Probate

Reduce the burden on your loved ones

Probate is the legal and financial process that deals with the money, property and possessions left behind after you die.

Whether or not you have a Will, if you leave over £5,000 (in cash or assets), your estate will have to go through Probate. This ensures that everything passes to the right people and that the right amount of tax is paid.

Probate can be a complex and time-consuming process which requires extensive enquiries into assets, debts, pensions etc. As such, a lack of expertise often leads to unnecessary problems and mistakes.
Helping to reduce the burden on your loved ones, at Pembroke Will Writers we offer a professional Probate service that deals with this complicated process on their behalf.

We can also help individuals who have been appointed as Executors to navigate the Probate process.

We are a proud member of the Institute of Professional Will Writers.

What is Probate?

Most estates have to go through probate, whether you leave a will or not. It ensures the deceased estate passes to the right people and all tax due on death is identified and collected. If your estate is over five thousand pounds, before it can be collected for distribution, a Grant of Probate must be obtained. This means the will must be formally recognised at the local Probate Registry.

Banks, Building Societies and Insurance Companies will often insist on seeing a Grant of Probate before they pay out and our house will not be able to be sold. If your estate is worth more than £325,000 (as of 17/08/2015) it may be liable to Inheritance Tax and you would be wise to enlist the help of a professional. If you are acting as an executor in a will then you are personally liable for any debts, so professional advice is essential.

Do you need Probate?

To establish whether Probate is required in your situation, contact us to talk directly to one of our advisors. We will listen to your concerns and advise you on how to proceed. We can even arrange a free appointment – either at your home or our office – to assess your particular situation.

Providing professional, honest and straightforward advice, we ensure you always understand what is happening and have the time to ask questions and get the information you need.

Should you decide you want our help, we will provide you with an all-inclusive price for us to look after Probate on your behalf. No deposit is needed, there are no hidden costs, and our fee is only payable from the estate at the end of the process.

Contact us for a free review of your particular circumstances.

Helping Executors to get through probate

If you have been appointed as an Executor, enlisting the help of a professional can significantly reduce the burden at this challenging time; particularly as mistakes could result in you being held personally liable for any debts.

We can help you with:

Grant of Probate. Banks, building societies and insurance companies often insist on seeing a Grant of Probate before they will pay out, and any property will not be able to be sold without this. We can manage this on your behalf. Applying for Grant of Probate usually involves a visit to a solicitor where you will be required to swear an oath. If we deal with the legal process this will not be necessary
Paying funeral costs. When we look after the legal process, we can usually get the funeral paid from the deceased’s bank or building society. So you and other family members don’t have to pay from your own funds
Valuation of the estate. We can take care of this for you, drawing up a detailed schedule of all asset (e.g. any property and contents, personal effects, savings, investments, equities, life policies, building societies etc.). We also draw up a full schedule of all debts (e.g. mortgages, income and capital gains taxes, bills, credit cards, loans, overdrafts, etc.)
Complete all legal and probate forms. This includes forms required by the Inland Revenue Capital Taxes Office to establish whether any Inheritance Tax is due.

Contact us to find out how we can help you with the Probate process.