Andrew & Andrew Solicitors Limited – Portsmouth Atlantic House, 114 Kingston Crescent, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO2 8AL Tel: 023 9267 5555 office@a2law.co.uk When we think of death, we think of the pain and sadness associated with the loss; we don’t automatically think of the legal implications of dealing with the deceased’s estate. Grieving for a loved one can also make it difficult to undertake such a task, even if you did know that you would be the personal representative responsible for dealing with the estate after they have passed. With probate solicitors Portsmouth, you will be able to ease the burden of responsibility by having an experienced legal professional to help you navigate the legal system. What does a personal representative have to do? When somebody dies, a personal representative will have to apply for the legal right to deal with that person’s estate, which includes any property they may have, as well as any money or possessions that they may have owned. To do this, the personal representative will need a grant of probate, if there was a will left. If one wasn’t made, the personal representative must apply for letters of administration. This is a legal duty and there can be penalties incurred if you do not do this properly. When you are upset and if you are not a legal expert yourself, having probate solicitors Portsmouth to ensure that this is done properly can be well worth it. Once you have been granted permission to deal with the estate, probate solicitors Portsmouth can then help you to sort out what the assets are and this will involve collating important information. Probate solicitors Portsmouth will then be able to settle any outstanding debts on the estate, as well as advising of any tax implications. After this, the rest of the estate is free to be distributed in accordance with any will that has been made, or intestacy rules. The process of applying for probate can be a lengthy process and it can be highly frustrating for personal representatives. Naturally, if you are grieving, you probably won’t want to have to deal with legalities and having a legal expert who can take matters in hand and do a lot of the work for you can be priceless. What else can probate solicitors Portsmouth do? If you are considering making a will, probate solicitors Portsmouth can also help with this. It’s really important to get a will made, even if you don’t have a lot of money or possessions. You need to ensure that any children you have are planned for in the event of your death and unmarried or civil partners do not automatically inherit, therefore, you could leave your loved ones in the lurch if you don’t make plans for them. Intestacy rules can be applied, but this may not mean that your money goes where you would have liked it to, no matter how small the amount. Your loved ones may also be taxed more if you don’t have a will in place. For the small amount of effort of getting a will made by a solicitor, it can save a lot of heartache for those you love after you have gone. While it may not be pleasant to imagine your death or the loss of those you love, taking practical steps with a probate solicitor will ease the burden on everyone involved. So, think about the legalities and the fact that you will need probate solicitors Portsmouth, no matter what! ht tp : / /a2so l ic i tors .co .uk /wi l ls -probate /probate / h t tps: / /www. lawsocie ty .org .uk /en /publ ic / for -publ ic - v is i tors /common- lega l - issues /dea l ing-wi th -someones- a f fa i rs -when- they-d ie ht tps: / /www.c i t i zensadvice .org .uk / fami ly /death-and- wi l ls /w i l ls Sources :