Probate Solicitors

What Is Probate?

A Grant of Probate is the legal document that gives an executor authority to deal with a deceased person’s property, money and possessions. Where there is no valid Will, the equivalent document is a Grant of Letters of Administration, giving an administrator the same authority. Either document is usually needed before banks, HMRC, or the Land Registry will release or transfer significant assets.

When Do You Need Probate?

A Grant is generally needed where the estate includes £5,000 or more in a single savings or investment account, stocks or shares, certain insurance policies, or property or land held in the deceased’s name or as tenants in common. Some banks release smaller balances without a Grant at their own discretion, but the threshold varies between institutions, so it is worth checking rather than assuming.

Probate Services We Offer

Our probate solicitors handle every stage of settling an estate, whether you need help with one part of the process or all of it.

Grant of Probate Applications

We prepare and submit Grant applications on your behalf, handling the estate valuation, the Inheritance Tax return HMRC requires, and the application itself. Grants cannot normally be issued until any Inheritance Tax due has been paid, so getting this sequence right avoids unnecessary delay.

Letters of Administration

“My dad died without a Will — what happens now?” is one of the most common questions we hear. Where there is no valid Will, or the named executors cannot act, an entitled relative applies for Letters of Administration instead, becoming the estate’s administrator. We guide administrators through the intestacy rules and their new legal responsibilities.

Estate Valuation and Asset Collection

We identify, value and collect estate assets, from property and investments to bank accounts and personal possessions, working with specialist valuers where needed so HMRC and the beneficiaries can rely on the figures.

Resealing a Foreign Grant of Probate

Where a grant was issued abroad but the deceased held UK assets, it may be possible to have that grant resealed in England and Wales under the Colonial Probates Act 1892, rather than applying for a fresh grant — available for grants from Commonwealth and certain other jurisdictions. Where the estate involves several countries, see our International Probate page for the fuller cross-border process.

Inheritance Tax Compliance

We handle the Inheritance Tax calculations, returns and payment arrangements that sit alongside every probate application, and identify reliefs, such as Business Property Relief or Agricultural Property Relief, that reduce what the estate owes.

Disputed Wills and Contentious Probate

Where a Will’s validity is challenged, or a family member believes they have not been reasonably provided for, our contentious probate colleagues advise on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and challenges on the grounds of capacity or undue influence.

Trust Administration

Where a Will creates an ongoing Trust, we administer it after the estate itself has been distributed, keeping trustees compliant with their duties under the Trustee Act 2000.

Our Probate Process

Here is what to expect when you instruct us to handle a Grant of Probate or full estate administration.

1. Initial assessment: We review the Will, or confirm there is none, and the estate’s circumstances, flagging any tax issues or likely complications early.
2. Application and valuation: We value the estate, complete the Inheritance Tax return, and submit the Grant application to the Probate Registry.
3. Collecting in the estate: We gather assets, settle debts, and place statutory notices that protect you as executor from creditors surfacing later.
4. Distribution and accounts: We prepare estate accounts and distribute to beneficiaries, so everything is documented and the estate can be properly closed.

Why Choose Nelsons for Probate

Choosing who administers a loved one’s estate is as much about trust as legal knowledge.

• Helen Salisbury, Partner, full STEP member and Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer, has specialised in Wills and Probate since 2009.
• Over 40 years supporting East Midlands families through estate administration.
• Recognised by The Legal 500 for combining technical expertise with a genuinely personal approach.
• A five-partner team, so straightforward and complex estates are matched to the right level of experience.
• Transparent fees, including the option to fund costs from the estate itself where appropriate.

Costs and Fees

Probate is one of the service areas where the Solicitors Regulation Authority requires us to publish clear cost information. For full details, visit our fees page.

Talk to Our Probate Solicitors

Call 0800 024 1976 or contact us via our online enquiry form. Offices in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham.