To be able to administer the wishes set out in a Will you may need to apply for probate (technically known as applying for a Grant of Probate or the granting of probate).
Applying for Probate is an order of the Court giving one or more people the legal authority to administer the estate of the deceased, in order to distribute it correctly to the beneficiaries (i.e. probate of will).
If you have any asset worth over £5,000, any stocks and shares or a property then your executors will usually need to apply for probate. If you don’t make a Will, they need to apply for Letters of Administration instead, which is very similar. A probate valuation will help you find out what your assets are worth.
Unless your assets are all owned jointly with someone else and will pass to them automatically, you will need a Probate solicitor before your estate can be paid out. We can provide detailed advice about this if you need it.
With our Fixed Fee promise after discussing the case with you we will fix your fee for our probate assistance so you know exactly what you will pay from the start.
We have a team of Probate specialists in Chesterfield, Dronfield, Sheffield and Mansfield who are here to help.
Advice on Probate
We know how difficult it can be to lose a loved one and we would like to help you by covering some of the basics of dealing with probate.
Essential considerations when completing probate online
We know losing a loved one can be a very difficult and emotional time and that being an executor of a will is a big responsibility. This guide is essential reading if you are considering online probate.
Online Probate – is it always a viable option to take?
Earlier in the year it was announced that a new online service to apply for probate would be introduced. This meant that those applying for probate could do so from the comfort of their own home, potentially negating the need for involvement from a solicitor.
Proposed increase on probate fees scrapped
Following the announcement of the snap general election to take place on 8th June, the government has decided to scrap its plans to increase the legal fees due after a person has died. Having proposed a rise in probate fees in England and Wales to come into effect in May, which would have seen an increase from the current flat figures of £155 or £215 to as much as £20,000 for the most valuable estates, the Ministry of Justice announced in the second half of April that there was too little time for the legislation to go through parliament before the election.
What to Do When Someone Dies
We know from experience that when you lose a loved one it is often difficult to know what to do first. This simple guide will help you prioritise between what needs to be done urgently and what can be dealt with later.
The ‘cost of dying’ is now racing ahead of the rate of inflation
Recent research has revealed that the cost of dying is now the fastest rising fixed cost in the UK, ahead of costs of living including rent, utilities and food.
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