Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy. However, the situation can be especially daunting where you are also tasked with handling the process of probate and estate administration.
If you have been appointed as an executor, or have successfully applied to become an administrator, you will have a variety of responsibilities which need to be addressed. Our expert probate lawyers can step in to support you with the process of estate administration, providing tailored legal advice that is well suited to your circumstances.
Our probate specialists at Bird & Co can provide a full probate and estate administration service, helping to keep the entire process as straightforward as possible, as well as providing general advice to executors and administrators, and dealing with any potential disputes.
Have a question about the probate and estate administration process? Take a look at our FAQs.
Want to chat with one of our friendly probate lawyers? Contact your local Bird & Co office in Grantham, Newark or Lincoln or you can ask us a question.
Why choose Bird & Co Solicitors to help you with probate and estate administration?
With our probate service, we can offer you:
- Expert guidance from a highly experienced team
- Plain English explanations so you can make informed decisions
- Confidence that everything has been thought of
- Competitive fees
- A close, personal service from start to finish
Want to know more about the Bird & Co team? Take a look at our people.
Back to topOur probate and estate lawyers' services
When someone passes away, there are several issues which need to be resolved. These matters are usually handled by the executor of the estate (or the administrator where no Will was left behind by the deceased.
Our probate and estate administration lawyers can provide you with a full administration service that helps to keep the entire process as straightforward as possible.
Our administration services include:
- Providing you with a dedicated and experienced probate solicitor to work on your matter
- Identifying the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
- Accurately identifying the type of application to the Probate Register you will require
- Obtaining the relevant documents required to make the application
- Completing the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms (if necessary)
- Drafting a legal statement for you to sign
- Making the application to the Probate Registry on your behalf
- Obtaining the grant
- Collecting and distributing all assets in the estate
Our team can also take other associated matters, such as calculating the Inheritance Tax that is due on an estate.
Acting as an executor or administrator can be an extremely complicated process and, in many cases, can be very time consuming. As such, we can be on hand to advise you and provide expert guidance on your role as an executor.
We can advise you on making important decisions that are in the best interests of the estate, as well as ensuring that you understand your responsibilities and obligations as an executor or administrator.
A Deed of Variation allows beneficiaries to change how an estate is distributed. If this affects the amount of Inheritance Tax payable, HMRC has to be notified. This has to be completed within 2 years of death.
Our team can work alongside you to carefully review your circumstances and whether making a Deed of Variation would be appropriate for your situation. If so, we can then take the necessary steps to ensure that it is efficiently completed and that it is deemed valid for HMRC.
Our probate lawyers' fees
How much does this service cost?
Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets
We anticipate this will take:
- between 15 and 30 hours work at £320 per hour plus VAT at 20% for an estate that is below the Inheritance Tax threshold. Total costs estimated at -£5,000 to £10,000 (plus VAT at 20%).
- between 30 and 110 hours work at £320 per hour plus VAT at 20% for an estate that is above the Inheritance Tax threshold. Total costs estimated at -£10,000 to £35,000 (plus VAT at 20%).
The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end.
We will handle the full process for you. This estimate is for estates where:
- There is a valid will
- There is no more than one property
- There are no more than 3 bank or building society accounts
- There are no other intangible assets
- There are 1-4 beneficiaries
- There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
- There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
- There are no claims made against the estate
Disbursements included in this fee (where applicable VAT is included at 20%):
- Probate court application fee of £300 (this will change to £526 from 13th July 2026).
- £5 – Swearing of the oath (per executor) in front of an independent Commissioner for Oaths
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£6 per beneficiary)
- £179 – Post in The London Gazette – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors.
- £150 (approximate as this will vary around the country) – Post in a Local Newspaper – This also helps to protect against unexpected claims.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Potential additional costs
- If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there is likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information.
- If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £16 (1 per asset usually) – this will change to £2 from 13th July 2026.
- Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
How long will this take?
On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6-18 months but more complex states can take longer. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes 2-6 months. Collecting assets then follows, which can take between 2-6 months. Once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes a further 2-6 months.
Back to topCommon questions about probate and estate administration
A Grant of Probate is the legal document that confirms that an executor has the authority to administer the estate.
As an alternative, a Grant of Letters of Administration is required where the deceased has not left behind a Will.
In the vast majority of cases, probate will be required when dealing with someone’s estate. There are certain exceptions to this, such as if:
- The estate is exclusively made up of cash and personal possessions
- The property in the estate is owned as beneficial joint tenants
- The property is owned jointly which includes tenants in common, provided your remaining trustee has capacity to appoint a new trustee
- The estate is insolvent
- There are certain life insurance policies and pension benefits in the estate
Where the deceased was the sole owner of a property, it is possible to list it on the property market and accept offers before obtaining the Grant of Probate. However, it is not possible to complete the sale until you receive probate.
As can be expected, the time it takes for probate to be completed will be heavily dependent on various factors.
If a valid Will has been left behind, and there are no disputes, an estate can be administered relatively quickly. It normally takes at least four weeks to obtain grant of probate, but currently this is taking more like eight to ten weeks due to various factors beyond our control. From here, the general administration process is likely to take around nine to twelve months.
If a property forms part of an estate and you want to move in after probate begins, you will likely need to secure permission from the executor or administrator of the estate to move into it.
An executor is an individual who is appointed to administer the estate of someone who has died. Multiple executors can be named in a Will, who will act alongside each other to carry out their duties.
Executors will typically:
- Make sure all property is secured after death
- Collect all assets and money due to the estate
- Paying any outstanding taxes and debts
- Distribute the estate to beneficiaries named in the Will
- Arrange the funeral (where there are specific instructions to do so)
An executor can also be a beneficiary of a Will. This is very common when someone writes their Will, as an executor will often be a close loved one that they trust.
Speak to our probate and estate administration lawyers
Want to chat with one of our friendly probate lawyers? Contact your local Bird & Co office in Grantham, Newark or Lincoln, or you can ask us a question.
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