Probate

After a person has died the law insists that someone takes responsibility for all their personal affairs and worldly possessions and ensures that they are passed on to their new owners. This applies whether or not a person has made a Will [perhaps this word can be a link to the page on Wills]

Who takes this responsibility? The person, or more usually the people (there can be up to four), who takes on the task is called the deceased’s Personal Representative. In a Will they are usually named as the executors. If there is no Will they are referred to as the administrators.

Do I need a solicitor for this? No, honestly you may decide to do this yourself! However, most executors or administrators do appoint a professional as it ensures that matters are dealt with in a timely and efficient fashion. A professional can also start tackling the trickier elements of the estate which may not always be apparent to an individual. Using a solicitor also re-assures the beneficiaries who are not executors that someone independent is looking after matters and this can prove to be valuable after the loss of a loved one.

We will be pleased to provide sympathetic and expert guidance to ensure that the estate is dealt with efficiently and effectively, with the minimum of delay.