Is It Better to Use an Accountant or Solicitor for Probate?
The right choice depends on what the estate needs most. For estates with significant tax issues, such as an Inheritance Tax liability, complex income tax affairs, or Capital Gains Tax on inherited assets, an accountant often provides deeper tax expertise at a lower hourly rate than a solicitor. Many accountancy firms also offer a full estate administration service, not just the tax return.
A solicitor is the better option when there are legal disputes to manage. If you expect a beneficiary to challenge the will, if the estate includes foreign assets, or if there are business interests that need legal restructuring, a solicitor's training covers that ground directly. Solicitors are also better placed when the estate involves trusts or when the validity of the will itself is in question.
For straightforward estates with no disputes and no complex tax position, you may not need either. The GOV.UK online portal lets you apply for a Grant of Probate yourself, and the court fee is £273 for most estates. Many executors handle the process without professional help and save the estate several thousand pounds.
You can also use both an accountant and a solicitor if the estate is complex enough to justify it. Their fees are paid from the estate, not personally by the executor. If you are weighing up whether a solicitor adds enough value for a simpler estate, our guides on whether it is worth using a solicitor for probate and whether it is quicker to use a solicitor cover the practical differences in more detail.
A solicitor is the better option when there are legal disputes to manage. If you expect a beneficiary to challenge the will, if the estate includes foreign assets, or if there are business interests that need legal restructuring, a solicitor's training covers that ground directly. Solicitors are also better placed when the estate involves trusts or when the validity of the will itself is in question.
For straightforward estates with no disputes and no complex tax position, you may not need either. The GOV.UK online portal lets you apply for a Grant of Probate yourself, and the court fee is £273 for most estates. Many executors handle the process without professional help and save the estate several thousand pounds.
You can also use both an accountant and a solicitor if the estate is complex enough to justify it. Their fees are paid from the estate, not personally by the executor. If you are weighing up whether a solicitor adds enough value for a simpler estate, our guides on whether it is worth using a solicitor for probate and whether it is quicker to use a solicitor cover the practical differences in more detail.