This depends on the organisations holding the assets. Once we have the grant of probate, we'll send it off with the necessary paperwork to release the funds. It can then take some time for the money to arrive. For larger estates, there's usually a waiting period of around 6 to 10 months after probate is granted before the final inheritance can be distributed, to allow for any potential claims. We always advise not to spend any money until you've actually received it.

The cost of probate can vary depending on the complexity of the estate and how much help you need. At Lyons Bowe, our fixed fee probate services start from £1500 plus VAT, and there are also some additional costs called disbursements, like the probate court fee which is currently £300 for estates worth over £5,000. We can tailor our services to your specific needs, so get in touch for a chat about your situation.

This is dependant on the organisations we are working with. Once probate is granted, we will send the grant and a completed withdrawal form on your behalf. Once the funds arrive, we will prepare the estate accounts for the executor of the Will to arrive before paying out residuary payments. Pecuniary Legacies are paid as soon as the estate has sufficient funds. Until the executor has approved the final accounts (after the S27 notice expires), claims can still come forward for unpaid taxes or from the Department for Work and Pensions. There is usually a waiting period of 6 to 10 months from grant of probate on any medium to large estates before funds can be distributed. For this reason, we always advise that you not spend any money before you receive it.

The intestacy rules apply. This means that the laws of the land determine who will receive the estate rather than the deceased person’s wishes. If a loved one has died without a valid Will in place, our Will and Probate solicitors can guide you through this process.

Yes, we can help you with everything that you need to deal with an estate remotely via video calls or phone calls.

From when we submit the application to the Probate Registry, it usually takes between 8 and 12 weeks to process probate, however if you are submitting a paper application, it can take around 16 weeks. We will submit your application as soon as we have either a completed questionnaire from you, or after fully investigating all assets and liabilities. We may also need to send you some tax forms to sign and have them processed by HMRC before we can apply for probate in IHT paying estates.

Not always, different banks have different requirements. The bank will tell you if probate is a requirement. A good rule of thumb is that if the bank account is holding more than £5,000, then probate is likely required, but the rules differ from bank to bank. If the estate contains a property, then probate is likely necessary, however if you’re still unsure, our probate solicitors can help you to work it out.

Absolutely. We welcome meeting over the phone, email, Teams, or in person. We will work with you on this and work with clients locally, nationally, and internationally.