Taking on the administration of an estate after a loved one has died can be daunting at what is already a difficult time. Our probate solicitors in Cambridge understand how overwhelming it can be, and we make it our business to offer the help you need to ensure the process is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Our team has decades of experience in dealing with probate and estate administration, including with complex and high-value estates. We have a sympathetic attitude and are committed to making things easy for our clients.
We will work closely with you, providing the level of support and assistance that you need, whether it is to simply help with a single issue such as obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration or taking on the whole estate administration for you.
The probate service we offer at Ashtons Legal is considered to be outstanding in the region. Our team is highly rated by leading directory the Legal 500 for their expertise in Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate and for Contentious Trusts and Probate.
Our probate lawyers have high levels of training and extensive experience. They also have membership of the most respected professional bodies in this area of law, including the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the Association of Lifetime Lawyers and the Association of Tax Technicians.
Our Cambridge probate lawyers can help you with:
- Obtaining a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration
- Full estate administration
- Bespoke probate and estate administration services
- Administration of intestate estates (where the deceased did not leave a Will)
- Advice and representation in inheritance disputes (contentious probate)
- Advice in respect of Deeds of Variation and preparation of Deeds of Variation
We are also able to call on the expertise of our lawyers in other teams across the firm for assistance with issues related to probate, such as dealing with a family home and updating Wills.
Book a consultation with our probate lawyers in Cambridge
We offer a fixed fee consultation with one of our experienced probate experts to discuss your situation and how we can help you. This can either be in person or via video link.
To find out more, please contact our Cambridge office or use our online enquiry form to request a call from us.
How we can help with probate in Cambridge
Grant of Probate
One of the first steps in administering an estate is applying for the Grant of Probate or if there is no Will, the Grant of Letters of Administration. This is the document that gives the estate’s executors or administrators the legal right to deal with the winding-up process.
Our probate solicitors in Cambridge will ensure that the application process goes as smoothly as possible by putting together the right documentation and ensuring the forms are completed correctly.
We can assist with all matters relating to obtaining the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, including the following:
- Advising whether probate is necessary (it is not always needed if the estate is small)
- Estimating the value of the estate
- Establishing whether any Inheritance Tax is owed, notifying HM Revenue & Customs of the liability and arranging payment
- Applying for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
- Advising in respect of any trusts set up under the terms of the Will
- Advising on any specific issues concerning the winding up of the estate.
Full estate administration service
Our clients often choose to have the whole of the estate administration dealt with by our probate lawyers. If you select this option, our probate team will take care of everything for you so that you do not have to worry about taking on any of the work yourself.
Our probate lawyers in Cambridge will keep you advised as to progress as they deal with the administration and will make sure they are available to speak to you when needed to answer any questions you may have. You can be sure that the winding up will be dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible, with our goal to ensure that the whole process is stress-free for you and your family.
Our full estate administration service will generally include the following:
- Obtaining the Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration
- Dealing with the sale of any property there may be in the estate
- Valuing and collecting in the estate assets
- Paying any outstanding debts
- Liaising with HM Revenue & Customs and arranging payment of Inheritance Tax
- Providing advice in respect of any trusts set up under the terms of the Will
- Preparing detailed estate accounts
- Distributing bequests to the beneficiaries named in the Will or entitled to inherit under the Rules of Intestacy
- Advising and supporting the estate’s executors or administrators as needed.
Bespoke probate and estate administration support
Some clients are happy to take on much of the estate administration work themselves and just need help with some parts of the process, such as the application for Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration and calculating and paying Inheritance Tax.
Our probate team in Cambridge are happy to take on any individual tasks that you would like done, such as those included above in our full estate administration service. We can also offer advice and support for any other issues you may have to deal with during the winding-up process.
Intestacy
If the deceased did not leave a Will, they are said to have died intestate. This can make the administration process more complicated than normal and expert legal advice may help to ensure there are no difficulties.
Our legal team in Cambridge can take on the administration of an intestate estate in full or just assist with certain aspects as needed, such as obtaining the Grant of Letters of Administration or dealing with any Inheritance Tax.
Our intestacy expertise includes the following:
- Applying for the Grant of Letters of Administration
- Calculating and paying Inheritance Tax and dealing with HM Revenue & Customs
- Advising the estate administrators
- Providing advice in respect of any statutory trusts that may arise under the Rules of Intestacy
- Full estate administration service for intestate estates.
Inheritance disputes (contentious probate)
Disputes over an estate are not uncommon, with people sometimes feeling that they should have inherited more or having complaints about the way the estate administration is being conducted. If a disagreement arises, it is always advisable to seek independent legal advice as soon as possible to try to settle the matter before it escalates.
Our contentious probate solicitors in Cambridge have a pragmatic approach to resolving disputes, working to find an amicable agreement wherever possible to avoid litigation, which is generally time-consuming and could drain the estate of funds.
Our contentious probate expertise includes the following:
- Disputes over Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration
- Disputes over Wills
- Claims brought under the Inheritance Act
- Executor disputes or administrator disputes
- Trust disputes.
Why choose our probate solicitors in Cambridge?
Our Cambridge probate service offers:
- Decades of experience in specialist probate and estate administration
- A friendly, supportive and sympathetic service
- Flexibility, with our service offering anything from help with a single issue through to a full administration from start to finish
- Fast response times, with phone calls and emails returned without delay.
Our probate and estate administration expertise has been recognised by a number of professional bodies, including the following:
- Highly ranked for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate by The Legal 500
- Top ranked for Contentious Trusts and Probate by The Legal 500
- Our Cambridge and wider team includes members of:
- The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
- Association of Lifetime Lawyers
- Association of Tax Technicians.
Our probate and estate administration law fees
Legal fees for administration will generally be paid out of estate funds. Our costs will be on a fixed fee basis for straightforward matters, such as applying for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. For complex cases, we will discuss the potential costs with you so that you understand exactly what is involved.
More information about our probate pricing can be found here.
Book a consultation with our probate lawyers in Cambridge
We offer a fixed fee consultation with one of our experienced probate experts to discuss your situation and how we can help you. This can either be in person or via video link.
To find out more, please contact our Cambridge office or use our online enquiry form to request a call from us.