PROBATE

Please call 0800 587 3409 to discuss your particular situation or click here to submit a probate request quote.  If you or the deceased subscribed to our Company you are entitled to a discount on probate work of up to 50%.

If you have suffered a loss then the Directors and staff at W.D.S Will Writers Ltd extend our condolences. Whether a Will is left or not, normally, all Estates over £5,000 have to pass through probate.  This is to ensure the deceased estate is dealt with properly, the estate passes to the correct people and any Inheritance Tax due is identified any collected

Dealing with probate can be daunting.  Not only is this time consuming, but also, if you are acting as an executor you could be personally responsible for any debts, if you do not deal with the estate properly and advertise for creditors in the correct publications.

For Estates under £5,000:

If the assets in the deceased sole name are under this amount then Probate is not required.  Joint assets like bank accounts and property do not count as they pass automatically to the survivor.

All you need do is inform everybody concerned, and if there is a Will, keep it in safe storage, so you or your next of kin can prove to whom the estate passed.  This may be particularly relevant if the survivors property has to be sold, because the solicitor who deals with the conveyance may require proof it is theirs to sell.

For Estates over £5,000:

If the assets in the deceased sole name amounts to over £5,000 then Probate is normally required.  Again, joint assets like bank accounts and property do not count as they pass automatically to the survivor.

Some Banks and Building Societies will release funds of up to £15,000 upon completion of a small estates indemnity form; however most will insist on the next of kin, or if there is a Will, the Executors, obtaining a Grant of Probate before they will release the funds.

Unique Probate Assistance:

If you need advice and assistance on the correct process in dealing with Probate and how to avoid the possible pitfalls, we have a unique service you will not find anywhere else.  We can arrange for one of our consultants to visit you to advise you and take you through the whole process, including the completion of the application forms, free of charge.  This will include making sure you are aware of all the pitfalls you could face as an Executor.  After this meeting you can telephone us at any time during the process if you have a query.

Professional Probate Services:

You could ask us to complete the administration of the estate on your behalf.  This includes:

• Completing all probate forms.
• Attending the Probate Court.
• Writing to all concerned and dealing with each asset holder.
• To ease your worries, we will also settle any outstanding bills on your behalf.
• If necessary, we will also advertise in the relevant newspapers for creditors to protect you against claims after the estate has been distributed.
• Preparing a set of probate accounts, which you are legally obliged to keep for 12 years.
• Our fee is only payable when everything is complete and can be deducted from the Estate

Please call 0800 587 3409 to discuss your particular situation or click here to submit a probate request quote.  If you or the deceased subscribed to our Company you are entitled to a discount on probate work of up to 50%.

You could ask a bank or solicitor to do the work.  Their rates vary, so it would be wise to ask for a written quotation before asking them to commence any work.  Once you have a quote please feel free to ask us for a comparison.  You would not be advised to use a bank, as they are the most expensive.