The timescale for dealing with the administration of a deceased’s estate, will depend upon its complexity. For a simple estate, this could take less than six months, for a more complicated estate this could take over one year.

The Process

• We meet with you to obtain information and documentation in relation to the deceased’s estate, including the deceased’s Will and Death Certificate, together with details of all assets and liabilities.
• We arrange to satisfy ID requirements and will send you out our client care letter, together with our initial letter summarising the intricacies of the deceased’s estate, and we how we intend to deal with matters.
• We will contact the establishments where assets and liabilities are held, asking for probate evaluation.
• We will serve the Trustee Act Notice in the London Gazette and local newspaper.
• We can deal with arranging for payment of the deceased’s funeral out of the deceased’s bank account, if required.
• We prepare the inheritance tax return for your approval and make payment of any inheritance tax due; we prepare the Executors Statement of Truth and make the Probate application.
• Once the grant of Probate is returned, we will send a copy to you and the establishments where assets and liabilities are held, and arrange for them to be collected in. Any liabilities will need to be paid.
• We prepare estate accounts for your approval, and then make the distribution in accordance with the Will to the various beneficiaries, having first taken our costs. The estate is then wound up, and we will send you a file closing letter.

We hope that this explains the process, however please let us know of any queries.