WILLS & PROBATE

WILLS & PROBATE - HELP FOR YOU

PROPERTY LAWDISPUTE RESOLUTIONPERSONAL INJURYSETTLEMENT AGREEMENTSWILLS & PROBATEMEDIATION
INTRODUCTION
Making a will allows you to plan for the future of your family and protect your assets. If you die without a will, there are certain rules which dictate how your money, property or possessions should be allocated and which may not be the way that you would have wished.
 
If you have children, a will can ensure that appropriate arrangements for the children are made if either one or both parents die.
 
Unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership cannot inherit from each other unless there is a will, so the death of one partner may create financial problems for the remaining partner.
 
Where there is a business involved, the need for a will is a vital part of managing the future of the business and the allocation of assets.

 

Getting a Will Via Telephone or Zoom/Facetime/Skype

In light of the uncertainty and disruption we all face currently, we are able to do everything needed to provide you with a Will via phone call or video call.

We will talk you through the process, discover what your aims are, and provide you with a straightforward Will together with detailed instructions on how to execute it correctly under current circumstances. 

 

To begin the process send an email to info@acsl.org.uk with your name, contact number & a preferred time for a callback.

 

ADVANTAGES OF USING A SOLICITOR
There are advantages to using a Solicitor to draw up your will. It is possible to draw up a will yourself, however, the law is complex and if there are errors in the will, this can cause problems after your death. This may result in legal costs, which will reduce the amount of money in the estate.
 
Your estate may be more valuable than you first thought, and using a solicitor will ensure that nothing is overlooked or misunderstood.
 
At ACSL Solicitors, we have the expertise and experience to help you make a will that’s right for you and your family, whatever your circumstances. We offer a personal service and are happy to meet when and where it’s best for you.

​Our lead probate solicitor is Gina Stanton.
UNDERSTANDING PROBATE & ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

 

​Probate is the term used when dealing with the Estate of an individual who has died. A person’s Estate is generally made up of money, property and possessions they had at the time of their death. The process involves collecting money that is owed, settling any outstanding debts against the Estate, which remains frozen until the Probate Registry gives authority for the nominated Executor named in the will to divide the estate amongst the beneficiaries. This is known as the Grant of Probate. It can typically take 4 months or so to obtain the Grant of Probate.

If there is no Will, a close relative of the deceased can apply to the Probate Registry to deal with the estate. In this case, they apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration. If a grant is given, they are known as the “Administrators” of the estate. Like the Grant of Probate, the Grant of Letters of Administration is a legal document which confirms the Administrator’s authority to deal with the deceased person’s assets.

Please read this blog article for a more detailed overview of Probate and the processes it involves.

We are able to offer Probate work on a fixed fee basis straightforward cases. You can find details of our fees by clicking on the OUR FEES tab above. Estate Administration fees are also set out on that page.
 

Estate Administration 

This service involves obtaining the Grant, collecting in the assets and settling the liabilities of the estate and then, distributing the assets in accordance with the terms of the Will of the deceased. We handle the full administration process for you. On average, typical estates are usually dealt with within 9-12 months.

Typically, obtaining the Grant of Probate takes between approximately 3-4 months.

Collecting the assets, identifying all of the beneficiaries and discharging all liabilities of the estate can take between 2-3 months.

Once this has been done, we will prepare an estate account providing you with a breakdown of the transactions of all funds coming in and out of the estate and outlining how the estate is to be distributed. Once this has been approved, we will then move on to distributing the estate. This final step usually takes approximately 1 month.

There is also a Statutory waiting period of 6 months from the date of the Grant. This deals with potential claims to the estate and if you wish to adhere to the statutory waiting period, this usually takes the administration period to between 9-12 months from the date of death instead of 2-3 months. We would advise you to consider this.
 
TOO MUCH TO READ?
You can just call us instead and we will go through the probate process step by step
0151 363 3977