We offer two probate services. We can obtain the grant of probate, prepare the inheritance tax return and legal statement or we can take responsibility for the whole administration of the estate.
The cost of our services depends on the level of responsibility which the personal representatives wish us to have.
Our probate team has over 40 years of collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to Wills and Estate Administration
We have four members of the team who may work on your matter. Regardless of who works on your matter, they will be supervised by Helen Stewart, Partner and Head of the Private Client department
If the executors would prefer us to only obtain a grant of representation (and the firm are not executors), then there will be a fixed cost for this service.
The executors would have to notify all of the deceased person’s banks, other financial institutions and creditors of the of the person’s death and obtain from them details of all sums of money due to, and from, the person’s estate. They would supply those details and any property valuations to us.
We would then prepare the inheritance tax return and legal statement for the executors. If necessary, the inheritance tax return would be submitted to HMRC and any necessary forms would be submitted to the persons banks requesting that any inheritance tax is paid direct to HMRC.
When HMRC provides their certificate to show that the inheritance tax has been paid, we would apply to the Probate Registry for a grant of representation.
When the grant is issued, we would send it to the executors and from this point on they would deal with the administration of the estate.
It may be necessary for the executor to open up an executor’s bank account for the person’s money to be paid into, out of which they could settle all liabilities before paying what is left to the beneficiaries.
Because of current delays at the probate registry, it is impossible to predict how long the obtaining of the probate would take. The probate registry do not currently allow applications to be chased until 8 weeks after submission.
See our fees tab for more information on prices.
If the executors would like this firm to take responsibility for all of the administration of the person’s estate, or if the firm of solicitors are appointed as executors under the person’s will, then we provide an all-round service from start to finish.
The family’s only involvement will be to supply initial information about the person’s assets and liabilities, as well as the death certificate (unless we have registered the death). If family members or others are also the personal representatives, they will be sent paperwork prepared by us to sign as and when required.
If the firm are appointed as executors, we may even be involved in arranging the funeral.
We would carry out all the necessary liaising with the person’s banks and other financial institutions to ascertain how much money was held in accounts at the date of death. If necessary, we would arrange for any house, flat or other property to be valued.
We would liaise with the funeral directors in respect of their invoice and, where possible, arrange for it to be paid out of the person’s account even before probate is granted.
We would also contact any creditors to establish how much money was owed at the date the person died. For example, home utility suppliers (such as gas, electric, water etc), care costs, any mortgage lender or other lender etc – and ensure that they are made aware of the need to wait until funds are available from the person’s estate before payment can be made.
Having obtained the above information, we would then prepare the inheritance tax account and legal statement for the executors, both of which have to be signed by the executors.
We would arrange for any inheritance tax to be paid where possible out of the person’s accounts and apply to the probate registry for a grant of representation.
When the grant is issued, we would distribute sealed copies to all institutions which held the person’s money, together with any additional forms that they require. This would then enable the institutions to release the person’s money to our account from which we would the settle any liabilities.
We would also deal with the person’s income tax affairs.
Once everything has been dealt with, we would produce a set of estate accounts for approval and distribute the estate to the beneficiaries in accordance with the will or law of intestacy if there is no will.
Once we have established how much work is likely to be involved, we will be able to provide an estimate of the overall cost.
The length of time it will take to administer the estate depends on the complexity of the matter.
See our fees tab for more information on prices.
When a family member or dear friend dies you
may not only have to deal with your feelings of
loss you may also have to wind up their
financial affairs. This may involve the
obtaining of a grant of probate (where there is a
will) or a grant of letters of administration
(where there is no will). The grant is your
authority to deal with the financial affairs.
Sometimes no grant is required. If you have
never been involved in the death of a loved one
before then this can be a very difficult time.
Here at Dixon Stewart we deal with the
financial consequences of death every day and
consequently any work we do for you will be
carried out quickly and efficiently so that you
can have access to the monies and investments
of your loved one as soon as reasonably
possible.
Furthermore if your loved one made their will
with us we will often know and remember
them and this always helps when you are
dealing with your own losses.
Other organisations are now trying to deal with
that work themselves. We think that is very
strange as we concentrate on what we do well
and do not try to be funeral directors,
accountants or bankers. Some funeral directors
(not the private family firms but the larger
organisations) pass a list of the next of kin of
deceased persons to others so that the next of
kin may be contacted and persuaded to pass the
financial or probate work elsewhere. This
“cold calling” can be very distressing for those
already grieving.
Some banks when you call in to notify them of
the death of a loved one persuade you to
receive a home visit from their representative.
The purpose of that home visit is to persuade
you to pass work to their appointed company.
