Probate Expert Services Basildon Posted by Probate Basildon , 11/03/2018

Probate Expert Services Basildon

If your loved one has died, either with our without a will, our experts here at The Probate Bureau can help you get your affairs in order. Call us today on 0808 256 2366.

When a person passes away, it is more than likely that you will need to go through a process known as "probate". This gives you the legal authority to deal with their "estate" - therefore meaning everything they own.

Here at The Probate Bureau, we are experts on the probate process in Basildon and will be able to help you each step of the way. We are passionate and care about protecting your inheritance, so you won't be treated like just another number. We understand that every case is unique, and we ensure that our team treats you how we would like to be treated ourselves.

To find out more about our services, please b e sure to give us a call on 0808 256 2366. We'll be more than happy to discuss your situation and ensure that your loved one's estate is dealt with properly.

About the Probate Bureau Services in Basildon

We are a family run company and were established in 1999 after many people were experiencing difficulties with a few of the conventional providers of probate estate administration services. Together with our sister company TPB Financial Services, we provide custom legal and financial solution, saving families money and administering estates in sometimes half the time and also at half the cost of most other service providers. Our friendly and experienced workforce is always on hand to assist your through an ever-increasing complex division of legal practice.

We are based in Hertfordshire, with local specialists in Basildon, as well as pur sister company, TPB Financdial Services Ltd. We offer an exceptional blend of customised legal and financial remedes for families at a very difficult and stressful time. As well as offering a complete probate administration service, in addition, we offer estate planning, inheritance tax advice and also the drafting of Wills, Trusts and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

The Probate Bureau Ethos

Our ethos is to save family members time, money and anxiety. We shoulder the whole burden of winding up an estate from paying the funeral director to getting final Inland Revenue clearance and give the most beneficial support at a fair and reasonable fixed fee. Our extremely effective and competent team is directed by our in-house lawyer and if there are no difficulties we administer numerous estates within a few months. Our company offers a free of charge, no obligation meeting at home and we'll answer any worries and queries you could have at this difficult time.

Our professionals aren't paid commission, and we don't pay or receive any commission payment from other companies. Which means you are safe in the knowledge we are going to do the best for you and your family. We are the longest running expert estate administration company in the UK and are recommended by in excess of 1000 unbiased funeral directors. We are well respected and extremely trusted in the profession and this means we've been able to secure professional special discounts which we then pass onto our client's, resulting in more money being retained within a family and estate.

Why Consider Us?

Most of our business arises from word of mouth, here are some of the reasons why you should choose us to help you with your Probate or Will:

1. Your call won't be answered by an impersonal contact centre. The team member who takes your phone call will have the first- hand experience with administering an estate and are bereavement trained, being extremely sensitive to your desires at this tough time. We ensure your enquiry is going to be responded to by a professional and understanding specialist.

2. We don't have commission compensated salespeople like most companies do. If you need an absolutely free, no obligation home visit you'll be seen by a director of the business; who will provide you with all of the advice and information you need, along with a comprehensive and trustworthy quote.

3. We don't look for money at the start once you instruct us unless there is an unconventional circumstance, therefore, we have in mind the faster and more efficiently we complete the administration, the quicker we are paid out. At the start of the process, we will identify what the disbursements could be depending on the data we have. Our charges are clearly explained without any hidden extras so there aren't any unexpected situations for you at the conclusion of the procedure.

4. Our team are incredibly experienced and we have a proven track record. We only employ properly accredited staff members and we utilise state of the art case management software, making every single probate process more streamlined for us and every customer. We are the longest running, professional Probate Administration Company in the United Kingdom, and are recommended by more than 1000 impartial funeral directors, as well as other legal and financial professional people.

5. We only deal with the best professional associates: Using an in-house independent financial service brings a new and positive dimension to our current service. A solicitor is unable to give you financial advice and an accountant or financial advisor cannot provide you with legal counsel; we, nonetheless, can supply you with both. It has never been more important to safeguard what you create or inherit. Sensible legal and financial advice is a must in today's increasingly complex legal world. We have professional connections with property agents, accountants and many more, so we can offer you a true "one-stop shop" experience, saving you time, money and stress.

