THE IMPORTANCE OF PROBATE SOLICITORS FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE A2SOLICITORS Atlantic House, 114 Kingston Crescent, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO2 8AL 023 9267 5555 The death of a beloved family member can be one of the most diff icult situations to f ind yourself in during the course of a l i fetime, with not only the grief to deal with, but also many legal issues and formalit ies which you may not have thought about previously. During the pandemic many hundreds and thousands of l ives have been lost which most people were not prepared for. Sometimes the deceased may have put a wil l in place, however a signif icant percentage of deaths which have occurred during the pandemic have been of those who had no wil l in place. Probate solicitors are special ists in dealing with the bereavement process and taking care of legal issues on your behalf , to help ease the process for you and your loved ones at this diff icult t ime. WHAT DO PROBATE SOLICITORS DO? Whilst trying to deal with your grief you will find that there are endless phone calls and letters to deal with, with respect to banking, utility companies, insurance and the HMRC. Probate solicitors are able to deal with all these issues on your behalf so that you can spend this time with your loved ones instead. Probate solicitors are aware of all the different authorities which need to be dealt with and contacted following a bereavement and they will be able to take care of this for you and make sure that there are no complications, unnecessary fines or penalties and ensure a positive outcome for you and your loved ones under the circumstances. Following the death of a loved one you will have to deal with tax returns and inheritance tax, but with the assistance of probate solicitors you can rest assured that they will be able to deal with the HMRC on your behalf. They will make sure that all paperwork and evidence is submitted correctly and in a timely manner and ensure that the process is carried out as smoothly as possible, to prevent any further problems for yourself at this difficult time. Probate solicitors can handle inheritance tax payments for you especially when money may not be available before the probate is settled. This helps ensure that you do not incur extra fines or penalties which may add up over time. Probate solicitors are experienced in dealing with each of the stages of the probate application on your behalf. This includes preparing inheritance tax returns, the statement of truth and the probate registry, as well as any issues which you may experience along the way, which includes irregularities or discrepancies in the will. Probate solicitors also help look after the properties and assets of the deceased on your behalf, so that you can continue with your daily activities and get on with your life as normal. Whether you decide to sell or let the estate, Probate solicitors will assist you throughout the transactions, and ensure the best possible outcome. Unfortunately such dealings can lead to family disputes and disagreements, however with the assistance and representation of probate solicitors you can avoid such matters at this sensitive time and ensure a positive outcome for all. http://a2solicitors.co.uk/wills-probate/probate/ Applying for probate - GOV.UK Dealing with the financial affairs of someone who has died Sources: