Services

Probate

When an individual passes away, their assets, which may include money, property, and personal belongings, are collectively referred to as their “estate”.
The legal process of probate involves managing and distributing the deceased person’s estate. This typically includes identifying and collecting any money owed, paying off outstanding debts (such as taxes), and dividing the remaining assets amongst the designated beneficiaries.

Probate Law Solicitor

Initial Action to be taken by you

Register the death

You will need to register the death with the Registrar of Deaths in the area in which the death took place as soon as possible, as funeral arrangements cannot be finalised until this is done. You need to buy a death certificate from the Registrar. You are entitled to be reimbursed from the estate for this expense at a later date.

Identify the Personal Representatives

If there is a Will, the executors named in the will or any subsequent codicils are entitled to administer the estate, and we will act on their instructions. If the named executors do not wish to act or are not able to act (for example, if they lack capacity, or do not live in the UK, we will advise you on what further action needs to be taken.

If there is no Will, we will advise on:

  1. the persons (called ‘administrators’) who are entitled to administer the estate; and
  2. who will be entitled to inherit the deceased’s estate.

In this Guide, ‘Personal Representative’ is used to refer to both an executor and an administrator unless the distinction is important for clarification.

Locate the Will and any codicils

  1. Investigate whether there is a Will and any codicils and discover their whereabouts. You may know this from information supplied by the deceased before their death, or from information discovered among the deceased’s paperwork after their death.
  2. If there is a will, locate the original.

Make the funeral arrangements

This is the responsibility of the Personal Representatives. You will need to check the will for any funeral directions given by the deceased.

Collect the deceased’s papers

This information will enable you to write to all the individuals and organisations concerned in order to assess the extent of the assets and liabilities within the estate. Please refer to the checklist in the APPENDIX for guidance as to the type of paperwork we require. However, if in doubt, you can instruct us to carry out the full process for you.

When instructing us to obtain a Grant of Representation

You will need to carry out the Estate Valuation, to provide us with the extent of the assets and liabilities and it is important to contact the Home insurance provider to ensure that the house insurance is places in the names of the Executors

Probate areas of expertise

We are committed to delivering a comprehensive range of probate services through our dedicated team. These services include:

Obtaining a Grant of Representation Only (Non-Taxable Estates)

Total Timescale 3-6 Months

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Assessing the valuation of the Estate, Obtaining A Grant of Representation and Administering a Non-Taxable Estates

Total Timescale 6-9 Months

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Assessing the valuation of the Estate, Obtaining A Grant of Representation and Administering a Taxable Estate

Total Timescale 6-12 Months

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Service Fee
Application for Grant of Probate ONLY £700 plus VAT
Application for Letters of Administration ONLY – Online Application £800 plus VAT

* Prices exclude VAT. The current rate of VAT is 20%

Get in contact

Our team is made up of dedicated solicitors who are committed to providing you with the best possible legal advice and representation, bringing you reassurance and peace of mind when dealing with probate.

We have offices conveniently located in Port Talbot, Maesteg, and Bridgend. If you are looking into probate or need legal advice on a related matter, don’t hesitate to contact us today for a no obligation discussion. Our team of probate solicitors are here to help.

    Other Services

    As well as Probate, Thomas and Thomas Solicitors also offer the following...

    Assessing the valuation of the Estate, Obtaining A Grant of Representation and Administering a Non-Taxable Estates - Total Timescale 6-9 Months

    Assessing the valuation of the Estate, Obtaining A Grant of Representation and Administering a Taxable Estate - Total Timescale 6-12 months

    Obtaining A Grant of Representation ONLY (Non-Taxable Estates) - Total Timescale 3-6 Months