Probate and Estate Administration

A Guide to Cross-Border Estates

The World has changed. Cross-border travel, commerce and living are part and parcel of modern life. A consequence of this is people’s lives are more fluid than ever before. A villa in Spain or a gîte in France – once the preserve of a wealthy few – are now a relatively common occurance in the […]

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Repayment of loans from a relative when they die

Family and friends often make loans to each other to provide financial assistance when they need it. If the lender dies prior to the repayment of the debt and the paper trail is not transparent this can create a difficult situation. Our recommendation in this situation is always to seek the advice of an expert […]

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Probate Fee Rise – Everything you need to know

What is a Grant of Probate? A grant of probate is an official document that gives a named executor the authority to deal with the property of a deceased person. The term is often used (and will be in this Note) to include a grant of representation which is the equivalent document needed by an […]

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A Helpful Guide to Probate

When you have to face the sadness of a death in the family, you then have to address all the paperwork and arrangements that must follow.  This is not easy, especially at a time when you may not be feeling up to it.  We hope that (whether or not you then decide to use our […]

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Executors and Beneficiaries – Beware of Penalties from HMRC

In a recent case a beneficiary has received an £87,000 penalty from HM Revenue & Customs for failing to tell his father’s executors about a cash gift he received the year before his father’s death. It is the responsibility of executors to make enquiries of the deceased’s family of any lifetime gifts made in the […]

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Probate Application Fees – Proposed Changes

The Ministry of Justice is proposing radical changes to the Probate application fee as follows : £300 for estates worth more than £50,000 and up to £300,000 £1,000 for estates worth more than £300,000 and up to £500,000 £4,000 for estates worth more than £500,000 and up to £1 million £8,000 for estates worth more […]

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Oh Trigger!

The recent death of actor Roger Lloyd-Pack was very sad, particularly for those of us who remember him so fondly as Trigger. Who can forget the wonderful scene where he gets an award for having the same broom for 20 years (with only 17 new heads and 14 new handles during that time). So, Trigger […]

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Oh Trigger!

The recent death of actor Roger Lloyd-Pack was very sad, particularly for those of us who remember him so fondly as Trigger. Who can forget the wonderful scene where he gets an award for having the same broom for 20 years (with only 17 new heads and 14 new handles during that time). So, Trigger […]

Read more