death and arrange a funeral or memorial service. A good funeral director will be of enormous help with this and we will be happy to recommend one if you wish.

Once this is done and the funeral is over it may be necessary to move or take care of the deceased person’s possessions. If there is a Will we will need to obtain it. The Will should  name one or more executors who will be responsible for ensuring that the wishes of the deceased person are carried out.

If there is no Will then the Rules of Intestacy govern who is able to administer the deceased’s estate in accordance with the law. They are often known as Administrators.

It is possible to handle the administration of an estate yourself but it can sometimes be complicated work and carries responsibility not only to the beneficiaries but to the authorities, such as HMRC for tax payments. Executors and Administrators often instruct solicitors and we have specialists who are skilled in this work, who can guide you through the procedures. Besides, solicitors are regulated and insured so you have very real protection.

As a part of the administration of a deceased person’s estate it is often necessary to apply to the Probate Court for a Grant of Representation. The Executor or Administrator will need to obtain valuations of all assets belonging to the deceased to enable them to complete the Inheritance Tax Account before application is made for the Grant of Representation. We can do this on your behalf to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible.  We can help ensure that everything is dealt with properly at each stage of the process.

Once the Grant of Representation has been issued the Executor or Administrator can begin administering the Estate. The assets can be collected in, costs and liabilities paid and then the Estate can be distributed in accordance with the Will, or if there is no Will, in accordance with the Rules of Intestacy. All this is something we can help with and, at the end of the matter, we will provide you with a full set of accounts for your records.

You may hear of this work taking many months and it is true that there is a great deal to do. We believe that by careful management we can minimise delays. We give this work priority and do our utmost to keep families informed to ensure that beneficiaries are only waiting for as little time as possible. Do ask about this and we will be happy to give you guidance on what to expect.