Managing The Bureaucracy Of A Bereavement 

Navigating the legal and administrative maze after a loved one has passed away can be overwhelming.  What issues might you come across and how do you manage them, often whilst dealing with an emotional loss?

For instance, your father died some time ago and left everything to your mother. Sadly, she has now passed and in her will, you are appointed executor. She left several gifts to charity, and the rest to you and your siblings. She had a house, multiple bank accounts and investments, and a classic car collection. The estate may be subject to inheritance and capital gains tax. You work full time, your spare time is limited and, although you want to oversee the process, you are not able to sort everything out.

One solicitor for the probate 

A private client solicitor can calculate and pay the tax, obtain the grant of probate to administer the estate, collect in the assets, pay any debts and distribute the estate as per the will.  A probate solicitor understands the often complex legal terminology used in wills and has professional experience in handling many different types of estates. 

Another solicitor for the property

The house sale needs a different type of expert, a conveyancer. Once your private client solicitor has obtained the grant of probate, a conveyancer will be able to complete the legal process for the purchase, should the house have been put on the market and an offer received. There will also be funds on the estate account from the assets which have been collected in to pay the Land Registry fees.  

In order to achieve a successful outcome in the most efficient way possible, choose to use the Private Law Team at Winston Solicitors, who will be in communication with each other, as well as yourself, throughout the probate and house sale process.