Dealing with a loved one’s estate can be overwhelming and extremely difficult, only made more confusing when a person is going through such an emotionally tumultuous time. By enlisting the professional guidance and support of a probate solicitor Emsworth, clients are able to lean on their experience and advice and focus on what is really important at these times: family, grief and learning to heal.
There are some instances where it is possible for an individual to settle an estate on their own, generally when it is very simple and small, but even then, the paperwork is voluminous and should an error occur, this can result in a huge headache later down the line.
Professionals are also generally eager to ensure that the right shortcuts are made to reduce the amount of tax that is paid on the final estate, leaving more money in the hands of those who would really benefit from it. This is likely a way to balance the cost of such help and should be considered by those people who are working with smaller estates and are unsure whether they need professional help or not to get the job done.
Heard of a Personal Representative?
This term comes up a lot when discussing estates and whoever has been assigned to be the Personal Representative does have a lot of responsibility to take on. When a person makes a will, they can assign one or several people to be these representatives, chosen to oversee and finalize what has been requested in the will and to work with all of the people involved when tidying up and closing the estate.
Solicitors who work in this field have a role of supporting these individuals. Initially, they determine whether the estate in question is in need of a grant, and go through the appropriate steps to obtain this would this be the case. Only if an estate is very small and simple is there generally no need for one of these grants, but a professional will quickly see to this and get the ball rolling.
Representatives need only provide certain information and allow their solicitor to work through all the complex paperwork so that they can focus on being with their families during this time. Some clients find that taking a step back and allowing a professional head to be the voice of the estate will make it a lot easier to process and accept. Occasionally people do not agree with what the deceased has written in their will and may contest the idea should a close family member or friend be the one to break the news.
Having an experienced, professional and calm figurehead can create a sense of unity during this time, allowing for family and friends to come together without there being an apparent dominant figure.
All Personal Representatives should be able to understand what their solicitor is doing and is more than welcome to communicate with them at every step of the way so that they are confident and aware of what is going on. This gives everyone a sense of closure which at the end of the day, is the most important factor to achieve.
