Probate Services

Probate and estate administration services

As licensed practitioners for probate related work and specialists in all aspects of taxation,, accounts preparation and estate planning, We believe we are best placed to take care of your probate and estate administration work.

We understand how difficult it can be to handle someone’s legal and financial affairs, particularly at a time when you’re likely to be coming to terms with the death of someone close. But don’t worry, we’re here to help, providing as much or as little support as you need to get things done.

We were the one of the first accountancy firms in the South West to be licensed to carry out probate work, following a major change in the law. Prior to this change only solicitors and banks were able to carry out this work.

A Guide to Probate

Probate and estate administration is a legal and financial process which happens after someone has died. It can be a very complicated and lengthy procedure to complete.

Whether you chose to carry out the probate and estate administration process yourself, or you instruct us to do the work for you, the application for probate is still the same and involves:

• Finding the will
• Applying for the grant of representation
• Administering the estate
• Preparing the estate accounts
• Distributing the assets to the beneficiaries of the estate.

Why chose us?

Specialists – We are one of only a few qualified accountancy firms in the country who are licensed to carry out probate work. This, combined with our expertise in all areas of accounts, tax and estate administration means you can have total confidence in us handling the whole process for you.

Background knowledge – If the deceased was a client of ours, we are likely to have all the necessary financial information and background details to make the probate process as smooth as possible. If they were not a client, we can still deal with the probate application should their existing accountant not be licensed to do this work.

Quicker processing = reduced costs – As accountancy and tax specialists we’re used to gathering and calculating financial and tax related information. In doing so, we can reduce the amount of time it takes to compile the necessary information. By speeding up the process we can help you to keep the costs down, leaving more for the beneficiaries.

Competitive pricing – Whilst solicitors and banks can also carry out probate work, they tend to charge a fixed percentage based on the value of the estate, which could be as high as 4% even for simple estates (We have seen instances of Wills quoting as high as 13% of the estate). We feel that we are very competitively priced compared with other probate specialists and we’re happy to give you a quote based on the volume and complexity of the work which needs to be carried out. We are confident that our approach to gathering the relevant information, calculating what tax is due and administering the estate is quicker and more succinct, therefore keeping costs to a minimum.

Personal service – whilst carrying out any probate work we are always sensitive to your needs and emotions during this time. You can be sure that we will treat your legal and financial affairs discreetly and in the strictest confidence and take the administrative burden away from you wherever possible.

Associated areas we can help

In addition to providing the probate and estate administration service, we can also help you and your family in the following related areas:

• Estate planning
• Executorships
• Trustee services
• Financial planning and wealth management
• Inheritance tax planning
• Retirement planning
• Trusts planning and administration

We are required to undertake diversity questionnaires within our team as part of being regulated for probate work. As we live in a small rural community, some of the questions result in a high level of identical responses, particularly those relating to race or religion. We do seek to be diverse within our team but we are limited by the local population. Likewise, it goes without saying that the level of academic achievement is high as would be expected for a professional firm.

Of the relevant responses received from our recent questionnaire, 38% were aged 25 to 34 with the same number being over 55, the remainder falling between the two age bands. 61% were male and 39% female with 55% being married or cohabiting and 45% single or widowed.

Require more information?

If you would like more information or would like to speak to us direct then call us on 01761 410444. Or if you would prefer, ask us a question online.