Probate and estates
Estate administration: bring many records into one reliable picture.
Organise the will, authority, assets, liabilities, tax information and beneficiaries before decisions are made.
After a death
Probate is one part of administering an estate.
The work may include locating the valid will, identifying the personal representatives, valuing assets and liabilities, dealing with tax information, applying for the appropriate grant where required, collecting assets, settling debts and distributing the estate.
Not every estate follows the same route or requires the same grant. The will, ownership of assets, institutions involved, estate value and family circumstances all affect the work.
First actions
Preserve documents and identify authority before distributing anything.
Locate the original will and any codicils, death certificate, identity documents, property information, recent statements and correspondence. Check whether assets were owned jointly and whether there are trusts, business interests or overseas connections.
Personal representatives should avoid informal distribution or promises before the estate, liabilities, authority and beneficiary position are understood. Secure assets and keep a record of decisions and expenditure.
- Original will, codicils and any storage information
- Executors, family and potential beneficiaries
- Property, accounts, investments, pensions and business interests
- Debts, bills, tax records and lifetime gifts where relevant
Grant and valuation
The right application depends on the will and estate.
Where there is a will, named executors may apply for a grant of probate if a grant is required. A different form of grant may be relevant where there is no valid will or no executor able to act.
Asset and liability information must be gathered to support the required reporting and administration. Property, business interests or unusual assets may need an appropriate valuation rather than an informal estimate.
Administration accounts
Every collection, payment and distribution should be traceable.
After authority is established, personal representatives may collect assets, settle valid liabilities, address tax and administration expenses, and prepare the estate for distribution. Estate accounts provide a structured record for the representatives and beneficiaries.
Disputes, missing beneficiaries, insolvent estates, trusts, property sales and cross-border assets can materially change risk and timescale. Raise them early.
Price information
Scope must distinguish the grant from full administration.
You may want help only with advice or a grant application, or with broader estate administration. Your quote should state who gathers valuations, completes tax work, deals with property and institutions, prepares accounts and communicates with beneficiaries.
A regulated provider advertising uncontested probate services must publish specified price and service information. Westmere does not yet publish probate fees or staff profiles.
What to organise
What to share about the estate
- 01
Is there a will and who is named?
State whether an original will exists and who is named as executor.
- 02
Outline the estate
List broad assets, debts, ownership and any business or overseas connection.
- 03
Name the people
Identify executors, close family, beneficiaries and any known disagreement.
- 04
What help are you considering?
Explain whether guidance, a grant application or full administration is being considered.
Questions to clarify
Common questions at this stage.
These answers are general orientation for England and Wales, not advice on a particular matter.
Is probate always required?
No. The assets, ownership and organisations holding them affect whether a grant is needed. The position should be checked for the particular estate.
What if there is no will?
The intestacy rules and a different route to authority may apply. The family structure and estate should be reviewed before assumptions are made.
Can assets be distributed before the grant?
Personal representatives should understand their authority, liabilities and the estate position before distribution. Some assets may be dealt with differently, but advice should be specific.
Official starting points
Check the current source.
These official links support general orientation only. They do not replace advice about a particular matter.
Your next step
Get the estate administration ready for a first legal conversation.
Note the people, dates, key documents and practical outcome. Use an approved secure channel before sharing confidential or identifying information.