Estate Service Options

Grant only

This service is where you, the Executor, provides us with all the values of all assets and liabilities of the estate as at the date of death.

We will prepare the application for the Grant of Probate on your behalf based upon the information you have provided. Once the Grant of Probate is obtained, you will be responsible for dealing with all other aspects of the administration of the estate.

Disbursements would include the application fee of £273 plus VAT plus £1.50 per copy required. We may also need to obtain a copy of the title information document to any property or land at £3 plus VAT per title.

 

Full administration

This service is where we will complete the whole administration of the estate from start to finish.

We will:

  • Ascertain the value of the estate by obtaining valuations of all assets and liabilities, including accrued interest;
  • Arrange home insurance for any property/motor vehicle, if requested (please see the below);
  • Put in place a Certainty Will Search, if requested;
  • Put in place a s27 Trustee Act Notice, if appropriate and requested;
  • Identify those liabilities which may be allowable deductions to set against inheritance tax;
  • Claim any nil rate band and residence nil rate band of the deceased and the deceased’s widow to set against inheritance tax, where appropriate and applicable;
  • Prepare the probate application for your approval;
  • Arrange to pay any inheritance tax due to HMRC, where applicable;
  • Submit the application for the Grant of Probate to HM Court and Tribunal Service;
  • Register the Grant of Probate with the holders of the assets of the estate (e.g. banks, pension funds, company registrar etc.), providing certified copies of the grant if required;
  • Complete and send the relevant forms for the release of assets by the asset holders to ourselves. Such monies are placed in our client account;
  • Gather in all assets, and hold onto the same pending distribution (including any transfers of assets except for property and land);
  • Pay any liabilities;
  • Determine whether an income tax return needs to be completed. This will then be referred to an accountant (if necessary) to be completed and filed;
  • Determine if the estate is a “complex estate” following the rules set by HMRC and instructing an accountant to register such estate;
  • Refer any transfer or sale of land or property to our conveyancing department for a separate quote, if required;
  • If instructed to, pay any debts, and expenses;
  • Obtain clearance from HMRC for all tax matters relevant to the estate;
  • Undertake identification and bankruptcy checks on all beneficiaries;
  • Arrange for the payment of legacies, if applicable;
  • Prepare estate accounts for approval prior to paying the residuary beneficiaries, and
  • Distribute the estate to those entitled.

This list is not exhaustive, as issues may arise during the administration of the estate.

Your instructions do not include the following, but can be provided by us under a separate quote or be referred to a third party for a separate charge if required.

  • Any conveyancing as to sale/ transfer of land or property;
  • Advice with regard to potential claims against the estate;
  • Advice on the variation of a beneficiary’s entitlement;
  • Registration of Trusts with HMRC on the Trust Registration Service (TRS);
  • Complex Estate Registration with HMRC;
  • Preparing and filing of income tax returns, and We will not, unless specifically instructed by the executors, deal with any matter relating to the insurance of the property or any motor vehicle that forms part of the estate. This would include, but is not limited to, ensuring that adequate insurance is in place, that any conditions or endorsements of the policy are complied with, that payments for such insurance are kept up to date or that the insurance company are informed of all relevant changes in circumstances (we can accept the responsibility for the above if instructed by the executors with this regard).

Please note that additional disbursements to the obtaining of the Grant only service will include obtaining bankruptcy searches to be performed against the names of all beneficiaries with HM Land Charges of £2.00 plus VAT per name. You may also wish to put in place a Certainty Will Search of £105 plus VAT and a S27 Notice Trustee Act notice, a separate quote can be obtained upon request.

 

Ver Jan 2024