Probate and Estate Administration in Scunthorpe and Goole

When a loved one passes away you have enough to cope with without having the burden of dealing with the legal implications.

The process of administering an estate can be lengthy and complicated with various pitfalls for the unwary. Our probate solicitors are here to guide you through this process, whether the deceased had a Will or not.

Our key value is to undertake this work with care and compassion as well as providing the technical expertise which you can expect as standard. This process of administering an estate is known as ‘probate’. Our view is that this process should not be something to be scared of. It is just a formality that needs to be dealt with and our firm has considerable experience of doing this.

We will always provide you with a costs estimate for our services at the outset so you can proceed knowing exactly how much you will have to pay. Our costs will usually come out of the deceased person’s estate once the process is complete.

For more information about our probate and estate administration services, get in touch by giving us a call at your local branch in Scunthorpe or Goole or by filling in our online enquiry form for a quick response.

What our probate solicitors can do for you

Our probate solicitors are here to provide all the help and support you need. Our services can range from simply obtaining the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration if the individual dies without a Will) to fully administering the Estate ensuring that the legal duties of the Executors are carried out. The sorts of things involved in fully administering an Estate would include:

Calculating the value of the Estate
Obtaining the Grant
Closing down bank accounts
Distributing the assets to beneficiaries
Finalising the person’s tax affairs, such as inheritance tax

We can also ensure that we liaise with our Conveyancing department in connection with the sale of any property within the Estate.

What is probate?

When a person dies, their money, property and financial obligations (collectively called their ‘Estate’) do not just disappear. Probate and estate administration is the process of sorting out all these matters, paying off the deceased person’s debts, settling tax liabilities and passing on any remaining money to the deceased’s loved ones.

If there is a Will, the person who takes on this role is called an ‘Executor’ – they will have been given the responsibility by the deceased during their lifetime.

The Will should also name beneficiaries and what the deceased wants them to inherit from the Estate.

What if there is no Will?

If there is no Will, a set of rules called the Rules of Intestacy dictate who is allowed to inherit from the deceased person’s Estate.

Anyone who is entitled to inherit can also apply to take on the role on administering the estate. The Rules of Intestacy set out a hierarchy of people from spouses and civil partners at the top to half relatives at the bottom. If multiple people apply to administer the estate, the person with the highest priority gets the job – this person is called an ‘Administrator’.

Why choose our probate and estate administration solicitors?

Our Probate and Estate Administration Team have decades of combined expertise assisting people across Scunthorpe, Goole and the wider Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire areas.

We understand how difficult this time is likely to be for you. We will take the time to explain the law and what needs to happen next in plain English so there are no surprises along the way. We pride ourselves on our friendly, personal service. While various lawyers may assist you from time to time, you will have your own personal lawyer who will be responsible for taking care of you and ensuring your matter progresses as it should. Should you have any queries or concerns, your lawyer will be just a phone call or email away and we always aim to respond to correspondence swiftly.

At the beginning of your matter, we will provide clear advice about how long probate could be expected to take and will provide regular updates throughout the process so you always know what is going on.

Our firm has achieved the Law Society Lexcel Legal Practice Quality Mark for our high standards of customer service and ability to produce positive outcomes for our clients.

Symes Bains Broomer is independently regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Our pricing for probate and estate administration

Visit our Probate Pricing page for detailed information about our services and how much they cost.