When it comes to the probate process, you may have heard a lot of negative things. People tend to look at this process as something that is long and costly, but that is not always the case. Probate serves a distinct purpose and can offer your heirs some benefits. The...
Probate And Estate Administration
Which assets are exempt from probate?
If you are like most people, you probably believe that when you die, the executor of your Last Will and Testament will have to open a probate estate in which all of your assets will need to go. FindLaw reports, however, that such is not always the case. Certain of...
My loved one named me executor–What do I do now?
Locate the WillHopefully, the person who nominated you as their personal representative will have informed you beforehand and either given you a copy of his or her will or told you where it could be located. Once you have the will, it will need to be filed with...
Should you hire an attorney to help you through probate?
If you become the executor of someone’s United Kingdom estate, you likely will wonder if you should hire an attorney to help you go through the probate process. As with so many other yes-or-no decisions, the answer is: it depends. Given that probate is the legal...
Tax duties of an executor
When United Kingdom residents begin their duties as the executive of a loved one's estate, they may expect to fill out paperwork and distribute assets. They may not, however, consider the tax duties that come with this position.The executor of an estate usually files a...
What constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty?
When you become the trustee of someone’s trust or the executor of his or her United Kingdom estate, you also become a fiduciary. What this means is that the grantor of the trust or the testator of the will trusted you enough to put you in a position of authority to...
Family-friendly ways to avoid an inheritance dispute
When you have a close family, the last thing you would expect after you are gone is for your loved ones to fight over your estate. Unfortunately, this is a common scenario for many United Kingdom families, as we at the are aware. Naturally,...
How to get through the stress of being an executor
If you have recently been named the executor of an estate, you may be feeling undue pressure and stress at the task that looms before you. You may feel that you do not have time to undertake the position while juggling your normal day-to-day responsibilities. Becoming...
What is an estate’s final accounting?
If you are a United Kingdom resident who is serving as the personal representative of someone’s probate estate, you already may know that one of your last duties is to prepare the estate’s final accounting and file it with the Superior Court. You must do this...
How much does probate cost in United Kingdom?
While many people avoid probate if possible in United Kingdom— often through the use of robust estate planning and trusts— you might be in a position where it is either preferable to go through probate or unavoidable to enter probate considering the final...