If you have been appointed executor in a will, or you are dealing with an estate where there is no will, there is a lot to get right while you are still grieving.
Hine Solicitors helps clients in Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, Amersham and the surrounding Chilterns area with probate and estate administration. Our team takes on the administration for you, making sure the estate is dealt with correctly and reducing the risk of friction within the family.
Probate is the process of getting the court’s permission to distribute someone’s estate. There is a set sequence to follow: obtaining the grant of probate, or letters of administration if there is no will, preparing income tax and Inheritance Tax returns, gathering in the assets of the estate, and distributing them according to the will or the intestacy rules. Missing a step, or doing them in the wrong order, is often what turns a straightforward estate into a complicated one. We make sure each stage is completed correctly.
Not every estate requires a formal grant of probate. Smaller estates or assets held in joint names sometimes do not. We can assess your situation and tell you quickly whether probate is needed and what it will involve.
If you have been named as executor and are not sure where to start, we can take on as much or as little of the process as you would like, from a single piece of advice through to managing the whole estate on your behalf. It is worth talking to us early on, even before you are sure what is involved.
If there is a dispute about the estate, or beneficiaries want to change the terms of a will after the event, our specialist probate solicitors can guide you through that too.
Our Beaconsfield wills and probate team also advises on writing and registering wills, setting up lasting powers of attorney and trusts. If you are dealing with an estate and also want to put your own affairs in order, we can help with both.
Getting your affairs in order means facing some important decisions, and you need to feel confident you are making the right ones. Our solicitors offer a fixed fee approach where it’s appropriate, and our accurate cost estimates put you in control from the start.
If you are unable to visit our offices, we can arrange to visit you in your home so that you can discuss any of these issues directly with our trained specialists.
If you need a probate solicitor in Beaconsfield and would like to understand what is involved before deciding anything, get in touch. We will give you a clear picture of the process and what it is likely to cost.
Call 01494 685588 or use our contact form.
You can read more about our probate service and our wider wills and probate team, or find out more about our Beaconsfield office.
Do I need a solicitor for probate?
There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor, but probate involves a number of steps that have to be completed in the right order. A solicitor reduces the risk of errors and takes the administrative burden off the executor at a difficult time.
How long does probate take?
A straightforward estate with a valid will typically takes six to twelve months from the date of death. More complex estates, or those where there are Inheritance Tax complications or disputes, can take longer.
What if there is no will?
If someone dies without a will, the estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy rather than the person’s wishes. Letters of administration are obtained instead of a grant of probate, and an administrator is appointed rather than an executor. The process follows the same broad steps.
What does probate cost?
Costs depend on the size and complexity of the estate. We offer a fixed fee approach where that is appropriate and provide estimates before any work begins.
