A man who successfully challenged his mother's final will is likely to recover the lion's share of...
The word Probate is often used to refer to the process of administering a deceased person's estate.
A Grant of Probate is a Court order giving one or more people the legal authority to administer the deceased person's estate.
The Personal Representative is the person legally entitled to administer the estate. This will either be the Executor named in the Will or the next of kin in accordance with Intestacy rules if there is no Will.
The Personal Representative can either decide to do all the estate administration themselves, or may decide to seek professional advice and assistance.
There are certain situations in which it is advisable to seek professional advice. Click on this link for details Probate - when to seek legal advice.
Probate -how long does it take?
The length of time it takes to administer an estate can vary according the the complexity and individual circumstances of the estate..
Generally the process will take longer where there is a large and complex estate and if there is property which must be sold.
It is possible to obtain a Grant of Probate within a couple of months and to complete the administration on an average estate within six to nine months. Where the sale of property is involved however this can vary enormously. In some cases it may be relatively easy to find a buyer and the sale will proceed swiftly. In other cases it may prove difficult to find a buyer thus delaying the final distribution of the estate.
It is never possible to say precisely how long the administration will take as every case differs.If there is a business to wind up or claims against the estate which involve legal proceedings then the process may become protracted.
Our Fees
In the past solicitors often based probate fees on a percentage of the value of the estate and not just simply the amount of work involved.
We do not do this. Our fees are based solely on the work involved.
We can advise on all aspects of estate administration, whether you would like us to manage the whole process, simply assist in obtaining the Grant or provide specific advice on a problem you have encountered.
Contact Emma Harrison on 01827 317081 or email eharrison@pickerings-solicitors.com
