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What is a Grant of Probate?

on 19-Apr-2023 10:04:00 By | Charlotte Toogood |
What is a Grant of Probate? “What is a Grant of Probate?” is a frequently asked question by those newly tasked with administering the estate of a loved one who has recently passed away. A Grant of Probate, commonly referred to as probate, is a legal document that is often required in England and Wales by the Executor(s) (if there is a Will) of a deceased person’s estate. In Scotland, the process is known as Confirmation. A Grant of Probate is often requested by financial institutions to access bank accounts, sell assets, and settle the debts of someone who has died. Once probate is granted, this provides the Executor with the legal authority to administer the deceased’s estate and complete the above tasks.
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Do I need a Solicitor for probate?

on 21-Feb-2023 09:19:00 By | Charlotte Toogood |
Following a bereavement, there are a number of tasks that need to be completed, which can make an already difficult time even more stressful. The Executor (if there is a Will) or Administrator (if there is no Will) is responsible for administering the deceased’s estate as per the wishes in their Will. They should consider: Whether probate is needed What’s involved in the probate process Whether a probate Solicitor is required In this blog, we aim to answer these queries and alleviate confusion around the probate application process.
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What should I do when someone dies?

on 13-Feb-2023 10:58:00 By | Nigel Merchant |
When a loved one passes away, the initial steps can be overwhelming. There are a number of tasks that need to be completed and it is often difficult to work out what should be done first. This can make an already tough time even more stressful. This blog aims to summarise the first steps to be taken following a bereavement.
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What is the difference between probate and estate administration?

on 29-Nov-2022 09:05:00 By | Nigel Merchant |
When someone close to you dies and you’re dealing with the estate, it is easy to get overwhelmed when considering the upcoming tasks and the unfamiliar language associated with them. Firstly, it is important to understand the basics; this blog post aims to answer some of the most common questions associated with handling an individual’s estate after they have died, including:
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What can go wrong with the DIY probate approach?

on 08-Jul-2021 10:43:29 By | Nigel Merchant |
The tasks that need to be considered following the death of a loved one are not something you will face on a regular basis. Therefore, knowing where to start can often be daunting and it can be a difficult process to get the ball rolling. Whilst many people opt to instruct an estate administration specialist to help, others choose the DIY (do it yourself) route in the hope of saving more money to maximise the amount of inheritance due to the beneficiaries of the estate.
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Wills, probate and estate administration in a COVID-19 world

on 22-Jul-2020 23:29:21 By | Kings Court Trust |
It’s no secret - the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has posed several challenges to almost every aspect of our lives. The Wills and probate industry is no exception.
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Probate fees from July 2019

on 10-Sep-2019 09:29:00 By | Kings Court Trust |
As of Monday 14th October 2019, the proposal to increase probate fees has been withdrawn. Click here to read our latest blog post on the matter. On 22 July 2019, HM Courts & Tribunals Service released revised probate fees including costs for applications and additional copies of the Grant of Representation. Although the cost of the application has not changed, any additional copies will now be charged at £1.50 per copy, rather than the 50p that was previously charged.
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Probate applications continue to suffer severe delays

on 09-Jul-2019 15:19:56 By | Kings Court Trust |
Back in May 2019, we wrote about how probate registries in England and Wales were suffering from processing delays on Grant of Probate and Grant of Letter of Administration applications. We’re now a couple of months down the line and the backlog continues. Therefore, we wanted to provide our clients and business partners with another update.
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Probate applications suffer severe processing delays

on 14-May-2019 15:04:49 By | Kings Court Trust |
As of Monday 14th October 2019, the proposal to increase probate fees has been withdrawn. Click here to read our latest blog post on the matter. Probate Registries in England and Wales are currently reporting severe delays on Grant of Probate and Grant of Letter of Administration applications. Due to the rollout of a new IT case management system, the process has been dramatically slowed down. This means that it’s taking longer for the Registries to process applications for Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration.
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