Probate

Suffering a bereavement can be one of the most difficult and stressful times in our lives.

We are here to help you to obtain a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration and to administer an estate.

Our Approach to Probate and Estate Administration

At Savage Silk we strive to make this process as quick and easy as possible. Our specialist team are on hand to advise you and assist with the estate administration process.

We offer a flexible service and will advise you in a straightforward manner and help you with all aspects of estate administration, from contacting the banks and other financial institutions, submitting an Inheritance Tax return and paying Inheritance Tax, to obtaining a Grant of Probate (where there is a Will) or a Grant of Letters of Administration (where there isn’t a Will). We are here to help you as much or as little as you need us.

We will keep you informed at all times, liaise with beneficiaries and ensure that nothing is missed, easing your burden. We are highly experienced in Estate Administration and are here to answer any questions you may have.

What is Probate?

A Grant of Probate, or Grant of Letters of Administration, is a document produced by the Probate Registry which is a branch of the Court service in England and Wales. The Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration both clearly state who is legally entitled to deal with the assets held in the name of someone who has died. This document is often required before banks and other financial institutions can sell or transfer a property, shares or cash assets.

Our team can assist you with the process of obtaining a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration. The Executor in the Will obtains a Grant of Probate, or if there isn’t a Will then the next of kin (the nearest surviving relative listed under the Rules of Intestacy) is required to obtain a Grant of Letters of Administration.

There is an official process for obtaining a Grant which involves an application to the Probate Registry. We can complete this process by post on your behalf to ensure that you do not need to attend the Registry in person.

Once the Grant is obtained, we can help you to complete the administration of the state to remove the burden of selling property, closing bank accounts, dealing with tax matters, paying any utility bills or other debts and protecting yourself from future claims as the Executor. Administering an estate is complex and time consuming and it is easy to make a mistake, which is why we are here as professionals to help you at this difficult time.

For more information, our Probate FAQs may be helpful for you.

Need to know more about fees for Wills? Read our Fee Guide »

HIGHLIGHTS

Mr A died in a care home without having the mental capacity to change his Will. His whole estate was left to his surviving spouse, Mrs A under his existing will. Mrs A was concerned about care fees in the future and the jointly owned property was her main asset.

We advised Mrs A to execute a document that allowed her to change Mr A’s Will after death. As the only beneficiary she was able to ‘read back’ into his will and also change how they held the property. We then advised her to give Mr A’s share of the property to the children on trust to secure at least 50% of the property for her family.

Next Steps:

We will be happy to discuss any of the above and any other matters with you.

The first step is to contact one of our experienced team on 0345 209 4700 or email enquiries@savagesilk.co.uk to find out how we can help you with this process. Alternatively, request a call back.