Probate and Estate Administration Solicitors in Southampton

There are many practical things you will be required to do following the death of a loved one at a time when emotions are running high. Handling the required probate and estate administration can be complicated and is often misunderstood, which is why it is important for you to obtain the right advice from experienced professionals who understand the delicacies of managing such matters at such a time.

What is probate?

The legal probate documents applied for will be determined by whether there was a Will at the time of death. If there was, then you will need to apply for a Grant of Probate. If the person died intestate, i.e. without a valid Will, then you will need to apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration, which is an altogether more complicated process and will cause a delay in proceeding to the administration of the estate. Until these documents are received, the assets of the deceased are essentially frozen; once received, they are then released to you to administer the estate.

What is estate administration?

This includes managing everything to do with the deceased's legal and tax affairs, including, but not limited to:

Bank accounts
Property
Debts
Pensions
Income tax
Inheritance Tax
Trusts
Insurance.

Depending on the size of the estate and whether there was a Will, this can be very complex and an area where we see mistakes being made.

How can we help?

We appreciate that there will be a lot for you to be handling at this difficult time and that you will have many questions about what is involved. We can guide you every step of the way, from applying for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, to taking the whole burden of estate administration off of your shoulders, leaving you free to make the other necessary arrangements.

While completing probate and estate administration can be done yourselves, as previously highlighted, there are many areas that make this a complex process, and it is one that is important to get right. Provided we drafted the Will, you can make a free, no-obligation 30-minute appointment with one of our specialist probate and estate administration Solicitors to discuss your situation.

How much does probate cost?

The cost of using our expertise to complete the probate and estate administration will depend on the complexity and size of the estate and whether there was a Will. However, we aim to be as transparent as possible so there are no surprises along the way; you can find out more details about the potential cost on our Probate and Estate Administration - Our Pricing page, which we can also discuss with you in your appointment.

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Our experienced and friendly Solicitors in Southampton can also provide advice on:

As well as the advice we can provide, you may also be interested in the following resources:

To book your appointment today to discuss the probate and administration of an estate, contact us on 01329 222075 or email privateclientenquiry@warnergoodman.co.uk.