When a person dies, the executor or administrator of the estate will need to apply for a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration, if the deceased did not have a will. You may choose to have a solicitor assist you with the probate process. The probate solicitors in Hertfordshire at SCL Wills and Probate offer services for probate will be writing services, and applying for power of attorney in Hertfordshire.

The Grant of Probate gives the executor or administrator the power to deal with the affairs of the deceased. This includes money, property, and other possessions. The grant will be needed to transfer control of assets for the executor to fulfill the duties of administering the estate and distributing the assets.

Once the grant is issued, the executor can access funds, sort out finances, and distribute the assets as stipulated in the deceased’s will. The grant is needed when the estate includes more than £10,000, property, stocks or shares, and some insurance policies. Probate and estate planning solicitors in Hertfordshire can help you determine if a grant is needed in a specific situation.

Applying for a Grant of Probate

If you are named as the executor in a will, you can apply for the grant on your own or have a solicitor apply for the grant for you. Relatively small estates with a straightforward will may be easy to handle on your own. However, probate and will solicitors in Hertfordshire can be helpful when dealing with unusual or complex situations, such as when the validity of the will is being contested or the estate is large and there are complex details that need to be sorted.

To apply for a Grant of Probate, you will need to schedule an interview and bring the required documents with you. These include photo ID, a certified copy of the death certificate, the original will, and the inheritance tax form. If there is no will, additional documentation may be required, such as a marriage certificate or Decree Absolute, depending on the circumstances and if the deceased was married at the time of death.

The executor will need to attend the interview at the probate office. The documents will be reviewed, you may be asked some questions, and will make an oath that the details provided in your application are correct. The probate forms will be prepared and signed at the interview. As long as there are no complications, the Grant of Probate will be approved and sent to you by post.

After the Grant of Probate has been received, the executor will be able to complete the process of gathering the possessions and property of the deceased, paying the required amount of inheritance tax, and distributing money, property, and possessions according to the instructions set forth in the deceased’s will.

The process of probate and administering an estate can be complex and confusing, particularly for larger estates. Often, an executor or administrator finds it helpful to have probate solicitors & lawyers in Hertfordshire to answer their questions, provide advice and clarification, and guide them through the process of administering the estate.