When a person dies, their money and property (their estate) needs to be distributed according to their Will or under the rules of intestacy. Usually an Executor will have been appointed in the deceased’s Will, and it is their role to collect assets, pay any debts and make distributions of the estate in accordance with the Will.
The Executor will usually need to obtain a Grant of Probate, which is an authentication of the last Will and Testament of the deceased and is effectively the Executor’s authority to deal with the estate.
Where there is no Will, someone will be appointed as an administrator and the estate will be dealt with under the intestacy laws. Our experienced Probate department can advise and deal with all aspects of the administration of an estate, including registering the death, applying for the Grant of Probate, arranging payment of inheritance tax and drafting Deeds of Variation.
Occasionally the Will or the way in which an estate is distributed may be contested, and again, our experienced Probate department can assist you to achieve a fair result.
Our Clients have commented on the approachable, compassionate and caring way in which we have dealt with their matters. We will do our upmost to assist you at what can be a very difficult and sensitive time.
The distribution of an estate of someone who dies without a Will or with an out-of-date Will may not always reflect the wishes of the person who has died. We always recommend that clients keep their Wills up to date to avoid this happening.