6. Whilst every single case differs, we can provide you with a fixed quotation once we meet with you and are anything in between 15% to 48% less than an average solicitors charge. You can view our comparison prices here: probatebureau.com/why-use-us

We don't charge an hourly rate or charge for every single telephone call, e-mail or correspondence so which means you can telephone every time you have a query or problem without having to concern yourself with increasing charges. We never compromise on the quality of service we offer and our aim is to save families time, money and stress at one of the most difficult times of their existence.

• We are qualified by examination to write Wills and relevant documents
• We have £2m of Professional Indemnity Insurance protection to protect our customers
• We have undergone a Disclosure & Barring Service ('DBS'' formally 'CRB')
• We undertake regular expert refresher training ('CPD') to upgrade our expertise and services
• We are subject to the IPW's Code of Practice which has been approved by the Trading Standards Institute under its Consumer Codes Approval Scheme
• We also abide by The Solicitors Regulation Authority Code of Conduct

7. Finally, and most importantly, we care. We are passionate and care about safeguarding and enhancing your inheritance. We will never treat you like another number, each one of our customers is unique and our team are trained to take care of you exactly how we would like to be treated ourselves. If you are looking for specialist help or just want to discover how to administer an estate yourself, The Probate Bureau will help.

We can tell you everything you should know about administering a family member's estate. Give us a call on 0808 256 2366 to check what you should do, and most importantly, anything you should not do before you do anything else. The Probate Bureau- professional probate services in Basildon.

Our FAQs

What is Probate?

Probate is the administration course of action which handles claims and distributes a deceased individuals estate. The granting of probate is the initial step in this legal process.

Precisely what is a Will?

A will is really a legal document by which a person expresses their wishes of how their residence and possessions, known as the estate, will be dispersed when they die. At least one executor needs to be named in a will, and they're responsible for managing the estate to its conclusion.

What the Probate Process Involves When There is a Will

If the deceased had written a valid will before they passed, then it will provide instruction as to who should apply for the probate as the executor and administer the estate, and who the beneficiaries are.

Once the executor begins the probate process, the first thing they should do is obtain an official copy of the death certificate, so they can apply to the probate registry for a Grant of Probate. The Grant of Probate is a legal document that confirms that the named executor has the right authority to deal with the deceased’s estate. To get this grant, the executor will also need to fill out a PA1 form, which asks for details about the deceased, their relatives and their assets.

The PA1 form will need to be sent back to the probate registry, along with a correct inheritance tax form, the official copy of the death certificate, the probate registry office fee, the original will, three other copies of the will and any codicils.

If there is any payable inheritance tax, the executors will need to arrange payment, otherwise, the Grant of Probate will not be issued. The executor will also need to swear an oath, to promise that all the information they have given is true to the best of their knowledge.

The probate registry will then decide if all the information that has been given is in order. If it is, a grant of probate will be issued. Only once this grant has been issued, can the executors start ‘administering’ the estate. This administration process will involve collecting in, transferring or selling the assets, paying off any debts the deceased had and finalising any other affairs such as rehoming their pets.

You should then distribute the estate to the named beneficiaries. This process should be relatively straightforward, as the will should detail exactly who should receive what.

Once all of the estate has been distributed, as the executor, you must prepare the final estate accounts. These must be signed by all of the executors and main beneficiaries. Once this has all been done, the probate and estate administration process will be complete.

What Does the Probate Process Involve When There isn't a Will?

Probate is the legal procedure that occurs to manage the liabilities and assets when a person passes away. The process is done through probate court. When someone passes away leaving a will, then probate is needed to apply the specifications of the will.

It is very common, however, for people to not prepare wills. If you find that your loved one has not written a will before they passed, you will still have to apply for probate. In this case, you will be known as the administrator, not the executor.

As the administrator you still need to apply to the probate registry, but for a Grant of Letter of Administration. This process is almost the same as applying for a Grant of Probate, as you will need to complete the PA1 form and send it back to the probate registry with the correct documents - inheritance tax form, official copy of the death certificate and probate registry fee. However, you will find that certain sections of the PA1 form aren’t relevant to your situation as there isn’t a will. You can leave these sections blank.

You must also arrange the payment of inheritance tax and swear an oath, if applicable.

