Probate | Magma Chartered Accountants

Introduction

After a person dies, others must step in to take care of their finances, look after their property and make sure their estate passes to the right beneficiaries.

These responsibilities fall to the deceased person’s personal representatives: their executors or administrators. Executors are often close family members or trusted friends, named in the person’s will. Administrators are appointed where there is no executor named in the will, no executor willing to act, or there is no valid will at all.

The named executors or the proposed administrators normally need to apply for a grant of representation which is an order of the High Court confirming their authority to administer the deceased person’s estate and make distributions to their beneficiaries.

In order to obtain the grant of representation, a number of tasks need to be undertaken. These include:

locating the will,
determining assets and liabilities and gifts,
obtaining valuations,
preparing the necessary probate papers; and
dealing with the inheritance tax return and payment of inheritance tax where necessary.

Once the grant has been obtained the personal representatives can proceed to collect in the assets, settle any debts, receive any income, liaise with HMRC to pay any tax, and distribute the estate to beneficiaries as directed in the will or under the laws of intestacy.

Our Services

If your family have suffered a bereavement, you have been appointed as an executor in a will, or a member of your family has died without leaving a will, please contact our Probate and Estate Administration team for advice and assistance. Our services include:

Preparation of papers and obtaining grant of probate
Establishing history; family, businesses, trusts, assets, liabilities and lifetime gifts
Preparation of inheritance tax returns and inheritance tax advice
Specialist advice on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief
Business and share valuations
Administration of estates, collection of monies and liaison with third parties
Estate accounts, tax returns and income and capital gains tax advice
Advice on tax planning opportunities
Setting up of trusts and ongoing liaison with beneficiaries

Our Pricing

For information on our pricing for our services please click here.

Magma Trusts & Estates Limited is licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales to carry out the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate in England and Wales. The Legal Services Act 2007 includes a regulatory objective to promote diversity. Magma Trusts & Estates Limited has conducted a diversity survey, the purpose being to gather evidence to encourage a strong, independent, diverse and effective profession.