Arranging the funeral

We have a wealth of experience of dealing with the recently bereaved and can assist in funeral arrangements, and such matters as finding or releasing funds to pay for the funeral. We can also help in procedures such as registering the death, and dealing with the Coroner.

It may be possible to obtain payment of the funeral bill, or a contribution, from the Department for Work and Pensions, although claims are strictly means-tested.

The whereabouts of the will

We can help to locate any Will that the deceased may have made - we may even have the Will ourselves if the person was our client. Where the circumstances dictate, we can make appropriate enquiries, search official sources, and even advertise.

The value of the estate and distribution

We can register the death with various bodies, and quite quickly (usually within a few weeks) get a fairly good idea of what is involved and the overall value of assets. We can deal with the allocation of tax and the other bills between various parts of the estate, and ensure that each beneficiary receives his or her correct entitlement as soon as practicable.

Advising where there is no will

We can advise you should your loved one have died intestate ( that is without leaving a Will.) In these circumstances the law sets out what should happen to the deceased's estate, and we can advise as to the impact this will have. There is a set order as to who is entitled to take out a grant of Administration, and we can help with this aspect, and how the Administrator's powers differ from those of an Executor. Whether or not someone leaves a Will, we can administer the estate, and gather together the deceased's assets for distribution.

Inheritance Tax

Often, after a person's death, there is a liability to the Inland Revenue for Inheritance Tax. We appreciate that most people find encounters with the Inland Revenue traumatic, and we are here to make that process as painless as possible and to claim all available allowances. It is often possible to save on Inheritance Tax, and indeed other taxes by varying the distribution of a person's estate after death, and it is always best to let us look into this for you at the appropriate time.

Obtaining probate fr administration

Once instructed, we can obtain details of the assets and the liabilities of the estate, and complete the forms to cash them in. We can prepare the necessary papers for the Probate Registry and the Inland Revenue, dealing with any queries about valuations etc. In a relatively straightforward case, it may only take a month or two to obtain the grant so that the assets can be realised and distributed.

The value of the estate and distribution

We can register the death with various bodies, and quite quickly (usually within a few weeks) get a fairly good idea of what is involved and the overall value of assets. We can deal with the allocation of tax and the other bills between various parts of the estate, and ensure that each beneficiary receives his or her correct entitlement as soon as practicable.

Obtaining probate or adminstration

Once instructed, we can obtain details of the assets and the liabilities of the estate, and complete the forms to cash them in. We can prepare the necessary papers for the Probate Registry and the Inland Revenue, dealing with any queries about valuations etc. In a relatively straightforward case, it may only take a month or two to obtain the grant so that the assets can be realised and distributed.

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