Probate and estate administration

Tees can help you administer the estate of someone who has died. With our experience we can take the burden off you. We can do as much, or as little, of the work as you wish and our experts are on hand to sort out any legal complexities.

What is estate administration?

Estate administration is the process of handling all the finances, assets and debts of somebody after they have died. This can be a difficult experience for a family following the death of a loved one – you’ve got enough on your hands without coping with the stress of extra work and admin.

At Tees we understand estate administration inside out, so we can sort it out which takes the pressure off you. You can ask us to do as much – or as little – as you need. Using our extensive experience, we can sort out every detail as quickly and tidily as possible, which saves you having to face it alone.

Our estate administration services:

getting grants of probate
inheritance tax and claiming tax reliefs
general administration of an estate, including accounts
post-death deeds of variation (to the Will).

Tees have consistently delivered prompt advice. They demonstrate empathy in difficult situations and help client navigate towards solutions.

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What to do if there’s no Will

If there’s no will (otherwise known as intestacy) we’ll find out who’s entitled to manage the estate and who might benefit from it. Sometimes this involves complex trust rules that govern who gets what.

What to do if you need a Grant of Probate

You might need a grant of probate. This is the process that confirms the executors’ authority to deal with the estate and get things like bank accounts sorted out. Getting a grant of probate can be time consuming and stressful, but we can prepare all the papers and apply to the court on your behalf.

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Frequently asked questions

The answers to many of your questions can be found here, please get in touch for further information.

What happens to my money if I die without a will?

If you die without a will, your money will be distributed under the rules of intestacy. Under intestacy rules, your next of kin can inherit your money and assets according to a strict order of priority.

If you have a spouse or civil partner and children, then your spouse/ civil partner would receive the first £250,000 of your estate and personal chattels. Anything above this amount would be split as to half for the surviving spouse/ civil partner and half equally between your children. If any of your children have predeceased you, then their share may pass to any surviving children of theirs.

If you should pass away without any surviving spouse/civil partner, children or grandchildren then your estate shall pass in accordance with the following order of priority:

Parents
Brothers and sisters (or their children)
Half-brothers and sisters (or their children)
Grandparents
Uncles and aunts (or their children)
Half-uncles and aunts (or their children)

If you have no surviving relatives as described above, then your estate would pass to the Crown. Having a properly written will in place means your wishes are known and can be carried out after your death.

What are the benefits of having a will?

The benefits of having a properly written will include:

You choose who inherits from your estate
You can choose someone to trust to administer your estate
Your family know what your wishes are
Gives the opportunity for estate and inheritance tax planning and management
Makes appropriate provisions for minors or dependents
Assists your estate in the event that the will is contested.

What is the ‘national will register’?

The National Will Register is an official register of wills in the UK. It is approved by the Law Society and used by many solicitor firms. If your will is registered, solicitors can easily find it after your death.

Do I need to register my will?

No – it’s not compulsory to register your will on the National Will Register. However, if you register your will it can make it easier for your family to know what your wishes are after your death.

What are the requirements for a valid will?

In order to be valid, a will should be:

Made by a person over the age of 18
Made in writing; the will can be handwritten or typed
Made by a person with mental capacity, who understands what they are doing
Made voluntarily and without pressure
Signed by the person making the will, with two witnesses present
Signed by two witnesses, in the presence of the person making the will, after they have signed the will themselves.

How does divorce impact a Will?

Many people wrongly believe that a divorce automatically cancels or invalidates a Will. Similarly, individuals with an existing Will may neglect to review it after a divorce, unaware of the potential implications. Divorce can significantly affect the provisions of a Will, an often overlooked issue. It is essential to update a will whenever there is a major change in circumstances, such as a divorce. Our specialist team can help review your will.

Contact us today

If you’d like to meet one of our experts for a confidential, no obligation chat, please get in touch.

Telephone

0800 013 1165

Office locations
Bishop’s Stortford
Brentwood
Cambridge
Chelmsford
North Herts
Saffron Walden

Financial services:
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All legal services provided by Tees are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Tees is a trading name of Stanley Tee LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number 464615) and is registered in England and Wales number OC327874.

All financial services provided by Tees are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Tees and Tees Wealth are trading names of Tees Financial Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales number 4342506. Registered office address Tees House, 95 London Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3GW.

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