Understand the work involved in dealing with an estate. Legacy Wills and Probate supports Manchester families and executors with probate applications and estate administration.
Tell us what you would like help with. We can discuss your circumstances, the scope of the work and the next step.
Our principal office is in Bolton. Please contact the team to discuss consultation arrangements.
After a death, it can be difficult to distinguish urgent practical tasks from the legal work involved in administering an estate. Finding the will, identifying assets and understanding who can act provide the starting point. A grant may be needed, but that is only one part of the wider administration.
Our probate support for Manchester clients can help you establish the position and consider the level of assistance required. Explain whether you want help with a particular stage or with the estate more broadly. We will discuss the proposed scope rather than assuming every estate needs the same service.
Registering a death and arranging a funeral are distinct from dealing with the estate. Follow the registration guidance for the area where the death occurred, rather than assuming that the deceased’s home address determines the correct registration service. A coroner’s involvement may affect the process.
For the estate discussion, gather the will, death certificate and any information about executors. Let us know if another person is already handling matters. If you cannot find a will, say so: who can apply and how the estate passes will need to be considered.
Keep a record of banks, investments, property, pensions, debts and regular commitments. Tell us about jointly owned assets, a business or anything outside England and Wales. Statements and correspondence can be useful even where the exact position is not yet clear.
Financial organisations have their own requirements for releasing assets, so probate is not automatically required for every estate. Estate values and any inheritance tax position also need attention. We can discuss these questions alongside the application and explain which responsibilities are included in the work you ask us to undertake.
Executors may need to answer questions while still collecting reliable information. Keeping notes of enquiries, documents and decisions helps make the work easier to follow. Avoid promising a distribution date before the assets, liabilities and outstanding issues are understood.
The time and cost involved depend on the estate and the agreed support. We can discuss the expected stages and provide information about fees for the proposed work. If a disagreement about the will or administration has emerged, mention it at the outset; our contentious probate service addresses disputes separately. See the main probate service for further information.
Obtaining the grant is often only one stage of the work. Further administration may include collecting assets, dealing with liabilities and preparing for distribution. Agree the extent of professional support clearly.
Yes. Explain your relationship to the deceased and whether there is a will. The team will need to establish who is entitled to act before advising on an application or accepting instructions.
Tell us how the property is owned, whether anyone lives there and whether a sale is being considered. Property can affect the administration, but its location alone does not determine whether a grant is needed.
Explore wills, probate and estate planning for Manchester clients, or read our main service guidance.