The Probate Registry will then read over all of the information you have provided, and if they are satisfied, they will issue you with a Grant of Letters of Administration. This grant will give you the legal authority you need to start winding up the deceased person’s affairs.

Once this has been done, the estate will be distributed to the beneficiaries. Though, as there is no will, the estate will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy. These rules will specify an order of who should benefit from the estate. The order goes as follows:

• Spouse or civil partner,
• Children/grandchildren,
• Parents,
• Brothers and sisters,
• Grandparents,
• Uncles and Aunts.

Finally, the estate accounts must be prepared to be approved and signed by the beneficiaries.

Can I do Probate By Myself?

You can do probate by yourself, however, it will take time and effort. Generally, the whole process requires somewhere between 6 to 9 months to complete and can be the equivalent of 80 working hours. Bear in mind that other complications can mean the procedure takes a lot longer. Difficulties could possibly be, if the Will is argued, or the deceased didn't keep a very clear record of all their possessions, for example.

If you are considering accomplishing probate yourself then seek information before you begin to make sure you can allocate the amount of time essential for this legal process.

The process involves:

• Valuing the estate
• Collating the deceased bank accounts and insurance policies
• Completing the Probate Application Form (PA1)
• Even in the event the estate does not owe inheritance tax (IHT) an IHT205 Form has to be completed for the HMRC
• Submitting the forms
• Attending a probate meeting to vow 'on' oath what you have posted is legitimate
• Paying the taxes due

What are Probate Fees?

Probate Fees are the service fees for the services of both the solicitor and executor and they are extracted from the deceased's estate. When the executor is a relative that will inherit from the estate then it's frequent for them to waive their charges.

Do you have to go through Probate when there is a Will?

Wills only have to undergo probate if you need to switch the ownership of assets from among the deceased to their living beneficiaries.

Just how do you go through Probate without having a Will?

The probate process commences when you file the probate petition with the probate court either to; admit the will to probate and designate the executor or; if there is no will, to appoint an administrator of the estate.

What happens to your children if you don't have a Will?

When you pass away without a will, the law takes control and the court will distribute your assets to your next of kin based upon the order of succession. If they are children, the probate court will also have to designate a conservator for them, as well as a guardian, consequently a legally prepared will is vital to make certain your children are looked after and cared for by the person who you intend to be their guardian.

What needs to pass through Probate?

Not everything you own will automatically go through probate. Often, assets that do not undergo probate are; jointly owned assets that transfer to the surviving owner; assets that have a valid beneficiary designation; and financial assets that are within a trust. Therefore, it isn't generally required to acquire Probate if all of the deceased's possessions are jointly held with a surviving husband or wife since these assets will pass automatically. It is always best to investigate these with a solicitor in planning the process and paperwork because they do not always avoid probate, therefore it is always best to check first.

What do I need to do to make certain my assets and estate are dispersed as I want them to when I have passed away?

Always visit a competent and qualified solicitor who specialises in writing wills as they can be complicated and difficult to understand yourself. Talk to your solicitor regarding your desires in each and every circumstance, covering every chain of event to ensure your desires are put into practice. When they have offered their guidance, ask them questions regarding what can happen in specific situations to ensure they have comprehended your needs. Be aware, if you don't have an extensive will that's been written and certified correctly then this can often cause difficulties and family rifts when you pass away. Many estates and assets decline in these circumstances as the legal costs might be huge. Always chat through your will with your family members to make sure they are clear about your wishes once you have died.

How much is Inheritance Tax in the United Kingdom?

Your estate will owe tax at 40% on anything above the £325,000 inheritance tax threshold when you die, or 36% should you leave at least 10% to a charitable organisation. The standard Inheritance Tax rate is 40%. It's only charged on the part of your estate that's above the threshold of £325,000. For example, if your estate is worth £500,000 your tax-free threshold is £325, 000. The Inheritance Tax is going to be charged at 40% of £175,000 (£500, 000 minus £325, 000) = £70,000.

Will you pay tax on inherited money?

You do not commonly pay tax on anything you inherit at the time you inherit it. You may need to pay: Income Tax on any profit you later earn from your inheritance, by way of example, dividends from shares or rental income from the property and Capital Gains Tax should you in the future sell shares or a property you inherited.