After someone has died you may find yourself in the position of dealing with the administration of their estate.

They could have appointed you as their Executor under a Will, or if they did not make a Will, you may be their closest living relative or person who is entitled in law to inherit their estate.

Probate (or Letters of Administration if there is no Will) is not always required, particularly if the estate is of a low value and there is no property to deal with.

Examples of when you will need to obtain Probate include:

• When there is a property (not held as joint tenants) that needs to be sold or transferred.
• When there are shareholdings to be dealt with.
• When funds in bank accounts exceed the bank’s limit (this is usually between £30,000.00 to £50,000.00).
• To receive payment from some life insurance policies.

Whilst you can apply for Probate yourself online, there are certain situations where this would not be possible. You will also need to complete the relevant inheritance tax forms to confirm the value of the estate. We can assist you in obtaining a Grant of Probate or we can deal with the whole estate administration.

Our Solicitors can help relieve some of the pressure during a stressful time in your life.

To find out more about Probate and whether you need it, you can contact our Wills, Trusts and Probate Solicitors in Rochdale on 01706 644187 who will be happy to assist.