You will be told that they will work quicker
than your solicitor and that they will be
cheaper than your solicitor. They make these
assertions without checking the facts. If you
agree for the work to be done by them it will be
passed to a company outside of the local area
and you will become a name and a number on
the telephone. There is no personal touch. No
ability to pop into the office and see the person
who is dealing with your work.
I recently met a client who had been persuaded
by her bank to let their representative obtain
probate to her husband’s estate. They told her
they would be quicker than us and cheaper.
Untrue. They took all of her financial papers
away and forwarded them to their company in
the West Midlands. She realised pretty quickly
that she had made a mistake. It took us nearly
3 months to get the papers back. It transpired
that their charges would have been twice as
much as ours.
Our initial advices will always be given
without any charge to you. They are part of the
service we at Dixon Stewart pride ourselves on
providing. Those initial advices enable you to
be fully informed and to decide whether you
wish us to do anything further to assist you or
whether you are content to deal with matters
yourself. If you decide we are going to assist
you further then we will tell you what our
charges will be and how those charges are to be
paid. Those charges will be fixed. There are no
hidden extras. The charges will cover all the
work.
Remember the bankers. They have failed at
banking. Do not let them in these matters.
Contact Dixon Stewart for free advice without
any obligation. We are friendly, efficient and
right on your doorstep. We will visit you at
home if you prefer.
Jenny Eley 01425 621515
jenny@dixonstewart.com
Helen Stewart 01425 279222
helen@dixonstewart.com
Sue Wheeler 01425 279222
suew@dixonstewart.com
Dixon Stewart Solicitors 72 Station Road New Milton BH25 6LF
PROBATE
When a family member or dear friend dies you
may not only have to deal with your feelings of
loss you may also have to wind up their
financial affairs. This may involve the
obtaining of a grant of probate (where there is a
will) or a grant of letters of administration
(where there is no will). The grant is your
authority to deal with the financial affairs.
Sometimes no grant is required. If you have
never been involved in the death of a loved one
before then this can be a very difficult time.
Here at Dixon Stewart we deal with the
financial consequences of death every day and
consequently any work we do for you will be
carried out quickly and efficiently so that you
can have access to the monies and investments
of your loved one as soon as reasonably
possible.
Furthermore if your loved one made their will
with us we will often know and remember
them and this always helps when you are
dealing with your own losses.
Other organisations are now trying to deal with
that work themselves. We think that is very
strange as we concentrate on what we do well
and do not try to be funeral directors,
accountants or bankers. Some funeral directors
(not the private family firms but the larger
organisations) pass a list of the next of kin of
deceased persons to others so that the next of
kin may be contacted and persuaded to pass the
financial or probate work elsewhere. This
“cold calling” can be very distressing for those
already grieving.
Some banks when you call in to notify them of
the death of a loved one persuade you to
receive a home visit from their representative.
The purpose of that home visit is to persuade
you to pass work to their appointed company.
You will be told that they will work quicker
than your solicitor and that they will be
cheaper than your solicitor. They make these
assertions without checking the facts. If you
agree for the work to be done by them it will be
passed to a company outside of the local area
and you will become a name and a number on
the telephone. There is no personal touch. No
ability to pop into the office and see the person
who is dealing with your work.
I recently met a client who had been persuaded
by her bank to let their representative obtain
probate to her husband’s estate. They told her
they would be quicker than us and cheaper.
Untrue. They took all of her financial papers
away and forwarded them to their company in
the West Midlands. She realised pretty quickly
that she had made a mistake. It took us nearly
3 months to get the papers back. It transpired
that their charges would have been twice as
much as ours.
Our initial advices will always be given
without any charge to you. They are part of the
service we at Dixon Stewart pride ourselves on
providing. Those initial advices enable you to
be fully informed and to decide whether you
wish us to do anything further to assist you or
whether you are content to deal with matters
yourself. If you decide we are going to assist
you further then we will tell you what our
charges will be and how those charges are to be
paid. Those charges will be fixed. There are no
hidden extras. The charges will cover all the
work.
Remember the bankers. They have failed at
banking. Do not let them in these matters.
Contact Dixon Stewart for free advice without
any obligation. We are friendly, efficient and
right on your doorstep. We will visit you at
home if you prefer.
Jenny Eley 01425 621515
jenny@dixonstewart.com
Helen Stewart 01425 279222
helen@dixonstewart.com
Sue Wheeler 01425 279222
suew@dixonstewart.com
Dixon Stewart Solicitors 72 Station Road New Milton BH25 6LF
A law firm that has been offering expert legal help and advice to individuals and businesses in and around Christchurch and New Milton for more than forty years.