Probate
Help when someone has died.
Dealing with the estate of someone you love comes at the hardest time. We offer three levels of help, so you can choose as much or as little support as you need.
What probate means
Sorting out an estate, step by step
Probate is the legal process of dealing with someone's money, property and belongings after they die. The executors named in the Will apply for a grant of probate. If there's no Will, a close relative applies for letters of administration instead.
It often takes many months, and executors are personally responsible for getting it right.
What executors usually need to do
- Find out what the person owned and owed, and its value
- Report the estate to HMRC and pay any Inheritance Tax
- Apply for the grant of probate
- Collect in money and sell or transfer property
- Pay debts and expenses
- Share out what's left as the Will says, and keep accounts
Three levels of help
Choose the support that suits your family
Every level includes a meeting face to face, by video or by telephone with you and the executors, and a fixed fee agreed before we start.
Level 1
Probate Guidance
A qualified probate adviser guides you through the key steps, and checks the Will for any problems.
- A clear plan for what to do, and when
- Guidance on letters of administration if there's no Will
- You complete and send the forms yourselves
Free for Legacy Connect members
Level 2
Probate Assist
Everything in Guidance, plus we complete and check the paperwork for you.
- All the forms prepared and checked
- Ready for the executors to submit
- You stay in charge of the estate
Level 3
Probate Professional
A qualified probate specialist handles the whole process from start to finish, keeping you informed throughout.
- Estate money held safely in a designated client account
- Tax, debts and gifts all dealt with
- Full estate accounts at the end
Free first meeting
Dealing with an estate? Let’s talk it through
We’ll explain what needs doing, how long it’s likely to take and what it will cost, so you can decide how much help you want.
After a death
Changing who inherits: a deed of variation
Sometimes the Will, or the intestacy rules, don’t leave things the way the family would like. A deed of variation lets a beneficiary redirect some or all of what they inherit, for example to their own children, to a surviving parent, or to charity.
Made correctly, it can be treated for Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax as if the person who died had left it that way. That can reduce the tax on the estate and avoid adding to the beneficiary’s own.
Things to know
- It must be made within 2 years of the death.
- Everyone giving up part of their inheritance must agree and sign. Children under 18 can’t, which can limit what’s possible.
- It can’t be done in exchange for payment.
- To get the tax treatment, the deed must include the right statements. We’ll make sure it does.
Common questions
Your questions, answered
Not sure where to start? Call us on 020 8050 4201 and we'll talk it through.
Is probate always needed?
Not always. If the estate is small, or everything was owned jointly and passes automatically, you may not need it. Banks and other organisations each have their own rules, so it's worth checking with us.
I've been named as an executor. Do I have to do it all myself?
No. You can get as much help as you need, from a single guidance meeting to us handling everything. You can also step aside if you don't want the role, as long as you haven't started acting.
What happens if there's no Will?
The intestacy rules decide who inherits, and a close relative applies for letters of administration. We can guide you through it.
How long does it take?
It depends on the estate. Simple estates can be settled in a few months; those with property to sell, tax to pay or complications can take a year or more.
We're here when you need us.
Call us for a no-obligation chat about the estate and the help you'd like. A fixed fee, agreed before any work begins.