The period after the death of a loved one is a difficult time; and many people prefer to avoid thinking about it in advance. There are many challenges to consider; not only the emotional difficulties, but also the administrative duties that will need to be dealt with. An example of this is when the deceased has outstanding debts upon their death. Matters such as these become even more difficult to handle when the debt is unexpected and no provisions for its repayment have been made. It is a commonly held assumption by many people that debts are written off upon the death of the borrower; however, in general, this is not true.

When a loved one passes away, there are many tasks that must be completed before their estate can be distributed to the beneficiaries. One of those tasks may be applying for probate; probate is not always needed, but if it’s required, it can be a confusing process that involves a lot of time and effort. This blog aims to simplify probate and explain what it is, when it’s required, and the application process.

It is already a difficult time when a loved one passes away and their estate is being administered. However, this challenging period can be made even more difficult when the Executor or Administrator (collectively known as Personal Representatives) of the deceased’s estate also passes away during the administration process. When a chain of representation is unable to be used to allow for the administration of the estate to continue, a new application to the Probate Registry will need to be made for a Grant de Bonis Non Administratis (less formally known as a Grant de Bonis Non).

Probate refers to the process of applying for a Grant of Probate(when there is a Will) or Letters of Administration (when there is no Will), which are legal documents that the person dealing with the estate may be required to obtain. If required, the Grant of Representation (the umbrella term for both documents) gives this individual the legal right to proceed with estate administration, which is the entire process of dealing with the assets and liabilities of someone who has died and then distributing their estate to the beneficiaries.

The term Personal Representative might sound daunting, especially if you’re navigating the complex process of estate administration for the first time. A Personal Representative is responsible for the administration of a deceased person's estate; they are liable for various legal and financial tasks that ensure the smooth transition of assets to the beneficiaries.

When you’re faced with the responsibility of being named as an Executor in a Will, there are many things to consider. The tasks included in the role can be time-consuming and involve complex legal jargon, which can prove overwhelming during the difficult time of losing someone. Whilst an Executor is required to deal with the estate, help is available, and they have the option of instructing a professional provider. In this blog, we will provide an overview of the Executor role and why it can be beneficial to seek professional support.

Please note that Kings Court Trust only deals with Premium Bonds when administering the estate of an owner who has passed away. We are not able to track, claim, or sell Premium Bonds otherwise. When someone passes away, all of their assets must be dealt with as part of the estate administration process. This can include property, personal belongings, cash, bank accounts, and more. One asset that is not as commonly discussed is Premium Bonds. However, Premium Bonds form part of an individual’s estate just like a bank or savings account and therefore must be dealt with when handling the assets.

A chain of representation is the legal structure that ensures the ongoing management of an estate following an individual's death. When someone is appointed as an Executor under a Grant of Probate (if the deceased had a valid Will), or as an Administrator under a Grant of Letters of Administration (if there was no valid Will), they act as the representative of the deceased's estate. This formal representation is granted by the Probate Registry.

During the probate and estate administration processes, you may come across unfamiliar jargon; this could include Trusts, Trustees, and Deeds of Appointment. This blog will provide an overview of what a Deed of Appointment is and how it relates to Trusts and probate.