Probate

If you are dealing with the estate of someone who has died, you need to check whether any of the beneficiaries have been declared bankrupt. If you mistakenly distribute part of the estate to a bankrupt beneficiary, the trustee in bankruptcy could bring a claim against you to recover any money that they were not

For those dealing with someone’s estate after their death, the Inheritance Tax bill can come as a nasty shock. It needs to be paid before a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration are applied for, which can sometimes create difficulties. The current Inheritance Tax threshold is £325,000, meaning that where more than this sum

After a death, the estate’s executor or administrator has the job of winding up the deceased’s affairs. We take a look at what happens if they fail to carry out their role. The task of administering an estate can be time-consuming and is often complex. Where an executor or administrator is not coping with the

The executor to an estate has the job of winding up someone’s affairs after their death. It is a job that involves both responsibility and personal financial risk. After someone has died, their executor, named in their Will, has the role of administering their estate and ensuring that the beneficiaries receive everything to which they

Probate fees increased in January 2022 to a single flat rate of £273 for all applicants. This replaces a system that had two different fees, namely £215 for individuals applying for probate themselves and the reduced fee of £155 payable by probate professionals. This scheme encouraged the use of professionals to carry out the often

Some estates are excepted from the need to pay Inheritance Tax. In January 2022, the rules surrounding this changed, with the aim of simplifying the Inheritance Tax process. From January 2022, it is no longer necessary to complete Inheritance Tax form 205 if an estate is exempt from Inheritance Tax. Previous regulations It used to

The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 allows certain individuals to bring a claim for financial support against the estate of someone who has died. Where someone was being maintained by the deceased before their death and that person has not been left anything in the Will or they consider that they need

Dealing with someone’s estate after their death can involve a number of different terms. Below are some of the most commonly used words and phrases to help explain the probate and administration process. Administrator – deals with the winding up of the estate of someone who died without leaving a Will. This is generally a

After a death, it is often necessary to obtain a Grant of Probate or a Grant of Letters of Administration. This is the document that gives the deceased’s personal representatives legal authority to deal with their affairs and wind up their estate. If the deceased left a Will, it will name executors. These are the

Personal chattels are personal possessions such as furniture, the contents of your home and cars. Also referred to as tangible moveable property, personal chattels are items that you own and use personally. Items used mainly for business purposes are not classed as personal chattels, nor are money and investments. If you have bought jewellery partly