All about Wills and Probate solicitors

Wills and Probate Solicitors

There are solicitors who are specialised experts in wills and the probate process. Wills and probate solicitors are available to offer expert advice on such areas of law. Once the terms of your will have been announced in court, the executor is responsible to carry out each request made by the deceased person on the will.

 A will is a legal document that only around 25% of the UK population have and it determines who will receive what part of your estate. Probate is the term given to the process that occurs after your death. It is the process by which all matters stated on your will are settled and the same rules apply in both England and Wales.

A will is a valuable document to create because it allows your family members and in some cases, your close friends to be spared some pain when a death of a close one occurs. In making a will, you will not only lessen the pain for your close ones, but also make it easier for the courts to decide where your assets should go in the probate process. If you do not make a will then the law or a solicitor decides what happens to your assets and this will not necessarily benefit your family members of close friends.

Probate refers to the whole process that occurs after a person dies. The person given responsibility on the will and named as executor must apply for confirmation of their right to deal with the terms of the will. If the deceased has left a will, then their will is subject to probate and the correct steps need to be taken in order for the assets of the deceased to be allocated as the deceased wished. A solicitor will ensure that this process is carried out correctly and is able to advise the executor of the will or the administrator (in the case of the deceased leaving no will) on the steps to follow in order for the probate process to be completed.

It is usually the case that the family members or close friends of the deceased person would like the process to be completed as quickly as possible, especially if the death of the person has caused much grief and sadness to the family or circle of friends. A solicitor can aid probate and help accelerate the process. It is advisable that the executor or administrator seek a solicitor to aid them in probate, even if they want to deal with the terms of the will themselves.

It is, however, not always necessary to apply for a grant of probate. A grant of probate is essential if the deceased had considerable assets, such as insurance policies, property and land and investments in stocks and shares. If there is uncertainty about whether or not you need to apply for a grant of probate then seek advice from a solicitor.