Do Solicitors deal with probate?
When a loved one passes away, dealing with their estate can be an emotionally and legally complex process. One of the key tasks in administering the estate is dealing with probate. This is the legal process of confirming the validity of a Will and distributing the deceased's assets according to their wishes. Or, if there's no Will, in accordance with the laws of intestacy. If you have been named as an Executor in the Will of someone who has died, or are their next of kin, this might mean you now have the responsibility of dealing with probate. You may wish to seek professional legal advice to help you understand exactly what probate involves and assist you with completing the process as efficiently and quickly as possible. A Solicitor is one of the options available to you, as well as a professional probate provider, such as Kings Court Trust. Alternatively, you also have the option of completing the probate process yourself. In this article, we’ll answer the question, 'do Solicitors deal with probate?' and evaluate whether they are the best option available to you.
Can Solicitors deal with probate?
The short answer is yes, Solicitors can assist you with the probate process. Their involvement can range from offering basic legal advice to handling the entire probate process on behalf of the Executor or Administrator (depending on whether there's a Will or not). Solicitors can offer you guidance on what to do after someone passes away. They can begin by determining whether probate is needed in the first place, explaining the necessary steps and legal requirements involved in the process, and applying for a Grant of Probate on your behalf.
Do I need a Solicitor for probate?
Whilst it’s recommended to get professional legal advice, this doesn’t necessarily have to be from a Probate Solicitor. Some Solicitors only deal with a small number of estates as part of their varied practice in different areas of law. Therefore, they may not possess the specialist knowledge acquired by a professional probate provider whose sole purpose is to deal with large numbers of probate and estate administration matters. Many professional providers can complete the probate application and administer the estate on your behalf, providing peace of mind and security during an already difficult time. Here at Kings Court Trust, we go the extra mile by offering support and empathy to our families whilst being entrusted to take care of their estate administration. It’s all we do, every day, allowing our tax and legal teams to use their expertise for any situation and all sorts of circumstances.
When seeking professional help, it's highly advisable to source a regulated provider; Solicitors (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority) are just one type of regulated legal services provider. At Kings Court Trust, we are licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, who ensure client protection and the provision of a high-quality professional service to legal services customers.
How much will a Solicitor charge for probate?
Solicitors often calculate their fees from a percentage of the estate value. This generally tends to be between 2% and 5% plus VAT and probate fees. Others may charge you an hourly rate, meaning you don’t receive a fixed price up front, putting you at risk of escalating fees if the process involves unexpected delays. This fee structure can be unpredictable and unclear.
Here at Kings Court Trust, we can provide a fixed-fee quote that is based on the work involved rather than a percentage fee. Therefore, our price will never come as a surprise to you, as we’ll tell you the fixed price for our services upfront. To ensure you retain the level of control that suits you, we also offer four options to assist you with probate. These range from obtaining the Grant of Probate only to completing the full process of estate administration and taking on the legal and financial responsibility to do so.
When comparing probate fees between Solicitors and other specialist providers, we encourage you to check what’s included in each quote and whether they incorporate a breakdown of third-party costs. It’s important to remember that you are under no obligation to use a Solicitor for probate, even if they were involved with making the Will.
