If you want to decide how your estate should be distributed after you have died you should make a Will.  Where someone dies without having made a valid Will their assets may not necessarily be distributed in the way they would have wanted or in a tax-efficient manner.

When a loved one dies there is often a lot to sort out.  Beyond the practicalities of registering the death and arranging the funeral, there are important legal and financial ends to tie up and that is where we can help.

The Grant of Representation (Probate if there is a Will or Administration if there is no Will) is the legal name for the document which will enable those responsible (Executors if there is a Will or Administrators if there is no Will) to deal with the assets and liabilities of the estate.

If you have been appointed as an Executor in the Will or you are one of the closest members of the family of the person who has died you may need to take advice because dealing with the administration of the estate can be complex. You will, for instance, need to find out about the value of the person’s possessions and make sure that any Inheritance Tax is paid to HM Revenue and Customs.

Liberty Legal Solicitors is here to guide you through the process from beginning to end.

We specialize in pre and post-death matters, including:

• preparing Wills
• preparing and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney
• applications for grant of letters of administration or grant of probate including dealing with HM Revenue and Customs requirements
• The requirement of documents for the application to the court
• Legal representations, if required.

Our Fee

For preparing an Will can be between £200- £700 plus VAT (20%). Average price £400 plus VAT 20%

Most of our Probate cases are hourly rate basis. Please click here to see our hourly rate page or contact one of team members to discuss your case.

Service included

• Initial attendance and consideration of the options and assessing the most appropriate way forward based on the client’s circumstances;
• Determining who is entitled to be the personal representative of the estate;
• Determining who are the beneficiaries of the Estate by reference to intestacy law;
• Determining the assets;
• Informing all organizations with whom the deceased had assets;
• Obtaining valuations for property and contents;
• Assisting in arranging for the property to be placed on the market;
• Preparing the oath and applying Letters of Administration;
• Preparing a final estate account;
• Distributing the assets.

The costs quoted here do not include:

Any court fees such as probate court fees and fees for additional copies of the grant of probate. Find an updated list of court fees.

Other expenses where applicable such as swearing of oath fee of £5.00 per executor.

Law Society Gazette Wills & Whereabouts advertisement of £300-£500.

London Gazette advertisement to protect against creditors £185 plus VAT (Approx.)

We will let you know at the earliest opportunity and before any such fees are incurred by yourself if any of these are applicable.

How long will it take

On average estates that fall within this range are dealt with in between 5 months to 18 months from initial instructions.

Typically obtaining the Letters of Administration takes 7-26 weeks from initial instructions.

Collecting assets then follows which can take between 6-15 weeks from obtaining the Letters of Administration.

Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets which normally take 2-4 weeks from collecting assets.

Visit Our Hourly Fees for our services costs.