Probate Service Information
PROBATE AND INTESTACY MATTERS
What our price includes
Our estimate for our costs will include:
- Advising you on all aspects of the estate;
- Writing to the financial institutions to request all relevant financial information;
- Contacting the utility companies and insurers;
- Preparing the Inheritance Tax submission and, if necessary, arranging for the payment of Inheritance Tax.
- Preparing the Oath and applying for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration;
- Dealing with the registration of the Grant with all the asset holders;
- Realising/transferring assets (excluding the property) in accordance with your instructions;
- Preparing Estate Accounts;
- Distributing the estate in accordance with the Will or under the Intestacy Rules;
- Preparing, if necessary, Tax Returns for the administration period;
Additional charges will apply for:
- Preparing Deeds of Variation;
- Conveyancing work in relation to the property within the estate;
- Preparing Income Tax Returns prior to the date of death;
- Dealing with any contentious matters that may arise in relation to the estate.
How long will the administration of the estate take?
The time taken from receiving your instructions to distributing the estate will depend on several things. A straightforward estate where there is a Will, a small number of assets and a small number of beneficiaries with no property to sell or Inheritance Tax to pay can be completed usually within 4 to 8 months. The Probate Registry are currently taking up to 8 weeks from receiving our application for a Grant of Probate to issuing it.
COVID-19 has caused substantial delays within Government departments such as DWP, HMRC, NS&I. In the majority of estates, we deal with these departments during the course of our work and they can take several months to respond to our enquiries. Similarly, there are a number of high street banks that are taking much longer to provide us with information that is needed to make an application for a Grant of Probate.
If there is a property to sell then how long it will take to complete the administration of the estate will depend upon how long it takes for a buyer to be found and for the sale of the property to complete. COVID-19 has also caused delays with searches, mortgages, etc. that mean that conveyancing transactions may take longer to complete than usual.
If there is Inheritance Tax to pay the Revenue can take several months to agree the tax that has been calculated and to confirm that they do not want to make any enquiries about the estate.
Stages of the estate administration process
- Take your instructions and give you first advice
- Obtain valuations of all assets and ascertain what liabilities there are
- Prepare the papers to apply for the Grant and arrange for them to be signed
- Pay any Inheritance Tax that is due on the estate
- Apply for the Grant
- Receive the Grant and register it with the asset holders
- Collect in the assets and pay all outstanding liabilities and administration expenses
- Finalise the Income Tax position
- Prepare Estate Accounts and obtain approval to them
- Distribute the estate to the beneficiaries.
Who will work on my file?
Sarah Arundel
Sarah has worked in law since 2000 and is committed to providing a friendly, compassionate and professional service to her clients. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2002. Sarah has practised exclusively in private client work since 2004 and has amassed a great deal of specialist experience in private client work.
The majority of Sarah’s time is spent dealing with the administration of complex estates with the remainder of her time spent on the preparation of Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney and giving detailed advice to her clients in these areas. Sarah has also co-hosted training webinars for fellow professionals over the past 12 months.
Tel: 01423 538111
Email: saraharundel@taylorfawcett.co.uk
Susan Hudson
Susan has worked in law since 1980 and is committed to providing a caring and compassionate service to clients. She qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 1998 and, before joining Taylor Fawcett in 2013, worked for two large Leeds city centre law firms. Having always been part of a Probate & Wills Department, Susan provides a wealth of specialist experience in private client work.
Just over 90% of Susan’s time is spent dealing with the administration of estates, and, in particular, she has extensive experience in intestate estates. The remaining 10% of her time is spent on the preparation of Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney and giving detailed advice to her clients in these areas.
Tel: 01423 538111
Email: susan@taylorfawcett.co.uk
Kim Marley
Kim joined Taylor Fawcett in 2008 and progressed to the Probate team in 2014. Kim works alongside and has been trained by Susan to assist her with the day to day administration of her files. Any work carried out by Kim is overseen by Susan.
Tel: 01423 538111
Email: kim@taylorfawcett.co.uk
Sandra Blackburn
Sandra joined Taylor Fawcett in 2002 and progressed to the Probate team in 2014. Sandra works alongside and has been trained by Sarah to assist her with the day to day administration of her files. Any work carried out by Sandra is overseen by Sarah Arundel.
Tel: 01423 538111
Email: sandra@taylorfawcett.co.uk
