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.
Estate administration solicitors: Expert legal advice
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).
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.
Home visits
If things are difficult and you can't come to one of our offices, we're happy to come to your house.
Call us for an initial chat, at no obligation, or fill out our enquiry form and a solicitor will get in touch.
Our specialist lawyers are based in:
- Cambridgeshire: Cambridge
- Essex: Brentwood, Chelmsford, and Saffron Walden
- Hertfordshire: Bishop's Stortford and Royston
But we can help you wherever you are in England and Wales.
Probate FAQs
When someone dies, probate is the process of managing and passing on their property, money and other assets to others, once any debts, taxes and other costs have been paid. If the deceased person made a will, they will have named someone to carry out these tasks. That person is known as the Will's executor.
A probate caveat is a means to stop a probate application, for example if there is a dispute about the will or the persons applying for probate. In order to enter a caveat, it is necessary to make an application to the Probate Registry.
It’s a new guarantee on death in service benefit, which the Government has recently announced, for frontline health and care staff, during the Coronavirus pandemic. Families of eligible health and care workers on the frontline in England, who die from coronavirus in the course of their frontline essential work, will receive a £60k payment.
It will be necessary for the person claiming this benefit to provide either a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. These are legal documents which are obtained as part of managing a deceased person’s estate. This is because one or other of these documents would determine to whom the lump sum should be paid. You can ask a solicitor to help you to obtain these documents.
Talk to an expert
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Catherine Mowat
Senior Partner, Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate
Cambridge office
Meet Catherine -
Ian Johnston
Partner, Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate
Chelmsford office
Meet Ian -
Heather Fuff
Associate, Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate
Cambridge office
Meet Heather -
Frances Gill
Senior Associate, Wills, Trusts, Tax and Probate
Bishop's Stortford office
Meet Frances
