January 10, 2025
Probate is the method of dealing with the properties of someone who has died, This process involves paying off creditors and dividing assets according to the will of the deceased.
The technical meaning of “probate” is receiving of permission to satisfy the requirements in someone’s will, but also refers to the entire process of settling the estate of a deceased person. if you are responsible for administering a will, there are clear guidelines that set out how to inform and allocate the estate to the authorities. You may need to apply for probate grant, or approval grant for permission to handle this operation.
Separate laws occur when someone dies without a will, better known as dying intestate.
The mediation procedure for someone’s affairs depends on whether you want to do it yourself or nominate a lawyer to work on your behalf. Appointing a specialist can be a smart move and may be necessary if you are dealing with a complicated estate.
If you want to conduct the will yourself, you will have to submit the applications in question. You would then need to collect all the properties of the deceased person and allocate them to the beneficiaries. This will include notifying the person’s death to banks, building societies, related government agencies (such as the council and HMRC), settling any accounts that they hold, gathering their assets and liabilities, paying off any inheritance tax that might be due, and then distributing their properties.
, most government agencies can be alerted in one step via the “Tell Us Once” programme, including councils, the DVLA, the Passport Office, the Department of Employment and Pensions (when collecting welfare or state pensions), and HMRC. If the individual was collecting benefits from the Armed Forces Pension Program, Tell Us Once will also contact Veterans UK.
Brighton Wills partners with expert probate solicitors we can put you in touch with to guide you through the probate process. Call us on 012 73385833 for assistance.
