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Probate & Estate Administration

The death of an individual can bring devastating consequences to the individual's families and friends. At what can be an extremely difficult and emotional time, the role of an experienced and effective solicitor can be invaluable in ensuring that all the relevant steps are taken.

We believe that we have the appropriate experience to ensure families and executors can turn to us with confidence, whatever the circumstances of the deceased and the deceased's estate, in order to ensure that matters are dealt with in an effective and wise manner.

We pride ourselves in listening carefully to our clients at what can be a very difficult time, and in handling matters in a calm and sensitive manner.

For us, probate work is not about employing back office staff to churn out the work. We aim to offer the highest possible standard of advice and care. As a general rule, clients will be advised by solicitors, with the benefits that experience and qualification add.

The Team

Our Probate and Estate Administration Services Team is headed by Charles Hayward.

The Team ensures that its members have the relevant qualifications and skills. All the partners and solicitors in the unit are involved in the Team, and all of them either have or are working towards the industry-recognised professional qualification in this area through the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Paul Sutton, an associate in the firm's Dispute Resolution team, is a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists and is a key member of the Team helping with disputes.

We work closely with family members and relatives and those who care for clients at what can be an extremely emotional and difficult time. The team works closely with other professional advisers, including accountants, brokers and financial advisers, in order to ensure that matters are dealt with effectively and efficiently.

The Team has an enviable reputation for its work, and members of it regular lecture on relevant issues in this area.

Costs

In probate matters we charges purely on a time spent basis by reference to the hourly charge out rates of the fee-earners involved in working on the file.

We do not charge on a percentage basis by reference to the value of the estate, unlike many solicitors.

We recognise that costs are a significant concern to families of deceased people, but we also recognise that it is often difficult to say at the start of a job exactly how much work will be involved in completing it. We aim therefore to set clear budgets in advance which we will review regularly as the work progresses.

At the outset of a matter, we work closely with our clients in order to establish the extent of the work which will be necessary for us to do.

In some cases, executors or family members wish to undertake part of the work themselves, and we work regularly with clients on that basis, ensuring that the scope of the work we are required to do is clearly identified.

Issues

The common issues on which we advise include -

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