Who Can Assist With Probate?
Probate can be handled by the executor or administrator personally, or with help from a probate specialist, a solicitor, or an accountant, depending on the estate.
If there is a will, the executor named in it applies for the Grant of Probate. If there is no will, the closest relative applies for Letters of Administration instead and becomes the administrator. Either way, that person carries the legal responsibility for getting the estate right, which is why many people bring in professional help.
You do not have to use anyone at all. For a straightforward estate with no property, no Inheritance Tax, and no disputes, you can apply yourself through the GOV.UK portal and save the cost.
Where professional help earns its place is with anything more involved: a property to sell, an IHT liability, business or foreign assets, missing paperwork, or a disagreement between beneficiaries. A specialist who knows the IHT400 form and the Probate Registry's requirements reduces the risk of rejected applications, HMRC queries, and personal liability for the executor.
The main options are a probate specialist or practitioner, a solicitor (better suited to contested wills and legal disputes), or an accountant, who is strong on complex tax. Their fees come from the estate, not from the executor's own pocket.
At Maximum Inheritance, I act as your probate specialist for estates across England and Wales, handling the full process personally on a fixed fee. If you would like someone to take the weight off, you can read more on my probate assistance page.
If there is a will, the executor named in it applies for the Grant of Probate. If there is no will, the closest relative applies for Letters of Administration instead and becomes the administrator. Either way, that person carries the legal responsibility for getting the estate right, which is why many people bring in professional help.
You do not have to use anyone at all. For a straightforward estate with no property, no Inheritance Tax, and no disputes, you can apply yourself through the GOV.UK portal and save the cost.
Where professional help earns its place is with anything more involved: a property to sell, an IHT liability, business or foreign assets, missing paperwork, or a disagreement between beneficiaries. A specialist who knows the IHT400 form and the Probate Registry's requirements reduces the risk of rejected applications, HMRC queries, and personal liability for the executor.
The main options are a probate specialist or practitioner, a solicitor (better suited to contested wills and legal disputes), or an accountant, who is strong on complex tax. Their fees come from the estate, not from the executor's own pocket.
At Maximum Inheritance, I act as your probate specialist for estates across England and Wales, handling the full process personally on a fixed fee. If you would like someone to take the weight off, you can read more on my probate assistance page.