Probate

Dealing with the death of a loved one is stressful enough, without the added pressure and worry of having to arrange the administration of the estate; which includes dealing with the legal and tax issues, as well as other responsibilities.

Probate

Dealing with the death of a loved one is stressful enough, without the added pressure and worry of having to arrange the administration of the estate; which includes dealing with the legal and tax issues, as well as other responsibilities. It is an overwhelming task to take on, especially at such a sensitive time for your family.

We know that most people don’t know what the word Probate means, what it is and even if you need it. Just pick up the phone and ask us. We will even tell you if you don’t require it.

We have designed a sliding scale to help with the cost and allow you to tailor the service to your particular needs. We are thoughtful and sympathetic in our approach, so that we take the burden and allow you to grieve without added stress.

Please contact our office for a no-obligations chat with one of our specialist solicitors.

Probate Process

Consider making preparation with Burys Solicitors in respect of your own Estate to protect your loved ones and obtain a discount.

Check if you need Probate

    About the person who died

    Did the person who died leave a will?

    Is there a trust in the will?

    Usually, a trust is a way of looking after assets (like money or property) for someone who isn’t allowed to inherit them straight away — like if they’re under 18. Sometimes the assets in the trust will also be used to support that person in some way, like paying their school fees.

    Who’s their next of kin?

    That’s their closest living relative, like a spouse, civil partner, or child (if that child is over 18).

    Did they live in England or Wales for 15 of the last 20 years?

    Or for more than 6 months in the last three years of their life?

    Did they die before 1st January 2022?

    What was their marital status when they died?

    Is their partner inheriting everything they owned?

    Is anyone else inheriting more than £325,000?

    Did they inherit everything from their partner's estate when their partner died?

    About the estate

    Do you have time to help work out roughly how much the person's estate is worth?

    This helps us understand what tax forms you might need. Remember, we can still help if you have estimates or are not sure.

    Do you think the whole estate is worth more than £1,000,000?

    That’s before any money from the estate is used to pay any debts.

    Did the person have accounts with more than 10 financial institutions? (Optional)

    For things like ISAs, premium bonds, shares, pensions, life insurance policies, or current accounts.

    How many properties did the person who died own? (Optional)

    Please put "Not Sure" if you don't know how many

    How much are their pensions and life insurance policies worth in total? (Optional)

    Give us the highest amount you think they could be worth.

    Please put "Not Sure" if you don't know how many

    If the company looking after a policy says it doesn’t have to be part of the estate, you don’t need to include it in your total.

    How much are their accounts with other financial institutions worth in total? (Optional)

    We just need an estimate based on the money, shares and investments in the accounts.

    Please put "Not Sure" if you don't know how many

    You don’t need to tell us about any credit cards or loans at this point.

    How much are their overseas assets worth in total? (Optional)

    That’s any money or investments they’ve got in overseas accounts, or anything big they owned outside of the UK, like a holiday home or an overseas business.

    Please put "Not Sure" if you don't know how many

    We just need an estimate to the nearest £10,000.

    How much are their other assets worth in total? (Optional)

    Things like household possessions, jewellery, collectables (like stamps), cars and businesses.

    Please put "Not Sure" if you don't know how many

    Include anything they own (and anything that other people owe them) that we haven’t covered yet.

    How much debt did the person have? (Optional)

    Let us know about any mortgages, credit cards or loans.

    Please put "Not Sure" if you don't know how many

    Please give us the highest amount you think they owe, estimated to the nearest £1,000.

    How much did they give to people as gifts in the last 7 years? (Optional)

    Include any gift worth more than £250 in your total, like jewellery, cars, money, or even property.

    Please put "Not Sure" if you don't know how many

    And please tell us the highest total amount you think they gave, to the nearest £1,000.

    Will 8 or more people inherit something (even if there’s no will)? (Optional)

    Your details

    Thanks! We've got everything we need to give you a quote.

    It will not be based on the value of the estate, but on how much work it’ll take to sort things out for you — like the number of properties or accounts we’ll deal with.









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    Your Questions Answered

    Do I need a solicitor to help me with probate?

    We would always recommend seeking legal advice before starting the probate process, even if you only need a consultation with an experienced solicitor to ensure you are making the right steps. The process can be complex and lengthy, which can require legally trained assistance. We can offer you legal advice, assistance and support.

    How much will it cost me?

    We understand that legal fees and charges can be a concern.

    Please visit our fee page for a breakdown of charges. 

    If you need more information about fees and charges, please do not hesitate to contact us for a no-obligations chat.

    What are the key steps for estate administration?

    There are three broad stages to administer an estate applying to both probate and letters of administration: 

    1. Preparation work leading up to the issue of the grant of probate or letters of administration. This includes identifying and notifying beneficiaries and creditors and lodging the HM Revenue & Customs account within 12 months of death. 
    2. Work on receipt of the grant or letters of administration. This includes (but is not limited to) collecting the assets and settling any debts. 
    3. Winding up the estate to close the case. This includes finalising any Inheritance Tax calculations and making final payments to any beneficiaries. 
    What happens if there is no will?

    If someone dies without a will, then instead of applying for a grant of probate, you will need to apply for letters of administration. 

    What do I need to get started?

    To get started, we will need the death certificate and start to establish the value and extent of the estate. Once we understand the size of the estate, we can understand how best we can help you.