Probate: How Can A Solicitor Help?

Dealing with the estate of a deceased relative or friend, at what is already a distressing and difficult time, can be hard. Using a solicitor to assist with probate can make things easier and less stressful for you.

Your solicitor can help you with all the paperwork involved with probate and simplify the complex process.

What Does Probate Involve?

With A Will

If the deceased had a Will, probate is usually more straightforward.

However, dealing with the estate during the probate process often still includes:

• Registering the death
• Finding the original Will
• Arranging documentation for Grant of Probate
• Handling inheritance tax
• Sorting assets and debts and then collecting or paying these
• Valuing the estate
• Distributing the remaining assets

Without A Will

If the deceased had no Will, probate is more complicated because the rules of intestacy apply and determine how the estate should be distributed.

Only married or civil partners and certain close family members can inherit under intestacy rules. This means that unmarried or divorced partners normally don’t inherit anything if there is no Will in place.

How Your Solicitor Can Help With Probate

Your solicitor can help with probate and ensure the whole process is much easier, whether your deceased relative or friend had a Will or died intestate without a Will.

As a guide, your solicitor will be able to help with the following:

• Handling paperwork
• Dealing with the application to obtain a Grant of Probate
• Helping with inheritance tax including both the forms and process
• Advising you on the terms of the Will
• Helping you with your responsibilities as an Executor
• Obtaining valuations of the estate’s assets and liabilities
• Assisting you with the distribution of the estate

Making The Probate Process As Efficient As Possible

Our Wills and probate solicitors have the experience and legal knowledge to help you throughout the probate process. Losing a loved one is a stressful and difficult time, and your probate solicitor will work hard to ensure the process is as straightforward and efficient as possible for you.

Assisting and advising you at every step of the process, your solicitor will ensure probate is easier to handle and that the outcome is the best possible one. Able to deal with every aspect of probate on your behalf, your solicitor will explain all the legal terminology and provide copies of the forms and applications for your records and peace of mind.

By using a solicitor to help with probate, you’ll remove the stress from the process and ensure you achieve an efficient outcome.

To speak to one of our professional probate solicitors about the process, please contact us at our Chorlton office on 0161 860 7123 or email chorlton@hlfberry.com or at our Failsworth office on 0161 681 4005 or email failsworth@hlfberry.com