Probate – Winding Up Your Estate with Expert Support

We provide professional probate services, ensuring estates are administered efficiently, legally, and with minimal stress for executors and beneficiaries.

What is Probate?

Probate is the legal process that grants authority to manage a deceased person’s estate, ensuring assets are distributed correctly and debts are settled. When a valid will exists, the appointed executor must apply for a Grant of Probate to legally administer the estate.

If there is no will, the estate follows intestacy rules, requiring an administrator to be appointed. Executors and administrators hold lifelong legal responsibility, meaning any errors or omissions, even if unintentional, remain their liability. If mistakes result in financial loss, they can be held accountable and may face legal action from disappointed beneficiaries.

Why Professional Probate Assistance Matters

Many assume that family members can handle probate themselves. In reality, the emotional strain of bereavement often makes estate administration overwhelming. Many executors end up instructing a solicitor, who will handle the process but at a significant cost to the estate.

We provide a cost-effective alternative, ensuring the estate is wound up efficiently, legally, and with full compliance. If we are appointed we will prepare all the submissions to the Probate Office and our associate solicitors will then extract the Grant of Probate and complete any reserved legal work.

Fixed, Transparent Fees

We offer fixed, transparent fees with no hidden costs, clear pricing, and complete peace of mind.

Hassle-Free Process

We handle the entire probate process – Preparing paperwork, submitting legal documents, and ensuring compliance.

Compassionate Support

We provide compassionate support – We act with sensitivity, discretion, and professionalism.

Legally Compliant

We ensure full legal compliance – We meet HMRC requirements, follow probate office regulations, and protect executors.

Our Probate Services

Grant of Probate Application

We assist executors in obtaining a Grant of Probate, ensuring legal compliance, accurate estate valuation, and smooth asset distribution.

We assist executors in obtaining a Grant of Probate, ensuring legal compliance, accurate estate valuation, and efficient estate administration. We handle probate applications, inheritance tax calculations, and financial documentation, ensuring compliance with the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 and the Administration of Estates Act 1925. We liaise with HMRC, financial institutions, and asset holders, ensuring all legal requirements are met while minimising delays, disputes, and executor liabilities.

Letters of Administration (If No Will Exists)

We help next of kin apply for Letters of Administration, ensuring intestacy laws are followed, legal authority is granted, and the estate is settled correctly.

We assist next of kin in obtaining Letters of Administration, ensuring legal authority to manage an intestate estate. A Letter of Administration, issued by the Probate Registry, grants an administrator the right to handle estate distribution under the Administration of Estates Act 1925. We manage intestacy applications, estate valuation for Inheritance Tax (IHT), and creditor settlements, liaising with HMRC, financial institutions, and asset holders to ensure compliance and minimise disputes.

Full Estate Administration

We manage estate administration by identifying assets, settling debts, and distributing funds, ensuring a legally compliant and efficient process.

We handle the complete administration of an estate, ensuring legal compliance, efficient asset management, and accurate beneficiary distribution. We identify and value assets, settle outstanding debts, and process inheritance tax (IHT) submissions, adhering to the Administration of Estates Act 1925 and HMRC regulations. We liaise with financial institutions, creditors, and asset holders, ensuring correct transfers, legal filings, and final estate accounting, minimising executor liability and administrative burdens.

Executor Assistance

We support executors by providing professional guidance, managing legal responsibilities, and ensuring accurate estate administration.

We provide professional guidance to executors, ensuring legal compliance, efficient estate administration, and risk mitigation. Executors have a fiduciary duty to manage assets, settle liabilities, and distribute inheritances under the Administration of Estates Act 1925. We assist with probate applications, inheritance tax (IHT) submissions, and financial settlements, liaising with HMRC, financial institutions, and beneficiaries to ensure accuracy, minimise disputes, and protect executors from personal liability.

Deed of Variation

We assist in varying a will’s distribution by reducing inheritance tax, redirecting assets, and adjusting for fairness, provided all beneficiaries agree.

We assist beneficiaries in varying a will’s distribution to improve tax efficiency, redirect assets, and ensure fairness. A Deed of Variation is a legal instrument that allows beneficiaries to alter an estate’s distribution within two years of death, provided all affected parties agree. We handle inheritance tax (IHT) restructuring, asset reallocation, and legal documentation, ensuring compliance with the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 and HMRC guidelines, while minimising tax liabilities and potential disputes.

What Happens If Probate Is Needed?

Probate is required when an estate includes property, shares, or substantial assets, granting legal authority to administer the estate.

Free Telephone Consultation - We assess your needs and recommend the appropriate type of probate.
Home Visits & Video Calls - We offer either home visits or video calls to streamline the preparation process.
We review estate documentation, collecting wills, financial records, and legal paperwork.
We identify and value assets and liabilities, ensuring compliance with Inheritance Tax (IHT) thresholds under HMRC regulations.
We prepare and submit probate applications, ensuring adherence to the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 and Administration of Estates Act 1925.
We liaise with an associate solicitor to extract the Grant of Probate, they handle any reserved legal activities as required.
This structured approach ensures probate is processed efficiently, minimising delays, legal risks, and administrative burdens.

What Happy Customers Say About Our Probate Service Near You

Debbie O.

09:47 17 Aug 24

Russell came to our house and explained the process to us clearly, he's friendly and very professional, we were very happy with the service he provides, we would definitely recommend his excellent services without a doubt. 👌

Sharon M

17:43 15 Aug 24

Having found New Forest Wills on a google search in my area, I was very pleased that I instructed Russell to write my will and sort out Power of Attorney for me. He visited my home, was extremely professional and friendly ,explaining everything to me very clearly.Thank you Russell for your help.

Paul O.

20:01 04 Jul 24

My mother is a resident at Sway Place Care Home and she needed to update her Will. Having read the excellent reviews on-line, we chose to use the services of New Forest Wills, which also had the added convenience of being local. Russell visited my mother at the Care Home and she immediately felt at ease with him. He took the time to explain the procedure clearly and documented my mother's wishes in what was a straightforward process. We received the Will back from Legal & Contract Services Ltd without any changes necessary and both he and his wife kindly witnessed her signing it at the Care Home. New Forest Wills certainly justifies our 5 star review for Russell's personable and professional service and value for money and we would thoroughly recommend it.

PAM

15:43 22 Apr 24

Seems Excellent watch this space . If he is good I will be recommending him to several family members

Beverley S.

08:17 22 Nov 23

Excellent Service. We needed to do new Wills and this made the process easy. I would highly recommend

Annie K.

18:15 02 Nov 22

Russell has been amazing, from the first point of contact with regards to sorting out a will for my mother to spending time explaining everything to her in detail, he has gone the extra mile. I would highly recommend his services

Trina H.

19:43 19 Feb 21

I had not made any provision for writing a will, so I was very pleased to have a visit from Russell who spent time considering the best option for my requirements. The process was very carefully thought through and professional, and I now feel a great deal of relief that my will is now in place. I would highly recommend New Forest Wills to anyone looking for a reliable and cost-effective service.

Get Started – Secure Your Estate Today

We provide expert probate services to ensure your estate is managed correctly, legally, and without unnecessary delays. Contact us today to begin the probate process and protect your beneficiaries, settle estate affairs, and ensure full compliance with UK law.

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