At GA Solicitors our specialist probate solicitors and their experienced team offer a complete probate service.
We can provide:
- Free initial guidance over the phone
- Free initial meeting at your home, locally or in our Plymouth city centre office
- An agreed fixed quotation before any work is undertaken
- Ongoing support and contact from a designated lawyer assigned to your case
Our professional service covers a broad range of legal and tax work, as well as administration and property. An outline of this can be seen below:
The Legal Work
- Checking the will is valid
- Advising on inheritance tax (IHT) on the estate and tax reliefs which might be available
- Where there is no will, checking the intestacy rules to identify beneficiaries and determine who is entitled to administer the estate
- Preparing the papers to apply for the probate
- Applying for and obtaining the Grant of Probate
- Placing all statutory adverts to cover claims against the estate
- Dealing with creditors’ claims against the estate
- Explaining any trusts in the will
- Protecting the executors from future claims
The Tax work
- Completing the compulsory HMRC returns relating to inheritance tax; IHT 400 for taxable estates and IHT205 where there is no inheritance tax
- Finalising income tax returns
- Finalising capital gains tax (if necessary)
- Claiming available exemptions and reliefs and transferable allowances
- Calculating inheritance tax and arranging to pay tax from the estate
The Administration Work
- Paying funeral costs from estate funds
- Contacting executors and beneficiaries, and regularly updating them during the estate administration
- Contacting asset holding companies and corresponding with them during the estate administration
- Valuing all assets and collecting them in
- Paying debts and liabilities from the estate
- Preparing estate accounts showing the executors and beneficiaries all monies passing in and out of the estate
- Distributing the estate to the beneficiaries
The Property Work
- Transferring ownership to joint owners (where held as joint tenants)
- Transferring ownership to beneficiaries (additional fees apply)
- Recommending estate agents for marketing and sale of any property
- Appointing one of our specialist residential conveyancing lawyers to deal with the legal side of the sale (additional fees apply)
- Recommending suitable locksmiths and house clearance agents
- Checking building and contents insurance is in place
Additional Work
- Varying the will for better tax advantages or to maximise welfare benefits
- Dealing with claims against the estate or challenges to the will
GA’s experienced and professional team includes members of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), Society Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP), Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), Society of Later Life Advisers, and the Law Society Private Client Section. With this in mind, you can be assured you will receive the highest levels of service and expertise.
Get in touch today for a free, no obligation conversation. Call 01752 203500, email enquiries@GAsolicitors.com or fill in our contact form.
