Do you need an Estate Administration Solicitor?

by Mark Riley, Founder & Managing Partner, MJR Solicitors

You don’t have to use a solicitor to deal with any estate administration or probate matters if you don’t want to, but it can be a lengthy and timeconsuming process. It’s not something you should take on if you’re not confident and you could create more problems for yourself if you do. Our Estate Administration Solicitors can help with as much or as little of the probate process as you want. It may be that you just need a little help coping with one particular asset in more detail, allowing you to administer the estate to the beneficiaries yourself. But if you choose to do it yourself and you make any mistakes, you could be held legally or financially responsible. By contacting us, we give you access to specialist Estate Administration and Probate Solicitors who can handle the entire process for you. By instructing us to work on your behalf, we’ll take complete responsibility for everything while making sure each beneficiary of the estate receives the full inheritance they’re entitled to while reducing any personal or financial risk. Always available to give you the practical help and legal advice you need, we can gather any information, complete forms, obtain the Grant of Probate, and distribute the estate to the beneficiaries on your behalf. Whatever you decide and whatever you need, we’re here to help.

Here are some examples of what we can do on your behalf:

Report the death and obtain the medical certificate for the cause of death, providing the coroner is not involved • Contact the funeral director to start making arrangements for the funeral • Locate the Will • Register the death and obtain copies of the death certificate • Secure the deceased’s assets and property if it’s left unoccupied • Find and read the will, if there is one, and confirm its validity • Contact the personal representatives if they have been named in the Will or, if there are no personal representatives, determine who is entitled to administer the estate • Find all documents relating to the deceased’s life, both financial and otherwise • Register the death with asset and liability holders • Open a bank account on behalf of the estate • Contact the Probate

Registry and get all the relevant forms sent to you

• Complete the appropriate forms • Complete the IHT400 form if the estate is subject to inheritance tax • Arrange funds to pay inheritance tax and the probate fees • Receive the grant • Place the statutory advertisement for creditors and claimants • Send a copy of the grant to all asset holders and request payment of all funds

• Pay all creditors • Complete stock and share transfer forms and draft an assent for the property • Pay beneficiaries and distribute all legacies

This is by no means an exhaustive list and complications can arise through rentals, unknown assets, and unknown liabilities that we can help and advise you on.

So book your free 30-minute consultation today to discuss what is the best plan for you.

Call us, email us or send us a message on our website contact form.

More useful information about Estate Planning & Administration can be found on our website at: www.mjrsolicitors.co.uk/services/ estate-administration

Trusted, knowledgeable, by your side

Tel: 01243 945054 info@mjrsolicitors.co.uk www.mjrsolicitors.co.uk

Recent Client Feedback:

“Having never used a Solicitor before we found the whole experience easy, relaxed and, although a legal matter, it had an informal feel whilst being professional.”