H & B Solicitors Ltd
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Probate
- When someone dies it can be a very challenging time for family and friends, and it can be overwhelming trying to work out what needs to be done to finalise their affairs.
What is Probate?
A Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration in intestate estates) is a Court sealed document that gives the person named on it the legal authority to deal with the assets of the person who has died.
How do I apply for a Grant?
The first stage of the estate process is to identify all the assets and liabilities of the person who has died and have them valued. The executors must then complete an inheritance tax return and arrange to pay any inheritance tax due on the estate. The application for the Grant can then be filed with the Probate Registry who will issue the Grant. Once the Grant is obtained the executors can collect in all the assets and distribute the estate to the beneficiaries.
How long does probate take?
Administering an estate can be a lengthy process as there are often a lot of different parties involved in the process, including banks and other financial institutions, the DWP, HMRC, and the Probate Registry. Even a very straightforward estate can often take around a year to administer and if there are any complicating factors it can take several years to finalise the estate completely.
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