Obtaining Probate

After someone has died, a surviving relative will need to get probate in order to be able to deal with the deceased’s estate unless the estate has a net value of less than £5,000, or the whole estate consists of property and assets that were jointly owned and there is a surviving spouse or civil partner Read more [...]

When Do You Need Probate?

Probate is the legal and administrative process that you have to go through after someone’s death. The first question to deal with is, ‘Is there a will?’ If so, does the will name an executor? If the answer to both those questions is yes, then whoever has been named as executor is the person who Read more [...]

What Is Probate?

In a nutshell, probate is the legal process in England and Wales that must take place after someone has died. Once you have been granted probate, you will have the legal authority to deal with bodies like banks, estate agents and HMRC in dealing with the affairs of the estate. The only exceptions Read more [...]

What happens in Probate Court?

Probate Court, or to give it its formal legal name in England and Wales, the Probate Registry, is part of the Government Probate Service. It’s the court you need to make an application to in order to get a Grant of Representation if a deceased person has left a will naming you as an executor or executors. Read more [...]

Responsibilities of an Executor

When someone writes a will, it is normal although not compulsory to name an executor. In fact, more than one executor can be nominated and many people choose to name two, one of whom will be a close relative while the other will be a professional such as a solicitor or accountant. The executor of the Read more [...]

Probate Records

Probate records are kept by the Government in England and Wales and you can search for them online at the gov.uk website. The records can vary but will usually include the will and the Grant of Representation. The will is the document that a person creates while living with directions as to what should Read more [...]

Probate Fees

If you are named as the executor in a will, and the person whose will it is dies, you then have responsibility of getting probate on the estate. It’s worth pointing out right away that being named in a will as executor does not place any kind of legal obligation on you. You can choose to turn down Read more [...]