01732 868190
Estate Administration In Epsom
Estate Administration can be a very time consuming job if you are not an expert. Many lay people who are nominated to administer an Estate and try to undertake the role themselves often describe the process as similar to having a second job. This is made all the more difficult by happening at a time when they are coming to terms with the death of a friend or a loved one.
At Casey & Associates, we have a vast amount of experience in Estate Administration and our Practice Director, Hugh Goodale, works with Clients and their families who live in and around Epsom. Our service includes liaising with relevant institutions on behalf of our Client, completing and submitting Inheritance Tax forms to HMRC and identifying assets and liabilities. Instructing us to administer an estate will remove much of the worry that dealing with Estate Administration can bring.
When a Grant of Probate is issued, we are able to arrange for the sale of assets and will settle all outstanding bills with the proceeds from sale. Once any outstanding bills, such as mortgage and funeral fees have been settled, the remainder of the estate will then be distributed as stated in your Will to your beneficiaries.
If you would like to talk through your Estate Administration options and live in the Epsom area then book an appointment with Hugh, using the get in touch form. Hugh will review your current circumstances and can then offer guidance and advice on what you should do.
Your local consultant
Hugh Goodale
Practice Director
A business owner and entrepreneur for over 40 years, Hugh is always trying to raise service levels for Clients. He is a member of numerous legal societies and institutions.
Click the links below to see our specific services in the Epsom area:
Frequently Asked Questions
WHY DO I NEED A WILL?
Your Estate
Without a Will, the authorities will decide how and to whom your estate is distributed, which can result in problems for your loved ones that you leave behind. For example, if you are not married your partner could be left with nothing. Or if you are single, what you leave could end up going to the State.
Your Children
Having a Will means you can appoint guardians for your children, which is even more important if both parents die – without a Will the local authorities can appoint guardians for you. Also if you are not married to the other parent when you die, this does not mean the other parent will automatically become the guardian (if your children were born before 2003).
Protecting Your Wealth
Another vital reason for having a Will is to make sure that what you leave is not inherited by those you do not want to access your funds: for example, a future partner of your spouse or their future children.
Leave an Amount to Charity
You can state in your Will an amount to leave to a Charity of your choice.
Trusts
Some or all of what you leave can be put in a Trust for different reasons. For instance, so that your children receive it when they reach a certain age. You can also include conditions that Trust funds are only used for certain items: for example, a child’s education.
WHY USE CASEY & ASSOCIATES RATHER THAN A SOLICITOR?
We are experts in Will Writing and advising so will review your specific circumstances and recommend what to include in your Will, taking every foreseeable scenario into account. The biggest benefit to our clients is peace of mind. We also provide home visits at no charge saving you time and hassle.
Most solicitors are knowledgeable in several legal areas and are not necessarily specialist Will Writers.
WHY NOT JUST USE A DIY WILL KIT?
A DIY Will can save you money upfront but if you get anything incorrect, you could cause your family and friends you leave behind a whole lot of trouble and concerns when they are sorting out your finances after you have died.
Also, if you use a Will template, the responsibility for your Will being correct is completely down to you. If there are any mistakes which cause problems when your Will is read, there will not be any legal comeback at all.
It could even mean that your Will is invalid and the law will then decide who your money and property should go to.
WHAT ABOUT WILL WRITING COMPANIES OFFERING WILLS FOR A VERY LOW PRICE?
Unless your Will is to be very simple and standard (which is rare), we recommend that you avoid these companies. They usually provide a basic Will drafted from a template and are not experts, so they cannot advise you on your specific circumstances. An example of this is a lady who recently came to us that had one of these Wills written. She assumed she would need a simple, straightforward Will but we found several overlooked items that her Will needed to include. Luckily, she came to us instead of hoping the cheap Will she had would cover everything.
HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE?
Once we have taken your instructions we wait for the statutory 14 days "cooling off" period, unless you have asked us to proceed straight away. We will normally send your “draft” Will(s) to you within seven to ten days. Once we receive your "draft authority" back we will normally ensure that your "Final Will" is with you after a further seven to ten days.
Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) can take longer because we are dependent on your attorneys (normally your family or children) signing documents and sending them back to us. We tend to find that most LPAs are completed within eight weeks. They then need to go to the Government to be registered. This takes on average, a further eight weeks.
CAN I REVISE MY WILL AND DO I PAY FOR THIS?
Some companies charge the full price to reissue Wills even if only slightly amended. Our policy is to charge £70 + VAT to reissue a Will and £210 + VAT to make a minor amendment such as a guardian or executor and then reissue a Will. Please note that it is NOT necessary to revise your Will(s) if one of your executors or beneficiaries changes address or name; it is all about identification.
FAQs didn’t help? Complete the Enquiry Form if you have any other questions