Estate Planning Solicitors & Lawyers

When someone dies, it is necessary to establish who has the legal right to administer their estate. Probate is the process of proving a Will, in which executors apply for and are issued with a ‘Grant of Probate’. This confirms their legal authority to administer the money, property and possessions of the deceased.

If someone left no Will or did not appoint an executor, the next of kin or beneficiaries apply to the Court to appoint an administrator to act as a personal representative. A grant issued to administrators is known as a ‘Grant of Letters of Administration’. Executors or administrators are known as the personal representatives.

Freeths offer a variety of detailed information guides, including your duties as an estate administrator, the documentation required, and price lists for our legal services. Please get in touch if you would like a copy.

Why choose our estate administration team?

• Freeths have a highly experienced probate team offering clear and considered advice
• National reputation for private client services, acting for executors, trustees and beneficiaries
• You can ask us for advice on tax mitigation and the practicalities of estate administration
• Our probate lawyers have expertise relating to international assets and cross-border issues

Freeths have significant experience of advising executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries, and have a deep-rooted understanding of the issues they face. Our solicitors understand that the circumstances of each case can vary widely. Their aim is to help personal representatives to wind up the estate as quickly and efficiently as possible, overcoming any practical difficulties and mitigating financial liabilities.

Contentious probate cases

Occasionally, Wills are inappropriate, incomplete or ambiguous, or make inadequate provision for dependants. Or, there may be doubt about the circumstances surrounding its creation.

We have a specialist litigation team who will deal with any contentious probate cases effectively and efficiently. The time administering an estate depends on the nature and value of the assets, as well as the complexity of the deceased individual’s affairs. We can provide an estimated timescale at the outset, but unpredictable factors, including claims instigated against the estate, may alter this throughout the course of action.

We sensitively handle all aspects of estate administration, whether the estate is straightforward or complex. We also deal with intestacies (when a person has left no Will) and we can trace missing beneficiaries.

Call our specialist Probate & Estate Administration team on 0330 100 1014 to find out more about how we can help you.