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Probate

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When you have lost someone close, you need experts you can trust to help you take care of the details

Good estate administration makes a difficult situation a little easier, saving time and money

Estate administration or probate is the process of managing the assets of a deceased's estate and distributing them to beneficiaries, in line with the Will.

Many people will be called upon at some point to administer the estate of a relative or friend.

Taking on the role of executor can be daunting. When a loved one dies, someone needs to register their death, notify relevant organisations, ensure outstanding bills are settled and inheritance tax paid and distribute what is left in accordance with the terms of the deceased's Will.

Efficiency and technical knowledge are the keys to the good administration of an estate. Our specialists are here to help and can promise both. With good estate administration, inheritances are paid out in a timely manner and the tax burden minimised. If not done well, administration takes several years, with penalties and interest incurred, and tax planning opportunities missed.

We can help and support you to administer an estate

How we support clients through probate. Our case studies

Supporting you for a tax efficient, well-run probate process


Our team of specialist Solicitors are experienced in all aspects of the estate administration process.
Many of our clients have holiday properties abroad or other overseas assets, which can cause considerable difficulty for their loved ones after death. We are very familiar with these issues and can liaise with excellent lawyers in other jurisdictions so that assets are passed on in as tax-efficient a way as possible without any unnecessary delays.

In all cases, we will agree on a timescale with you in advance and provide weekly updates by email. We expect to have the Grant of Probate – the administration document – within six months of instruction, but we will usually be able to work within a significantly faster timescale.

Showed particular care and sensitivity during a very difficult time.

Chambers, High Net Worth 2017

Avoiding estate disputes through our diplomatic approach

For families who have experienced disputes and estrangement, or for step-families, bereavement can be a particularly challenging time. We work with many families in these circumstances and find that as a diplomatic and independent third party we can often prevent tensions escalating into disputes. Disputes can be expensive and distressing during the estate administration process.
If you would like more information on estate administration, please contact us.

Probate FAQs

  • What is an estate?

    The estate is everything the deceased owned, including money, property and possessions.

  • What is a Grant of Probate?

    A Grant of Probate is a legal document which grants authority to the executors to administer the estate of someone who has died. Once this has been obtained, the executors can begin distributing the deceased's estate. 

  • What is a Grant of Letters of Administration?

    If the deceased did not leave a Will, an administrator (being someone who is responsible for dealing with an estate if there is no Will or the named executors aren't willing to act) they will obtain a grant of letters of administration. The grant of letters of administration gives authority to the administrators to deal with the estate of the deceased.

  • What is an administrator of a Will?

    An administrator is someone who is responsible for dealing with an estate of a deceased if there is no Will or the named executors aren't willing to act. They will obtain a grant of letters of administration.

  • What is an executor of a Will?

    An executor is a person named in a Will who sorts out the estate of the deceased. The executor also ensures the wishes of the deceased as set out in the Will are followed. A Will may have one or more executors.

  • Do I need to use a Solicitor?

    It is not necessary to instruct a Solicitor to obtain a Grant of Probate or a Grant of Letters of Administration. However, many people will consider using a specialist Solicitor as the process can be time-consuming and complex. 

  • How long will probate take to complete?

    The entire probate and estate administration process generally takes between six and twelve months. It will largely depend on the complexity of the deceased's estate. Several factors may affect the deceased's estate’s complexity, including whether the estate includes a property or if there are assets overseas. 

Contact The Burnside Partnership

For more information on our services or how we can help, please get in touch.