Our Probate & Estate Administration Services
Whether you’re expecting a relatively stress-free process or are dealing with a more complex situation, our compassionate team is here to help.
Thursfields’ probate and estate solicitors can help with the following:
- Estate and Probate administration
- Deeds of Variation
- Disclaiming inheritances
- Administering agricultural assets
- Administering business assets
- Interpretation of a last will and testament
Want to Know More About Our Probate & Estate Services?
Estate and Probate Legal Advice
With Thursfields you can take confidence in knowing that a full-service law firm is managing the deceased’s estate with compassion and expertise.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to probate and estate administration. Every estate presents its own unique circumstances and challenges.
We take pride in offering a comprehensive service that is tailored to your needs, while simplifying the steps towards a resolution. In addition, we appreciate that, especially during family disputes, a delicate approach may be required to find a satisfactory outcome.
Meet Our
Probate & Estate Administration Lawyers
Whatever your circumstances, our team provides tailored probate and estate administration advice that you can rely upon.
Key Contact
Terry Cooper TEP
Director, Head of Private Client
Terry leads Thursfields’ Private Client team and has a vast amount of expertise with tax and trust planning. He regularly advises on matters such as wills, the creation or restructuring of trusts, lifetime gifts and other planning to minimise inheritance tax or other tax liabilities (including insurance-based solutions), and death-in-service payments.
Terry has acted for entrepreneurs and business owners, wealthy families, and others who need wills or tax advice. As a result, he is always happy to work in collaboration with a client’s existing financial advisers or accountants.
Sophie Donovan
Director, Head of Estate Administration
Sophie is an experienced Solicitor specialising in all areas of Private Client Law, advising clients with Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Administering Estates. Sophie’s focus is client led, offering reassurance in complex matters and working collaboratively with the client to achieve an outcome in an efficient and supportive manner to meet the client’s needs.
Sophie is an Affiliate Member of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioner.
OUR TEAM
*TEP denotes a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
GET IN TOUCH
Want to know more about our probate legal advice services? Contact our team today.
Probate Legal Advice
With You in Mind
The administering of an estate can be a complex process that is difficult to fulfil without qualified, impartial assistance. Matters can become complex when the deceased had business assets, there are family disputes, or when recovering debts becomes challenging. However, the administration process can be simplified by handing the responsibility to experienced probate and estate lawyers.
Thursfields’ solicitors have wide-ranging experience in areas like Deeds of Variation, disclaiming inheritance and the administering of business assets. We also specialise in helping clients to administer agricultural assets.
Our versatile estate team offers practical assistance across a range of circumstances whether you require a grant only or full administration service.
Dealing with a family business
If the deceased had business interests, there are additional considerations about which an executor should seek specialist advice. Our expert corporate lawyers will guide you through the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
When a person passes away and they have property and assets, the estate will need to be administered. This can be dealt with either by applying for a Grant of Probate, where there is a Will, or Grant of Letters of Administration where there is no Will or Grant of Letters of Administration with Will annexed (where there is a Will and the Executors cannot act for whatever reason).
Probate is the end-to-end process of administering a deceased person’s estate. This process covers the organisation of all money, assets and possessions to first cover the deceased’s debts before distributing the remainder as inheritance.
The three grants types are:
- Grant of probate: Issued if administration of the estate will be carried out by the Will’s named executor.
- Grant of letters of administration with Will annexed: Issued if no executors were appointed or the named executor is unwilling/unable to administrate.
- Grant of letters of administration: Issued if the deceased died intestate (without a will).
The role involves obtaining valuations of the assets and the values of the liabilities as at the date of death. An estate administrator deals with a deceased person’s estate. The role involves estate valuation, calculating and settling inheritance tax, collecting assets, settling debts, and contacting beneficiaries (those who will benefit from the estate). The final step of what can be a 12-18 month process to distribute the estate among beneficiaries.
Contact Our
Team
For advice on probate and estate administration that’s tailored to your unique circumstances, get in touch with our team today.
